Staff Attorney, Litigation Team

Job Description – Transgender Law Center

Job Title:Staff Attorney, Litigation Team

Status: Full-time, exempt

Location: This position can be remote or work out of TLC's offices in Oakland or Brooklyn

Reports to: Legal Director or Legal Director's Designee

Salary: $80,000-$85,000 depending on experience and location

About Transgender Law Center

Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs various community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender-nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation. (www.transgenderlawcenter.org)

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is within TLC’s Litigation Team and will focus on investigating, developing and litigating cases on behalf of trans and gender-nonconforming people.

Primary Responsibilities

• Investigate and develop potential new cases, including corresponding with and meeting with potential clients, conducting research, finding and reviewing records, and drafting demand letters.
• Develop litigation strategy, manage relationships with co-counsel, perform legal research, and draft or edit briefs.
• With supervision, assume responsibility for all stages of litigation, including motion practice, discovery, trial, appeals, settlement negotiations, and settlement monitoring.
• As needed, join and support existing teams working on previously-filed litigation.
• When necessary, support TLC’s legal services project, including reviewing inquiries, researching local and state laws, policies, and procedures, and crafting responses with personalized legal information.
• Engage in direct advocacy on behalf of criminalized people by, for instance, calling or sending advocacy letters to public defenders or prison officials, and identifying other creative solutions.
• Develop and draft written resources including know-your-rights material and sample legal documents.
• Engage in education efforts for community members and attorneys, including speaking at conferences, trainings, and webinars.
• Support the work of the legal team and the organization generally.
• Other duties as assigned.

The position is full time and may include travel and occasional work at nights and on weekends.

QUALIFICATIONS and REQUIREMENTS

• Membership in the bar of one or more states.
• At least three years of experience practicing law in the areas of civil rights litigation, criminal defense, immigration, or legal aid.
• Experience with legal or policy advocacy relating to incarceration, criminalization or law enforcement.
• Familiarity with transgender and gender nonconforming communities.
• Experience working with communities of color and transgender communities.
• Deep understanding of intersecting oppressions including anti-Blackness, white supremacy, transphobia, ableism, misogyny, colonialism, and capitalism.
• Strong writing, editing, and legal research skills and experience with public speaking.
• Skill at working collaboratively both within the organization and with other groups.
• Strong personal organization and time management skills.
• Creativity and good judgment.
• Enthusiasm for the work of the organization and its potential.
• Willingness to travel and to work long hours when necessary.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Significant litigation experience.
• Experience working with pro-bono attorneys.
• Spanish language skills.

BENEFITS

• Medical/dental/vision (TLC covers100% of premiums for employees, 75% for dependents)
• Employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account (currently $2,000 per year)
• Optional employee-funded Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Fund that can grant financial assistance for certain qualifying disasters and personal hardships
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 3 weeks of sick leave
• 19 days vacation (24 after 3 years’ employment) and 12 holidays
• Flexible Friday schedule with organization-wide ‘no internal meetings’ practice
• Organizational ‘slowdown’ in winter and summer
• Two-weeks paid time off in the summer and 2 weeks paid time off at the end of the year (separate from employee vacation time)
• 2-month paid sabbatical program available after 5 years’ employment
• Retirement plan with partial organizational matching
• Indemnity insurance for critical illness, hospital confinement, and accidents
• Professional development & coaching
• Office setup, phone and internet reimbursement (if working from home)
• Additional mental health, budgeting, travel, and pet benefits

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Transgender Law Center is proud to be an affirmative action employer. All interested individuals, including Black, indigenous, and other people of color; women and femmes; people with disabilities; and people who are transgender, intersex, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer are particularly urged to apply. For more information about Transgender Law Center please visit our website: www.transgenderlawcenter.org.