Description:
Muslim Advocates (MA)—a national legal-advocacy, social-justice, and educational organization—seeks applications from talented, motivated, and experienced attorneys wishing to join our growing legal team as a Deputy Legal Director.Status: Full time
Classification: Exempt
Location: MA's staff works remotely within the United States, with most of the team based on the East Coast. Periodic domestic travel for staff gatherings, court appearances, case development, fundraising events, and other professional reasons is required.
Reports to: Legal Director and Executive Director
Background:
MA's movement-centered mission works with and for diverse Black, African, Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, and South Asian (BAAMEMSA) communities, and other historically marginalized communities across the U.S., to build community power, fight systemic oppression, and demand shared wellbeing. We work in coalition with grassroots and community-based partners to dismantle discriminatory systems, including systems of state surveillance, mass incarceration, detention and deportation, and family regulation. We also work to defend movements from targeted state repression related to their principled dissent. Recognizing the limitations of any singular strategy, we use a combination of public education, policy work, systemic-change litigation, direct legal services, and technical assistance to movement leaders and community-based partners.
Position Summary:
The Deputy Legal Director will play a key leadership role in advancing MA's mission. Reporting to the Legal and Executive Directors, the role will directly lead high-impact civil rights litigation and will support the Legal Director in supervising the legal work of a growing team of staff attorneys and fellows to ensure MA's legal work is of the highest level. This role will also help determine the strategic direction of MA's legal docket, while serving as a thought partner to the Legal Director and collaborating with partner organizations, pro bono counsel, and key stakeholders to expand the reach and impact of MA's work. This role sits on the Senior Management Team of the organization. Periodic travel will be required for case work, fundraising and other organizational needs.
Roles and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Litigation Leadership
- Lead, develop, and manage complex civil rights cases, including case strategy, pleadings, discovery, motions, trials, appeals, and settlements.
- Develop innovative legal theories to advance civil rights protections for BAAMEMSA and other vulnerable communities in the U.S.
- Serve as lead counsel or co-counsel on significant impact litigation.
- Supervise and mentor staff attorneys, legal fellows, and legal assistants to ensure excellent legal work-product, while fostering professional growth and skill development.
- Be a warm, accessible leader in the department. Regularly provide formal and informal feedback, conduct evaluations, and ensure effective workload-management.
- Support the Legal Director in overseeing the legal team and MA's litigation docket.
Strategic Leadership & Partnerships
- Collaborate with the Legal Director to shape MA's strategic litigation priorities and advocacy initiatives.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with grassroots organizations, law firms, nonprofit partners, and pro bono counsel.
- Participate in case review meetings, coalition efforts, and pro bono collaborations.
- Build strong relationships with impacted communities and clients, emphasizing community-centered lawyering.
- Engage in public education, speaking engagements, and outreach to advance MA's mission.
- Serve as a legal resource to support policy initiatives and civic engagement efforts.
- Assist the Legal Director with managing client relationships and organizational partnerships.
- Contribute to the development of grant proposals, reports, and fundraising strategies to support MA's legal work.
- Serve as a representative of MA in external meetings, conferences, and media engagements when appropriate.
- Serve as an organizational ambassador capable of effectively communicating MA's mission and values to a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
Qualifications:
A Deputy Legal Director should have the following:
- J.D. from an accredited law school and admission in good standing to the bar of any U.S. state or D.C.
- 10+ years of experience in complex civil litigation or civil rights law (impact litigation experience strongly preferred).
- Proven track record of supervising attorneys and/or leading legal teams.
- Exceptional legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple cases and projects simultaneously.
- Commitment to MA's mission and values, with a deep understanding of civil rights issues affecting BAAMEMSA, immigrant, and other marginalized communities.
- Strong interpersonal and partnership-building skills.
- Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
- Sound professional judgment, critical-thinking skills, and self-motivation.
- Ability to receive and implement feedback effectively.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with grant reporting and funding proposals.
- Familiarity with community lawyering approaches and coalition-building.
- Knowledge of emerging issues in civil rights and constitutional law.
MA is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. Black, indigenous, and other people of color, people with disabilities, individuals with diverse traditions and beliefs (non-religious or religious), people with any gender identity or expression, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with lived experience of economic struggle are strongly encouraged to apply.
Salary and Compensation: The salary is commensurate with experience. The preferred range of experience is 10+ years of legal practice. The expected salary range is $155,000 to $175,000. Muslim Advocates offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should apply online through this link:
https://muslimadvocates.applytojob.com/apply/0sQ6KHva4t/Deputy-Legal-Director
Please be sure to upload the following materials with your application:
- a cover letter specifying your interest in working with MA and your skills and relevant experience
- a resume
- a list of at least 3 professional references who can speak to your recent legal-advocacy experience
- two legal-writing samples no greater than 20 pages in length each and that are an accurate reflection of work that you did either exclusively or predominantly.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.
For more information about MA, visit: www.muslimadvocates.org.
