Legal Director

The Opportunity

ALC seeks an experienced social justice attorney to join its executive team. This is a unique opportunity to guide and expand movement lawyering at an anchor civil rights organization. The Legal Director will play a key role in our community lawyering model of direct legal services and community engagement that feeds into policy advocacy and impact litigation. The Legal Director will provide strategic vision, expertise, and leadership in the delivery of high-quality, client-centered legal services and impact litigation.

In partnership with organizational leaders, the Legal Director will oversee the development of legal strategies that are complementary to and integrated into our broader work to achieve advocacy goals across our six issue areas: Community Safety, Immigrant Rights, Workers’ Rights, Housing Rights, National Security and Civil Rights, and Voting Rights. The Legal Director will forecast key trends in the law that may impact our work and has the ability to assess the broader legal landscape. As a member of the Executive Team, the Legal Director will establish organizational goals and guide the allocation of resources for legal work. 

In addition, the Legal Director will play a critical oversight role in strengthening ALC’s infrastructure to sustain robust legal services and impact litigation. Working with ALC’s operations team, the Director will oversee legal management and support systems and protocols. The ideal candidate has significant experience managing attorneys and legal staff, expertise in issues impacting low-income Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities, including Arab, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities, and is committed to community lawyering principles and building leadership and power with and for impacted communities.  

Candidates should bring a leadership style grounded in principles of equity and inclusion and be able to partner with ALC’s leadership and staff to build connectivity and cohesion across the organization. The Legal Director is a member of ALC’s executive team and reports to the Executive Director.

The Organization

ALC is the nation’s first legal organization focusing on advancing and defending the civil rights of API communities, including Arab and Middle Eastern communities. Since 1972, ALC has ensured access to affordable housing in San Francisco’s Chinatown, litigated high-profile civil rights cases, advocated for the passage of landmark policy changes, and provided an array of services, including community education, advocacy, and direct client representation to further the rights of low-income immigrants and communities of color. Current program areas include Community Safety, Housing Rights, Immigrant Rights, National Security & Civil Rights, Workers’ Rights, and Voting Rights. 

Responsibilities

• Oversee impact and strategic litigation, including amicus and appellate matters and individual cases as appropriate.
• Supervise 4-6 direct reports, including Senior Counsels, a Legal Operations Manager, and a Senior Paralegal; mentor and advise ALC attorneys at all levels to help develop legal skills.
• Assess, evaluate, and enhance ALC’s work at the intersection of direct legal services and impact litigation, collaborating with our program, policy, and communications teams to advance our strategic priorities. 
• Develop and maintain in-depth knowledge of ALC’s practice areas and key legal issues affecting API communities to increase organizational impact.
• Oversee case strategy screen development and case staffing.
• Oversee Legal Operations role in legal intake processes, conflict checks, document retention, and confidentiality.
• Ensure that Legal Department staff members and projects have clearly defined roles, goals, and systems for effectively managing impact litigation.
• Build capacity for ALC’s legal work by expanding and maintaining relationships with civil rights, legal aid, and pro bono partners.
• Provide analysis of court rulings and legal strategy for staff; articulate ALC’s legal analysis to the public and the media as requested by the Executive Director and Communications Director.
• Work with ALC’s Program Directors and Supervising Attorneys to guide professional development for attorneys, including supporting the development of legal analysis, writing, oral argument, and presentation skills; provide mentorship and ensure ongoing professional development of department staff.

All ALC staff are expected to participate in regular check-in meetings with their supervisor/supervisees, staff meetings, team meetings, and other organization meetings, as required. This includes two (2) annual retreats, an anniversary celebration dinner, and meetings as needed in the San Francisco Bay area. 

The above statements are not intended to encompass all functions of the position; rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of the requirements of the position. Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this posting.

Qualifications

• J.D. and membership in good standing in the California State Bar
• 10+ years of experience in civil litigation, including all aspects of civil trial and appellate litigation in state/federal court, including case development and filing, discovery, motions practice, evidentiary proceedings, trials, appeals, mediation, settlements, and budgets, with a strong background in civil rights and public interest law.
• Experience in direct legal services is a plus 
• Successful management experience, ideally in a legal non-profit or social justice organization
• Knowledge and understanding of substantive law and civil rights issues related to ALC’s mission
• Strong legal skills and ability to analyze system-level problems and demonstrated track record of creative lawyering
• Experience with community lawyering and building power for and with grassroots community organizations and individuals
• A trusted colleague who works effectively within a nonprofit management team toward organizational goals and objectives
• Excellent research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills