Staff Attorney

Planned Parenthood Federation of America • Washington, DC

2d • $131,000 - $151,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood Action Fund seek a Staff Attorney. This job will report to a Managing Senior Staff Attorney/Managing Senior Counsel in the Public Policy, Litigation and Law (L&L) department, within the Legal division of PPFA. L&L provides legal advice to, and when appropriate conducts litigation in, state and federal courts across the country on behalf of PPFA and Planned Parenthood affiliates in order to protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care.

The primary responsibilities of the attorney in this position will revolve around conducting significant and high-visibility litigation on behalf of PPFA or Planned Parenthood affiliates, and providing legal advice to PPFA and Planned Parenthood affiliates about legal issues such as pending legislation, regulatory matters, and activities of those opposed to Planned Parenthood that interfere with our ability to provide comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion.

The attorney in this position will work closely with the members of the PPL&L team, as well as with affiliate leadership and staff; other PPFA colleagues; coalition partners; and outside counsel.

The attorney in this position will conduct litigation in state and federal courts across the country. The Staff Attorney may have opportunities, over time, to draft trial court and appellate briefs and other filings; conduct discovery, including through document production and depositions; prepare fact and expert witnesses for deposition and trial testimony; present evidence and argument in state and federal court; communicate with clients, co-counsel, and opposing counsel; and review communications materials and respond to media inquiries. A staff attorney at the very junior end of the experience range should expect their initial responsibilities to primarily be discrete research and drafting projects.
The attorney in this position will be engaged in work related to pending legislation and regulatory matters; advising clients in navigating a rapidly shifting post-Roe environment, including by working closely with operational and clinical personnel both at PPFA and at affiliates; and coordinating with internal and external partners on litigation and related strategies, among other responsibilities.
Current key areas of activity include litigation, risk advising, and responding to federal and state attacks relating to abortion access, gender affirming care, and participation in public funding programs such as Medicaid and Title X.
The attorney in this position will also support the career development of interns and paralegals and contribute to L&L’s ongoing work to center the communities most affected by laws restricting access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school
• Bachelor’s degree and JD required.
• Eligible to practice in New York or Washington, DC
• 3-6 years of legal practice.
• Trial court and/or appellate drafting and argument experience
• Litigating Administrative Procedure Act claims
• Litigating or advising on issues arising under the Medicaid Act or other federal funding programs
• Experience working on trans rights issues and/or litigating cases to protect trans rights
• Experience working in a coalition and/or with co-counsel for multiple organizational clients
• Managing discovery, including document production and depositions
• Working with fact and expert witnesses, including in preparation for deposition and trial testimony
• Criminal defense and/or prosecutorial experience
• Advising clients on compliance and risk mitigation issues
• Reproductive justice work
• Communications work in connection with litigation
• Work on amicus briefs or strategy
• Mentoring more junior attorneys, interns, and paralegals
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to quickly changing priorities and ambiguous situations
• Exceptional research, analytical, writing, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically and creatively about legal issues
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to positively and successfully manage relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders across organizational lines
• Ability to exercise agility, adaptability, and practicality in providing legal advice
• Commitment to providing professional, authoritative, and timely legal advice and services to all clients
• Excellent judgment and proven experience in analyzing risks and making risk determinations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complicated legal concepts into accessible language for a wide audience
• Ability to excel under pressure in a fast-paced, highly innovative, and rapidly changing environment
• Ability to work collaboratively with program and operations teams
• Knowledge of and sensitivity to different racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and people with different gender identities, cultural differences, and disabilities.

Nice To Haves

• Established interest in public interest work, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and/or impact litigation is a plus, but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Conducting significant and high-visibility litigation on behalf of PPFA or Planned Parenthood affiliates.
• Providing legal advice to PPFA and Planned Parenthood affiliates about legal issues such as pending legislation, regulatory matters, and activities of those opposed to Planned Parenthood that interfere with our ability to provide comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion.
• Conducting litigation in state and federal courts across the country.
• Drafting trial court and appellate briefs and other filings.
• Conducting discovery, including through document production and depositions.
• Preparing fact and expert witnesses for deposition and trial testimony.
• Presenting evidence and argument in state and federal court.
• Communicating with clients, co-counsel, and opposing counsel.
• Reviewing communications materials and responding to media inquiries.
• Advising clients in navigating a rapidly shifting post-Roe environment.
• Coordinating with internal and external partners on litigation and related strategies.
• Responding to federal and state attacks relating to abortion access, gender affirming care, and participation in public funding programs such as Medicaid and Title X.
• Supporting the career development of interns and paralegals.
• Contributing to L&L’s ongoing work to center the communities most affected by laws restricting access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• E-Verify program participation
• Equal employment opportunity employer
• Non-discriminatory work environment
• Commitment to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, customer focus, and innovation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level