Senior Attorney or Counsel

Lambda Legal•Chicago, IL

7d•$110,061 - $162,870•Hybrid

About The Position

Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Our clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal also has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC. We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization. Senior Attorney or Counsel Senior Attorneys and Counsel at Lambda Legal engage in cutting-edge impact litigation, public policy advocacy, and education furthering Lambda Legal’s mission. Attorneys will work independently and collaboratively to help serve Lambda Legal’s Midwestern Regional Office and to further the mission of Lambda Legal nationwide.

Requirements

J.D. degree (or equivalent) from an ABA-accredited law school
Admission to the practice of law
Licensed to practice law in Illinois, able to waive into the Illinois bar, or willing to take the next available bar exam.
Strong written and oral advocacy skills, including the ability to address legal and other complex issues in clear, persuasive terms for a wide variety of audience.
Creativity, tenacity, and leadership capacity to develop and execute strategies that advance Lambda Legal’s mission
Cultural humility and a commitment to addressing the mutually reinforcing forms of discrimination that exist in our society, including discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, immigration status, disability, education and class; successful candidates will demonstrate their appreciation of why we prioritize stopping these forms of discrimination within our work to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status
Ability to skillfully and empathetically interact with and counsel clients from the broad range of communities that Lambda Legal serves, including communities of color, immigrant communities, and lower-income communities
Ability to operate with a high level of independence and initiative, to work well with others, to meet deadlines, and to manage stressful situations with equanimity
Successful candidates will embrace and champion our Organizational Values and DEIB Philosophy Statement, bringing a commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace. They will thrive in a diverse environment, actively contributing to a culture that respects and uplifts the full spectrum of communities Lambda Legal serves.

Nice To Haves

Prior work on behalf of LGBTQ+ people and/or people living with HIV and/or experience working with other historically marginalized communities
Trial experience
Teaching or training experience
Leadership or supervisory experience of other legal professionals
Spanish language proficiency

Responsibilities

Devise legal theories and litigation strategies
Identify and cultivate litigation opportunities, whether from our Legal Help Desk, referrals from private attorneys, media accounts, in response to government action, or other sources
Conduct litigation in trial and appellate courts with a high degree of independence
Provide amicus curiae support through brief writing and coordination
Consult with private lawyers who are handling matters related to Lambda Legal’s areas of expertise
Prepare deposition and trial materials in office when needed with Legal team members
Conceptualize and draft legislative and administrative proposals affecting the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV
Track and analyze relevant proposals by others, often under significant time pressure
Provide testimony, administrative and regulatory comments, and letters of support or opposition concerning policy proposals
Work with stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels—including elected and appointed officials, community leaders, and partner organizations—to support or oppose policy proposals
Cultivate relationships with key coalition partners and allied organizations
Pursue opportunities to share Lambda Legal’s organizational expertise, including by speaking at legal conferences, participating in continuing legal education programs, giving interviews to print, radio, television, and web reporters, and engaging in other public speaking
Work collaboratively with colleagues in Lambda Legal’s Communications and Development Departments to advance knowledge about and gain support for Lambda Legal’s efforts to secure full legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV
Counsels shall be required to satisfy all the criteria listed above specified for Senior Attorneys, as set forth in their position description, with their respective criteria for success. In addition, they will be responsible for administrative supervision and management, when applicable, and a demonstration of leadership in the department.

Benefits

Medical benefits that begin on your start date
Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date)
Short & Long-Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date)
403(b) Retirement Plan (employer contribution and matching program begins after 90 days of employment)
Paid Vacation (15 Days)
Sick Leave (12 Days)
Personal Leave (3 Days)
Religious Observance Leave (3 Days)
Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave
Floating Holiday (1 Day)
12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures
Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits
Health Reimbursement Account
Annual professional development funds
$50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement
Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
Premium subscription to the Calm App
Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions)