Description:
The Justice System Reform (JSR) program promotes social, economic, and racial justice by focusing on directly affected communities who bear the brunt of our deeply flawed and intractably racist system of mass incarceration. Informed and led by community input, we use litigation, organizing, issue advocacy campaigns, communications, and expert policy analysis in a braided approach to disrupt, dismantle, and reimagine. Our work seeks to support, protect, and empower safe and healthy communities while creating a less punitive, more accountable criminal legal system. JSR also seeks to increase our grassroots partners' capacity to build power and achieve demands that change the living conditions of their base.Responsibilities for Counsel, Justice System Reform:
- Help identify, develop, and implement litigation, legislative, and policy reform strategies at the federal, state, and local levels, consistent with A Non-Profit Organization's priorities.
- Provide litigation support for JSR cases, including strategizing the case and its litigation, working with lead counsel in each case to ensure efficient coverage of duties (such as drafting briefs, working with experts, engaging in discovery, participating in depositions, hearings and trials), and communicating effectively with A Non-Profit Organization team members, co-counsel, and clients.
- Provide legal and policy analysis and advocacy to grassroots campaigns, partners, and individuals fighting for criminal justice reform, economic justice, racial justice, and dignity for all.
- Represent A Non-Profit Organization in advocacy and informational communications and meetings with a wide range of stakeholders, including, but not limited to, historically disadvantaged and marginalized communities, directly impacted individuals, and government officials (e.g., state legislators, prosecutors, county commissioners, etc.).
- Work with colleagues to identify new partners and potential cases to further A Non-Profit Organization's overall mission.
- Participate in professional development to sharpen skills as a movement lawyer and policy expert.
Required Qualifications:
- Licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina, or ability to waive in promptly.
- At least one year of experience with legal advocacy and/or policy reform at the federal, state, or local level in the areas of either criminal justice or civil rights.
- Excellent research, writing, and public speaking skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice principles and to A Non-Profit Organization's community-lawyering model of practice
- Ability to develop and manage strong relationships and partnerships with coalitions of organizations and community members.
- Ability to think and plan strategically, including an ability to lead and manage litigation or issue-advocacy campaigns involving multiple issues and stakeholders.
- Ability to be self-reliant, self-directed, and highly efficient; to independently resolve problems; to communicate clearly as part of a cross-disciplinary team of lawyers, communications specialists, organizers, and researchers; to take responsibility for multiple cases at a time; and be a strong team player.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion; respect for differences in race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability, and socioeconomic background.
- As needed, the ability to travel – locally, regionally, and nationally – and work evenings and weekends.