Deputy Director of Litigation
The Legal Action Center (LAC) seeks a full-time Deputy Director of Litigation to help develop and implement LAC's litigation docket and integrate it with LAC's direct legal services program. This role connects litigation and legal services to LAC's broader strategy of direct legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, racial justice, and education. Reports to the Senior Vice President of Legal Advocacy.
Location: New York City, hybrid work model.
About the Organization: LAC advocates for people who use drugs, are in recovery, live with HIV/AIDS or mental health conditions, or have arrest/conviction records — combating discrimination and working to shrink the criminal legal system's footprint. For over 50 years, with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., LAC has used impact litigation, legal services, education, and policy advocacy to dismantle systemic racial barriers. LAC's legal team serves over 1,000 clients annually and reaches thousands more through education and technical assistance, informing initiatives like Clean Slate NY. Visit our website: https://www.lac.org/ to learn more about our legal services and impact litigation
Duties and Responsibilities
Develop and implement LAC's litigation docket
- Work with the SVP of Legal Advocacy and other leadership to create and implement impact and individual litigation strategies — pre-litigation negotiations, administrative complaints, and court cases — across LAC's issue areas
- Develop, direct, and participate in litigation, with a special focus on reentry
- Maintain a limited docket of legal services cases, primarily on reentry issues
Lead department strategy and practice management
- Support, supervise, and develop direct reports
- Lead special projects, such as the department's response to new legislation (e.g., the NYC Fair Chance for Housing Act) or other major external events
- Help lead strategic management with other legal department leaders, including internal assessment systems and periodic reviews of intakes, services, and outcomes
- Help lead practice management, including creating or updating intake and litigation policies and procedures
Support education, technical assistance, and outreach
- Create, update, and disseminate know-your-rights materials, conduct trainings, and provide legal counsel to providers, government agencies, lawyers, and others in LAC's issue areas
- Collaborate with grassroots organizations, providers, and advocacy groups through task forces, coalitions, presentations, and conferences
Engage in broader advocacy and fundraising
- Coordinate with policy and communications teams; conduct limited policy advocacy as appropriate; cultivate and respond to media opportunities
- Work with the SVP of Legal Advocacy, other managers, and development staff to raise and maintain funds for litigation and legal services, including from foundations and government contracts
- Collaborate with pro bono counsel and maintain relationships with co-counsel, including private plaintiff-side firms and other public interest groups
Job Qualifications
We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.
- J.D. and admission to the New York State Bar
- 8+ years of litigation experience, including federal and/or state court litigation and complex or impact litigation — developing case strategy and managing cases from inception through resolution
- Prior experience supervising or mentoring attorneys or legal staff, with the ability to lead in a small, collaborative team
- Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and equity
- Passion for dismantling barriers to re-entry, ending mass incarceration, and promoting public health, privacy rights, and racial and economic justice
- Excellent written and oral communication skills across diverse clients, partners, and stakeholders
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to network effectively with external stakeholders
- Creative problem-solver with a sense of humor
- Familiarity with employment, disability rights, housing, health privacy, insurance law, and/or substance use or HIV-related issues a plus
- Experience working with development staff to fund projects a plus
- Bilingual in Spanish strongly preferred
- Experience speaking publicly or to the media a plus
Application Instructions
Apply for "Deputy Director of Litigation" with a cover letter, resume, and writing sample (up to five pages) as a single PDF to: __________________.
The Legal Action Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Individuals directly affected or impacted are strongly encouraged to apply.