Associate/Senior Counsel – Voting Rights

LatinoJustice PRLDEF•New York, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Founded as the Puerto Rican Legal Defense & Education Fund in 1972, LatinoJustice PRLDEF uses and challenges law to create a more just and equitable society. We transform harmful systems, empower our communities, fight for racial justice, and grow the next generation of líderes. LatinoJustice focuses on five pillars of work: Economic Justice (i.e., education, employment, and housing), Immigrant Rights, Voting Rights, Policing and Prison Reform, and Leadership Development. Our Racial Justice Project engages in advocacy and litigation on behalf of Afro-Latino and Indigenous-Latino members of our communities. LatinoJustice utilizes a variety of strategies—including litigation, advocacy, and community education and empowerment—to achieve strategic priorities on the issues that are most critical to the advancement and wellbeing of the Latino community. Since its inception, LatinoJustice has brought groundbreaking litigation in key areas including establishing a right to bilingual education in public schools, providing bilingual ballots and language assistance to Spanish-speaking voters, and fighting anti-immigrant ordinances. Our current litigation docket includes demanding greater law enforcement transparency and accountability; advocating for fair pay of home care workers; defending school districts’ efforts to diversify the student body of magnet schools and specialized high schools; challenging local law enforcement agencies that cooperate with federal immigration authorities and illegally detain and hold immigrants for ICE; and challenging redistricting plans that dilutes the votes of Latinx, Black, and Asian voters. LatinoJustice PRLDEF (LJP) seeks an experienced and dynamic litigator to advance LJP’s voting rights litigation docket at a critical time when members of our community’s right to vote is under attack. LJP’s Associate/Senior Counsel for Voting Rights identifies and develops new voting rights litigation, helps lead and support existing litigation matters, and manages their effective execution. In addition, the Associate/Senior Counsel maintains their own voting rights litigation docket. This position will have extensive collaboration with other members of the legal and advocacy teams as needed. The position requires an individual with a proven track record in voting rights and reform. The successful candidate is someone who constantly surveys the external environment to identify opportunities for LJP to do cutting edge litigation and then develops and implements litigation; cultivates and maintains productive working relationships with allied voting rights groups; has a strong orientation to community-driven litigation and advocacy with a movement lawyering lens. This position requires an experienced voting rights and redistricting litigator, who is a strategic thinker with demonstrated proficiency in the intersectionality of voting rights with other core areas (pillars) of LJP’s work. This full-time position is based in LJP’s New York City office and reports to the Deputy General Counsel.

Requirements

J.D. degree and at least two (2) years of legal experience for Associate Counsel and seven (7) years of legal experience for Senior Counsel , including researching and drafting complaints, pleadings, briefs, and legal memoranda, engaging in discovery and notion practice, and conducting evidentiary hearings and oral arguments in the trial and appellate courts.
Admission to practice law in good standing is required.
Admission to New York State Bar preferred.
Admission to other primary state bars designated by LatinoJustice will be considered.
Demonstrated commitment to voting rights and LJP’s other core issue areas (pillars).
Ability to work with a wide range of people and foster a team environment, working collaboratively and respectfully with colleagues.
Experience developing and litigating civil rights and anti-discrimination claims, particularly in the areas of voting rights and redistricting.
Candidates with less than 2 years of experience but who have performed extensive work in voting rights/redistricting and federal litigation will be considered.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding.
Demonstrated ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively.
Ability to communicate effectively and fluently with Spanish-speaking client community and media, including the ability to create community education and communication resources in Spanish.
Self-motivated, diligent, and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure.
Creativity, determination, and deep passion for LJP’s work.
Excellent legal analytical and research skills.

Responsibilities

Litigate cases targeted at protecting voting rights and stemming the dilution of Latinx voting strength. This includes researching and drafting complaints, pleadings, briefs, and legal memoranda, engaging in discovery and motion practice, and conducting evidentiary hearings and oral arguments in the trial and appellate courts.
Identify issues and develop new cases.
Engage in public speaking at conferences and other forums.
Draft and edit public education and legal materials, in collaboration with LJP’s advocacy and communications teams.
Communicates with clients and the community, including internal and external collaborators.
Build and maintain relationships with voting rights experts, organizations, community stakeholders, academics, and thought leaders to engage them in LJP’s work and implement collaborative projects.
Participate in LJP’s Cada Voto Cuenta bilingual election protection program, in collaboration with LJP’s advocacy and communications teams.
Work on special projects and other duties as assigned.
Mentor interns and legal fellows assigned to voting rights cases and projects.