Senior Vice President of Legal Advocacy

The Legal Action Center (LAC) seeks a visionary, experienced Senior Vice President of Legal Advocacy to lead our legal department and serve on the executive team. This is an opportunity for a seasoned public-interest attorney to shape strategy, lead a talented team of lawyers and advocates, and drive high-impact legal advocacy at a pivotal moment of generational change for our organization. Reporting to the Director/President, the SVP will oversee the full scope of LAC's legal programming — from setting advocacy priorities to supervising complex cases to building the next generation of LAC's lawyers.

Location: New York City, hybrid work model.

About the Organization: LAC advocates for people who use drugs, are in recovery, live with HIV/AIDS or mental health conditions, or have arrest/conviction records — combating discrimination and working to shrink the criminal legal system's footprint. For over 50 years, with offices in New York City and Washington, D.C., LAC has used impact litigation, legal services, education, and policy advocacy to dismantle systemic racial barriers. LAC's legal team serves over 1,000 clients annually and reaches thousands more through education and technical assistance, informing initiatives like Clean Slate NY. Visit our website: to learn more about our legal services and impact litigation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Direct the Legal Department

• Oversee all legal department work — direct services, impact litigation, technical assistance, and education
• Oversee hiring, training, supervision, and mentorship of all department staff and interns
• Support, supervise, and develop four direct reports: the Deputy Director of Legal Services, Deputy Directors of Litigation, Deputy Director of Litigation & Legal Services, and Staff Attorney for CHAMP.
• Oversee LAC's litigation practice: set strategic direction with deputy directors, support case management, update litigation policies and procedures, and develop pro bono partners
• Participate in select litigation, direct services, technical assistance, and education work
• Direct department strategic planning, ensuring legal work aligns with LAC's priorities, centers racial justice and equity, and engage people with lived experience
• Lead the department's implementation of LAC's strategic plan, including policies and procedures on AI use, and ensure staff and subcontractors meet program deliverables
• Provide public thought leadership as media spokesperson and through public presentations, and encourage the same among legal staff

Organization-wide Leadership

• Serve on the executive team and help guide agency strategic planning and implementation
• Partner with senior program staff on internal communications, cross-program collaboration, and coordinated fundraising and advocacy
• Conduct limited general counsel functions as needed, with support from pro bono counsel

Fundraising and Grants Management

• Direct legal department fundraising and grants management, including identifying funding prospects and writing proposals, renewals, and reports with development and program staff
• Cultivate private and public funding

Communications

• Work with the Director of Communications on strategic communications planning and implementation

External Relations and Collaboration

• Represent LAC in statewide and national forums, task forces, and coalitions
• Build relationships with stakeholders, funders, and community partners to support advocacy efforts
• Grow relationships with outside attorneys and law firms to expand pro bono support and co-counsel opportunities

Job Qualifications

Required

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar
• 15+ years of legal experience, including 8–10+ years of civil litigation in a public interest setting or plaintiff's firm
• Demonstrated experience supervising attorneys and managing a legal department
• Track record leading complex, multi-year litigation on cutting-edge issues; class action or systemic advocacy experience a plus
• Strong written and oral advocacy skills
• Deep commitment to LAC's mission and to racial, economic, and social justice
• Experience speaking publicly and to the media
• Preferred experience in relevant practice areas — e.g., employment and housing discrimination, disability rights, civil rights, health privacy, health insurance, reentry, substance use, mental health, and HIV
• Experience creating or editing legal educational resources for a lay audience
• Familiarity with New York City and State legal and policy landscapes
• Experience working in or closely with nonprofit organizations
• Existing relationships within the New York legal and advocacy community

The Legal Action Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Individuals directly affected or impacted are strongly encouraged to apply.