Associate General Counsel

Associate General Counsel

The NAACP Empowerment Programs, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for equal rights, seeks an Associate General Counsel, to join the organization's growing Legal Department. The NAACP Is the nation's largest and oldest civil rights organization. It was established to combat racial violence, injustice, and discrimination against Black Americans, playing a key role in major legal battles and advocacy for social equality. The Associate General Counsel will help identify, develop and supervise high-stakes civil-rights matters, focusing on litigation and legal advocacy in a variety of areas ranging from voting rights, criminal justice, economic justice, employment, fair housing, corporate accountability, and equal educational opportunity. The ideal candidate will have meaningful litigation experience and excellent credentials. Excellent legal writing skills are a must, as is meaningful litigation experience, the ability to take significant responsibility for cases and skillfully move them forward, strong oral presentation skills, and the ability to work quickly, thoughtfully, and collaboratively in a challenging and fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities/Duties

Under the direction of the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel will perform the following duties, to include, but not limited to:

• Litigation
  • Develop affirmative civil rights litigation in federal and state courts.
  • Provide technical assistance and expert legal advice to NAACP branches and state conferences, cooperating attorneys, and others who seek assistance from the NAACP.
  • Skillfully handle all aspects of litigation from investigation through appeal.
  • Manage co-counsel relationships with other civil rights organizations, law firms, unions or other entities and ensure that litigation strategies are aligned.
  • Research and draft complaints, motions, briefs, memoranda, letters, and other materials, while ensuring that all legal work filed or undertaken by the NAACP meets the highest standards of excellence.
  • Drafting petitions for certiorari, merits briefs, and amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court, other federal appellate courts, and state courts.
  • Lead the development and implementation of special initiatives and civil rights advocacy campaigns, leveraging the organization's unique public education, communication and grassroots mobilization infrastructure.
  • Assisting NAACP colleagues in developing impact litigation skills.
• Legal Advocacy
  • Develop and lead collaborations with partners from a wide range of sectors.
  • Identify relevant policy issues that align with the NAACP's mission.
  • Assist with training and legal advocacy efforts.
  • Prepare policy reports, white papers, public education materials, and other legal advocacy materials.
  • Serving as a public thought leader on civil rights issues.
• Nonprofit Governance and Corporate Matters
  • Support governance for the NAACP and its affiliated entities.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel.

Qualifications

Education/Experience

Required

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing in a State bar with the ability to become admitted in Maryland or D.C. (based on office location).
• Between 8 and 20 years of relevant experience litigating civil rights cases in federal or state courts.
• Track record of excellence in performing legal research and drafting legal documents (including court filings such as complaints, dispositive motions, and appeals) in a timely, professional and self-directed manner.
• Ability to become proficient in new civil rights issue areas and develop new and impactful legal strategies.
• Ability to partner with other professionals across the NAACP network.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with clients, colleagues, and partner organizations.
• Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts.
• Ability to handle a diverse docket of matters and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and civil rights.

Preferred

• Experience leading affirmative litigation, including crafting innovative theories, investigating allegations, and building factual records.
• Demonstrated interest in voting rights or election law.
• Ability to take on public speaking and other communications responsibilities that help to educate the public about the NAACP's civil rights work.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced work environment.