Deputy Director for Litigation & Advocacy

POSITION SPECIFICATION

A Better Childhood

A Better Childhood (“ABC”) is a national nonprofit advocacy organization that uses the courts to reform dysfunctional child welfare systems across the country. ABC is a watchdog organization that compels change through the power of the courts, ensuring that states meet their legal responsibilities to protect children through both existing law and innovative legal approaches.

Founded in 2014 to fight for children experiencing foster care, ABC uses class action litigation to expose systemic failures and compel reforms that provide children with the protection, stability, and care the law requires. ABC has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of children, families, and communities in 13 states. Its 11-person legal staff investigates failing systems, leads litigation, secures system-wide reforms, and remains engaged to help ensure lasting change takes root.

ABC seeks a talented lawyer and experienced leader to serve as Deputy Director for Litigation & Advocacy. Reporting to Founder and Executive Director Marcia Lowry, the Deputy Director will play a critical role in developing and leading complex class action litigation that challenges systemic failures in foster care and drives meaningful, lasting change for children and families.

This is a unique opportunity for a creative and accomplished lawyer to combine exceptional litigation skills with bold thinking, compelling storytelling, and a deep commitment to ABC’s mission. The Deputy Director will lead high-stakes cases, develop a talented legal team, build strong external relationships, and contribute to ABC’s broader organizational leadership.

• Lead high-impact federal litigation that advances ABC’s mission and drives systemic reform in foster care.
• Develop and execute creative legal strategies that challenge conventional approaches and identify opportunities for meaningful, lasting change.
• Build compelling legal narratives that translate complex facts and children’s experiences into powerful stories that strengthen litigation and advocacy.
• Guide cases from investigation through litigation, settlement, and long-term monitoring, building strong relationships with pro bono counsel, experts, advocates, and government leaders.

• Lead, supervise, and develop a diverse team lawyers, strengthening litigation skills, strategic judgment, and professional growth.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive culture, bringing the emotional intelligence, perspective, and sense of humor needed to navigate challenging work.
• Build leadership capacity through mentorship, thoughtful feedback, recruitment, and development of talented attorneys.
• Cultivate and manage strong working partnerships with leading law firms, leveraging pro bono attorneys and resources to expand staffing, capacity, and expertise across cases.

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director, contributing to ABC’s organizational priorities and long-term impact.
• Contribute broadly to organizational priorities with a collaborative, pragmatic approach and a willingness to engage wherever needed.
• Participate in fundraising and external relationship building, compellingly communicating ABC’s work and impact to partners, supporters, and prospective funders.

The successful candidate will be an exceptional litigator and accomplished leader with 8-10 years of progressively responsible legal experience, including substantial federal court practice and demonstrated leadership and management responsibility.…