Staff Attorney

Pregnancy Justice • New York, NY

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Staff Attorney will carry a docket of complex, often nationally significant cases and work at the trial and/or appellate levels in federal and state courts and before administrative bodies, engaging in everything from fact investigation to motion practice, discovery, oral advocacy, trial, post-conviction cases, and appeals. Their work will advance Pregnancy Justice’s goal of ending the criminalization of pregnancy, informed by the organization’s work representing pregnant people in criminal and family defense cases. The Staff Attorney is a passionate, motivated, and bold thinker and an excellent writer who is comfortable with emergent legal strategies. The Staff Attorney works collaboratively and interdepartmentally within Pregnancy Justice, and alongside local counsel, pro bono firms, experts, and state-based advocates to develop and litigate cases nationwide, provide legal research, analysis, and advice and to use cases, where appropriate, as a mechanism to shift public opinion and narratives about pregnant women and pregnancy-capable people, all while holding systems accountable. The Staff Attorney reports to the Senior Staff Attorney.

Requirements

• Exceptional critical thinking, legal research and writing skills, and an ability to independently conduct accurate legal analysis; comfort working within the organization’s collaborative approach to writing;
• An ability to learn and synthesize medical and social science research material;
• Exceptional communication skills, including with clients in legal proceedings, meetings, negotiations, or administrative proceedings; in a wide variety of public education contexts; and in the media.
• Ability to manage time efficiently, maintain a flexible schedule, record case time accurately for purposes of attorney fees, and travel as needed for training, conferences, and presentations;
• Willingness to do the work needed to build effective teams and relationships across diverse issues and communities and willingness to do the work needed to be in relationship with individuals across diverse experience and backgrounds with humility and awareness;
• Demonstrated and verifiable reputation of integrity with no history of disciplinary offenses as an attorney or in any other capacity;
• Advanced-level proficiency in using the MS Office Suite, with familiarity or trainability in other software applications, social media platforms, databases, and research tools, including Westlaw, among many others.
• Demonstrated commitment to and passion for Pregnancy Justice’s mission, goals, and priorities, as well as its organizational culture and values.
• Approaches work with rigor, diligence, and a desire for excellence — not perfectionism — grounded in the discipline that comes from caring about outcomes. Able to self-recognize or receive feedback about one’s mistakes, own them, learn from them, integrate their lessons, and move forward.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, look forward, and be proactive.
• Ability to work outside of regular office hours when necessary.
• Ability to manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
• Ability to interact with all staff in a positive, productive, and respectful manner.
• Full fluency in English is required.
• Integrity: Acts with honesty, transparency, equity, and in accordance with the highest ethical standards. Follows through on all commitments.
• Strategic Thinking: Within the context of the individual’s role, applies big-picture thinking to achieve long-term outcomes, while also focusing on the details of short- to mid-term implementation.
• Sound Judgement: Within the context of the staff attorney role, uses common sense and factual data to make decisions in a timely manner. Accurately differentiates between important and unimportant issues.
• Problem Solving: Helps to identify and resolve conflicts or problems constructively to reach the best solutions for the organization and in furtherance of our priorities. Proposes solutions to effectively address underlying issues.
• Communication: Communicates thoughtfully, clearly, and directly within and across teams.
• Collaboration: Works effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups (both internally and externally), with a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions to build alignment in support of a common goal. Works to ensure a thoughtful, effective, and strategic approach to legal work that values and incorporates all relevant voices, perspectives, areas, and depth of expertise.
• Commitment to Learning: Applies a growth mentality to one’s own development. Models inquisitiveness and an openness to learn and improve. Demonstrates willingness and capacity to receive and provide positive and constructive feedback to all levels of staff with emotional intelligence. Takes ownership of individual growth in order to achieve full potential.
• Nimbleness: Within the context of the individual’s role, demonstrates comfort with ambiguity, needing to be flexible and adaptable, consistently reassessing priorities to make sound decisions and take strategic risks in furtherance of our mission and priorities.
• Suitable candidates must be able to read, write, and interpret documents and perform highly detailed work with accuracy.

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in Spanish or another language is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Representing clients directly in criminal and/or civil cases, strategic litigation, and other litigation as appropriate, including motion practice, discovery, appellate advocacy, and trial;
• Supporting the management of complex criminal and civil rights cases from intake through resolution: conducting investigations, building the factual record, analyzing evidence, developing legal arguments, and independently drafting legal memoranda, motion papers, and briefs with clarity, precision, and persuasion;
• Identification of and outreach to experts and amici; drafting amicus briefs;
• Developing relationships with state-based advocates and organizations who head state-based advocacy to support those efforts and provide relevant Pregnancy Justice expertise to help win cases;
• Contributing to and drafting Pregnancy Justice’s reports, articles, op-eds, and other materials published by Pregnancy Justice;
• Communicating and working effectively with external audiences such as the news media, government officials, and coalition partners (must be able to function as an effective spokesperson for clients and for Pregnancy Justice);
• Representing Pregnancy Justice at events, conferences, and speaking engagements;
• Traveling as needed to meet with clients, appear for legal proceedings, attend and present at events or conferences, and to conduct trainings of lawyers and other stakeholders.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision insurance
• group term life and AD&D insurance
• flexible spending accounts
• commuter benefits
• 403(b) retirement plan
• annual paid time off (20 vacation days; 10 sick days; 5 personal days; 1 floating holiday, federal holidays, and end of year office closure Dec. 24 -Jan. 1)
• 4 months of paid family leave
• professional development funding

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed