Commission on Immigration - Staff Attorney 2/Chief Counsel

American Bar Association•Washington, DC

48d•Hybrid

About The Position

The American Bar Association (ABA) is a member-based organization dedicated to advancing the rule of law in the United States and globally. The ABA provides practical resources for legal professionals, conducts law school accreditation, and develops model ethics codes. The organization is committed to ensuring access to justice, a fair legal process, and respect for the rule of law. ABA staff benefit from continuing education and career development opportunities, with work focused on eliminating bias, enhancing diversity, and advancing the rule of law. The ABA offers a generous benefits package, including 401(k), medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health spending accounts, supplemental life and disability insurance, prepaid legal programs, and a complimentary ABA membership. Flexible/hybrid work arrangements may be available for residents of CA, DC, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, TX, VA, and WI. Residency requirements may apply. ABA employees are eligible to apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

Requirements

JD and active bar admission in at least one jurisdiction.
At least 4 years working in relevant specialized area of law.
High level of skills at legal writing and research, oral and written communications, and organizational skill.
Substantial experience in policy analysis.

Responsibilities

Conduct research and write speeches, memoranda, articles, frequently for publication.
Provide substantive advice, information and make policy recommendations. Serve as principal ABA expert on a substantive area of law or public policy. Includes contacts with government entities and with the media.
Give presentations and/or teach on legal and public policy issues. Act as a consultant designing substantive content of events, developing model documents, and conducting trainings.
Manage substantive/legal project aspects. Oversee research, report-writing, and publication. Coordinate or support member sub-groups and coordinate with external constituencies. Manage consultants, interns/externs.
Analyze laws, regulations, court rules and policies/policy proposals; prepare memoranda of law or on public policy; provide legal counsel.
Research, draft, write, review and critique legislative/rule/policy or regulatory text. Manage policy adoption process.
Secure outside funding; write grants; deal with grantmakers.
Performs other related duties as required.