Senior Staff Attorney, National Democracy Initiative

Position: Senior Staff Attorney, National Democracy Initiative
Type: Exempt, Full-time, Regular. This position is included in the collective bargaining unit represented by CWA Local 9410.
Location: Remote, with hybrid office access in San Francisco or Oakland, CA. Some domestic travel is required.
Deadline: Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The application deadline is October 25, 2024.

Compensation
Annual compensation depends on years of relevant experience. The Senior Staff Attorney's salary range, starting from seven (7) years of experience, is $106,000 -$146,729. ALC offers additional compensation for proficiency in a language other than English.

Benefits
ALC’s comprehensive benefits package includes generous vacation and paid holidays; medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage (ALC pays 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for qualified dependents); a flexible spending account (FSA); and a 401K retirement plan with employer non-elective contribution and match.

The Opportunity
Join ALC’s dedicated team of community lawyers, legal professionals, and advocates, as we rise together to build an ever-stronger progressive social justice movement. ALC seeks a dynamic Senior Staff Attorney for our new National Democracy Initiative. At the core of our work lies the commitment to build the power of rapidly growing Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander immigrant communities across the nation–especially in underserved regions beyond California. The Senior Staff Attorney will collaborate with and provide legal expertise on voting rights, immigration, and national security to grassroots organizations. We seek a seasoned community lawyer who values collective community empowerment as highly as legal expertise and litigation, and who will bring a varied skill set in service of partners.

The Senior Staff Attorney will effectively strategize with ALC program team members and identify opportunities for policy advocacy and impact litigation.

We seek a lawyer capable of fostering connections with diverse partners, understanding how ALC’s technical expertise can serve their needs, and igniting collaborative efforts that yield tangible results. If you are poised to make a meaningful impact and contribute to a movement that strives for justice, we invite you to join us. This role reports directly to the Director of the National Democracy Initiative.

The Organization
Asian Law Caucus (ALC) is the nation’s first legal and civil rights organization serving low-income, immigrant, and marginalized Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander communities. Since 1972, ALC has fought to protect 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 to low-income immigrants and communities of color. Today, with a staff of 60 we bring together legal services, community empowerment, and policy advocacy to fight for immigrant justice, economic security, and a stronger, multiracial democracy. Our work is rooted in the San Francisco Bay Area and California and expands to states across the country, including places where immigrant, Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander communities are rapidly growing.

Primary Responsibilities

• Engage in advocacy or litigation on voting rights, immigration, and national security.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across ALC to advance our strategic priorities including expansion of democracy in California.
• Research and investigate potential civil rights violations in California and other states to advance advocacy or litigation.
• In partnership with ALC colleagues, provide legal and policy advocacy support for local partners, including training, strategy development, and accessible written materials.
• In coordination with ALC colleagues, lead and participate in relevant state and national coalitions and nurture trusting, supportive, and constructive relationships with partner organizations.
• Coordinate or collaborate with allied national and state-level organizations to provide support and resources to local groups.
• Connect community partners with other ALC program areas for mutual learning and benefit.
• Contribute to legal research and analysis to inform or guide ALC strategies for litigation and advocacy to build power among immigrant Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander communities.

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 of the position's functions; rather, they are intended to provide a general framework of its requirements. Job incumbents may be required to perform other functions not specifically addressed in this posting.

Qualifications

• JD and active bar membership is required. California bar membership is strongly desired; other bar memberships will be considered.
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, racial equity, immigrant justice, civil rights, and the communities ALC serves.
• Substantive experience working with Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Pacific Islander immigrant communities and community organizations on issues, including voting rights, immigration, and national security.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience as an attorney is required; candidates with fewer years of experience may be considered for a non-senior staff attorney role.
• Excellent legal research and drafting skills.
• Experience with legal and policy analysis and advocacy.
• Enthusiastic and effective relationship-builder with the ability to build and maintain mutual trust and collaboration among diverse community partners and colleagues.
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including some evenings and weekends.
• Ability to communicate complex policy concepts with multiple audiences, particularly grassroots community members.
• Experience developing or leading strategic legal or policy advocacy campaigns.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following by October 25, 2024:

1. Cover letter explaining your interest in the position
   
2. Resume
3. Legal writing sample (no more than ten (10) pages)
4. Three (3) professional references

ALC is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based on an individual’s race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, reproductive health decision-making, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, height, weight, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. ALC is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.