Staff Attorney, U.S. Litigation

Job Title: Staff Attorney, U.S. Litigation

Department: Programs, U.S. Litigation

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, DC; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has fueled the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of more than $50 million and won the respect of law firms worldwide. Our global pro bono network includes over 2,100 lawyers across 6 continents, 88 countries, and 125 law firms, contributing over $30 million USD in pro bono legal services annually. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org

The Job: The Center seeks one or more attorneys with 5 or more years of legal experience preferred, and a minimum of 3 years required, to join the Center’s U.S. Litigation team as Staff Attorneys. The Staff Attorneys will join the Center at a critical time for reproductive rights and access in the U.S. The Center's high-profile and ground-breaking litigation often involves novel legal claims and has significantly advanced legal developments in reproductive rights in federal and state courts, vindicating the rights of health care providers, clinics, and individuals throughout the U.S.

The attorneys will participate in impact litigation on reproductive rights in federal and state courts to improve access to non-discriminatory, high-quality reproductive health care—including abortion care, maternal health care, and assisted reproduction. They will join the Center’s team as it works to build a comprehensive and enduring right of reproductive autonomy over the long term grounded in principles of equality, as well as racial, gender, and economic justice, and human rights.

The positions will be based in the Center’s New York City or Washington D.C. offices. Covid-19 vaccination is required for all US-based employees of the Center.

Primary Responsibilities: The primary responsibilities of Staff Attorneys at the Center include

• Conducting all aspects of litigation, including legal research and analysis, drafting of complaints and legal briefs, discovery and motion practice, and handling trials and appeals.
• Assisting in development of new legal theories to advance the Center’s strategic priorities.
• Maintaining client and other important institutional relationships and engaging in compliance work for the Center’s clients, advising on compliance with governing legal requirements.
• Representing the Center at public events, conferences, and coalition meetings.
• Working with the Center’s Communications and Development teams to provide support and information as appropriate.
• Working on other projects, such as legal analyses related to Center legislative and advocacy priorities.

Qualifications for Staff Attorney:

• Member in good standing of the bar of New York or DC based on the office where the attorney is based. If not currently admitted to that bar, the candidate must be a member in good standing to another state's bar and agree to become admitted within eighteen months of their start date to the bar of New York or DC based on the office where the attorney is based.
• A minimum of three years of legal experience for Staff Attorney position is required, with five years preferred.
• Excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Outstanding legal analysis skills, including ability to develop complex legal arguments and strategies.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, including ability to self-motivate, to handle multiple tasks and meet multiple deadlines simultaneously, and to provide quick turnaround of assignments while collaborating as part of a team and maintaining a positive attitude.
• Ability to maintain high level of expertise in relevant substantive law.
• Strong communication and public speaking skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate, delegate, and supervise junior attorneys and paralegals on a project basis.
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values, along with experience or knowledge of reproductive rights legal issues, reproductive justice, racial justice, or other human rights, civil rights, criminal law, or social justice issues. 
• All individuals must demonstrate a commitment to racial equity work and incorporate racial equity principles into legal work.
• Ability to travel as needed for court appearances and other work, including to locations outside the New York and DC areas.
• English language fluency required, Spanish a plus.

Compensation: The annual salary for this position begins at $116,000, commensurate with years of experience. This salary reflects a position based in New York City or Washington, D.C. This salary will be subject to a downward locality adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside the location listed in this posting. Note that most of the salaries listed on our job postings reflect New York, NY salaries, where our National offices are headquartered.

Union Status: This position is anticipated to be within the bargaining unit represented by UAW Local 2325, (ALAA).

FLSA Exempt Status: The Staff Attorney is an exempt position.

Benefits:

• Health: The Center pays up to 90%* of the premium for a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage. (* % may differ in various countries).
• Flexibility: The Center currently operates in a hybrid model, requiring staff to work 3 days per week in the office and allowing work 2 days per week from home.
• Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical, and community well-being. The Center provides generous leave, including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend winter holiday time with their loved ones.
• Growth: You will be working with and learning from some of the top legal and operational minds, all passionate about advancing reproductive rights worldwide. You will also be eligible for a stipend to use towards professional growth.
• Global: You will get a front-row seat to the fight for reproductive rights globally. You will have access to Employee Resource Groups to connect to colleagues with similar interests/backgrounds/views.
• Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (*applicable only in US and Kenya).

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights.

Center policy on visa sponsorship for U.S.-based positions: Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by The Center for Reproductive Rights.

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