Senior or Staff Attorney, Democracy: Voting Rights Litigation Team

Overview

The SPLC is seeking a Senior Staff or Staff Attorney committed to voting rights. The Democracy - Voting Rights Litigation Team (DVR) works across the Deep South with community partners and organizers to engage and mobilize voters, restore voting rights to returning citizens, pursue electoral policy reforms, and bring litigation to challenge unconstitutional and discriminatory voting practices. DVR’s current work includes lawsuits challenging Georgia’s SB 202 and other redistricting and voting rights issues across the Deep South, along with public education, election monitoring, and related advocacy.

Experienced. Demonstrated experience litigating individual and class action civil rights cases in federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels.

Advocate. Experience working with community organizations, grassroots campaigns, and impacted communities, particularly in the Deep South, to promote voting rights.

Committed. Demonstrated interest and commitment to voting rights, civic engagement, campaign work, organizing or election law.

Analytical. Ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them effectively to diverse audiences.

Researcher. Demonstrated ability to conduct legal research and factual investigations.

Creative. Ability to create vision and take calculated risks in crafting and executing strategies to move litigation forward.

Collaborative. Demonstrated ability to work with other litigation teams, external organizations, and stakeholders to advance the work and cases of the Democracy
- Voting Rights Team.

Communicative. Exceptional communication skills and ability to communicate persuasively to a variety of audiences through writing and speaking.

Mission, Vision & Culture Alignment. Demonstrates understanding of and commitment to SPLC's mission, vision and values.

Litigate cases in state and federal courts, primarily across SPLC’s five focus states, including working with private attorneys; conducting extensive research and factual investigations; writing motions, briefs, and other court filings; conducting discovery, appearances, and oral arguments.

Lead advocacy and litigation, including legal research, factual investigations, and drafting memoranda and complaints.

Identify and develop new cases and litigation strategies to advance voting rights, including collaboration with community groups, coalitions, and individuals.

Senior Staff Attorneys will mentor and train legal staff and interns as needed.

Participate where appropriate on relevant task forces and coalitions.

Collaborate across departments within SPLC to ensure effective implementation of SPLC’s impact area goals; represent DVR on relevant task forces and coalitions.

Work closely with SPLC’s Policy Department staff and Communications and other departments to advance the organization’s policy objectives.

Engage in public speaking and articulate SPLC’s policies and programs to the public and the media on voting rights issues.

Perform other duties as required or assigned within the scope of the job classification.

Uphold our JEDI principles by seeking diverse collaborators and partners that deliver genuine, authentic, and impactful work aligned with the Center and Legal Department’s goals.

We are committed to equitable hiring practices; therefore, you must meet the minimum qualifications to be considered for the role.

• Staff Attorney I-II
  :
  At least one (1) year of federal court civil litigation or comparable experience post law school;
• Senior Staff Attorney I-IV
  :
  At least six (6) years of federal court civil litigation or comparable experience post law school;
• Membership in good standing of at least one state bar in the United States, preferably Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, or Washington, D.C.; and
• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school.

This is an exempt role, and the minimum starting salary is $73,832.00 annually. Salary is based on legal experience post law school.

• Staff Attorney I (1-3 years out of law school): $73,832.00.
• Staff Attorney II (4-5 years out of law school): $84,904.00.
• Senior Staff Attorney I (6-7 years out of…