The Team

NCYL’s Legal Advocacy team engages in impact litigation across all the issues on which NCYL works, including civil rights, youth justice, ensuring equitable education, youth healthcare access, prevention of harms from the family regulation system, access to core public benefits, among other priority areas. The team brings systemic litigation in federal and state courts to reform systems that serve children and youth, often in collaboration with other public interest legal organizations and with support from pro bono law firm partners. A description of our current cases can be found here: https://youthlaw.org/legal-advocacy-impact-litigation.

The Position

The Attorney supports the implementation and maintenance of ongoing litigation, as well as related policy and advocacy initiatives. The role assists litigation efforts in all phases, from investigations and filing complaints through trial and appeal. This work includes but is not limited to legal research, factual development, document review, drafting memos and pleadings, handling depositions, assisting with preparation of witnesses, and expert vetting.

Essential Functions

• Conduct case factual and legal development to support investigations, including outreach to external partners, youth and families, and others; record and data review; legal research and drafting pre-litigation memos. 
• Assist with pleading and proving case claims, including document review; preparing and handling depositions; witness preparation; communication with class members and clients; expert vetting; drafting declarations, pleadings, motions, briefs, legal memos and discovery requests and responses; presenting oral argument, as necessary; settlement negotiation preparation; and cite/ legal checks and line edits.   
• Assist with implementing remedies and settlement agreements, including tracking compliance; communicating with clients, monitors, co-counsel, and opposing counsel; and drafting related motions and declarations.   
• Collaborate with other NCYL staff and external partners to represent NCYL's litigation, including through communications/messaging and at conferences.  
• Provide input into developing litigation strategy aligned with NCYL's mission and strategic plan. 
• May direct paralegals and supervise fellows and law/policy clerks as needed.
• Assist with other duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Minimum of 2-5 years of relevant experience since law school graduation.
• Member in good standing of the bar of at least one state.
• A license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Other Qualifications

• Understanding of and experience in children’s rights, civil rights litigation, and children’s interactions with public systems. 
• Understanding of the role of structural racism and bias in public systems.
• Experience building rapport and respect with diverse youth and their families.
• Excellent research, writing, analytical and creative problem-solving skills. 
• Strong, clear, and persuasive oral communication skills.
• Organized, self-motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to represent NCYL in a courteous and professional manner.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, efficiently multi-task, and produce a high-quality work product in a fast-paced environment.
• Excitement and ability to apply multiple advocacy strategies and to learn new skills in the service of advocacy goals.
• Strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with the ability to apply a racial and social justice lens to advocacy while centering the marginalized voices of children, youth, and their families.
• Commitment to NCYL’s mission and goals.
• In addition to English, oral and written fluency in another language (e.g., Spanish, Hmong, Arabic, Somali) is preferred.

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Some travel will be required.

Salary, Benefits and Location

This is a full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary range of $88,300.00 - $103,800.00 annually. Once an offer is made, the salary is not open to negotiation.

A geographic salary differential may be applied if the candidate resides somewhere other than the Oakland, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Boston, MA, New York City, Washington, DC or equivalent metro areas. This means that the salary would be reduced if the candidate resides in an area where the cost of labor is less than that of the San Francisco Bay Area.

NCYL provides a robust benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, generous vacation and sick benefits, flexible spending account, commuter benefits, employer contribution to a retirement plan and short-term and long-term disability insurance.

NCYL is registered to do business in the following 13 locations: California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington DC, and Wisconsin. We are currently registering in Minnesota and Washington State. If a candidate is hired but lives in a state where NCYL is not currently registered to do business, their start date may need to be delayed until registration can be completed in the new state. This process may take a few weeks to complete.

All positions at NCYL are at-will and paid for by grants and donations; thus, employment with NCYL will be contingent upon continued receipt of funding. Nothing in the statement changes the at-will employment relationship.

This position is part of the bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW). While a collective bargaining agreement is not currently in place, it is anticipated in the future.
   

How to Apply  

Please submit:

• cover letter
• resume, and 
• litigation-based writing sample (click on “Upload Additional Files” to submit)

We do not use AI to auto-reject resumes. A human is always involved in decision-making. We ask that candidates submit original, personally-written resumes and cover letters. Please, no emails or calls. 

If you are selected to move forward, you will be contacted for an initial phone screening.

We welcome applications from individuals with different ideas, experiences, and perspectives. Applicants who meet the above criteria with lived experience within any of our practice areas are strongly encouraged to apply.