Human Rights Attorney Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Title: Staff Attorney (DC)

Unit: Litigation, U.S. Program Division

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 270+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has powered the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of over $60 million and won the respect of law firms in countries around the world. Our global pro bono network includes over 3,000 lawyers across 6 continents, 88 countries, and 140 law firms. Last year, law firms contributed over $35 million USD in pro bono legal services. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org

The Job: The Staff Attorney reports to a Senior Attorney on the Litigation team and participates in impact litigation on reproductive rights in federal and state courts to improve access to non-discriminatory, high-quality reproductive health care – including abortion care, maternal health care, and assisted reproduction. They will contribute to our work to build a comprehensive and enduring right of reproductive autonomy grounded in principles of equality; racial, gender, and economic justice; and human rights. The Center's high-profile and ground-breaking litigation often involves novel legal claims and has significantly advanced legal developments in reproductive rights in federal and state courts, vindicating the rights of health care providers, clinics, and individuals throughout the U.S. The ideal candidate has 4 or more years of legal experience, and a minimum of 3 years is required.

The position will be based in the Center’s Washington, DC office in a hybrid model of 3 days in-office, 2 days working from home.
Primary Responsibilities: 

• Participating in all aspects of litigation, including:
  • Conducting legal research and analysis
  • Drafting pleadings, briefs, and legal memoranda
  • Engaging in discovery and motion practice
  • Participating in trials, evidentiary hearings, and oral arguments
  • Conducting appeals
• Analyze legislation for potential litigation opportunities and assist in the development of new cases and legal theories to advance the Center’s strategic priorities.
• Work closely with plaintiffs, fact witnesses, and expert witnesses.
• Nurture and maintain client relationships, including providing compliance advice.
• Maintain other important institutional relationships, including relationships with pro bono counsel, local counsel, and other external partners.
• Represent the Center at public events, conferences, coalition meetings, and meetings with donors and foundations.
• Work closely with the Center’s Communications and Development teams to provide support and information as needed, including messaging guidance and handling press calls.

Compensation: The annual salary for this position starts at $119,480, commensurate with years of experience. This salary reflects a position based in New York City or Washington, D.C. This salary will be subject to a downward locality adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside the location listed in this posting. Note that most of the salaries listed on our job postings reflect New York, NY salaries, where our National offices are headquartered.

Union Status: This position is anticipated to be within the bargaining unit represented by UAW Local 2325, (ALAA).

FLSA Exempt Status: The Staff Attorney is an exempt position.

Level: L2

Benefits: 

• Health: The Center provides a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage.  
• Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical, and community well-being. The Center provides generous leave, including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend winter holiday time with their loved ones. 
• Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (*applicable only in US and Kenya). 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights. 

Center policy on visa sponsorship for U.S.-based positions: Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by The Center for Reproductive Rights.  

  Qualifications:

• Admission to the New York Bar or D.C. Bar required, based on the office where the attorney is based. If not currently admitted to the New York Bar or D.C. Bar, candidate must be admitted to the bar of another state and become admitted to the New York Bar or D.C. bar within 18 months of hire.
• Minimum of three years in legal practice, including judicial clerkship, litigation, law and policy advocacy, legal research or academia, or comparable legal work.
• Excellent legal advocacy skills, including strong research, writing, analytical, and oral advocacy abilities for court, legal, and lay audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to develop complex legal arguments and strategies.
• Maintains a high level of expertise in relevant substantive law.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills including ability to self-motivate, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, and provide quick turnaround of assignments while collaborating in a team.
• Displays a problem-solving and supportive attitude with colleagues and demonstrates sound judgment to support team and organizational goals.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills, including the ability to delegate and supervise junior attorneys and paralegals on a project basis.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Center’s mission and values, including experience or familiarity with reproductive rights legal issues, reproductive justice, racial justice, or other human rights, civil rights, criminal law, or social justice issues. 
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive equity work and incorporating inclusive equitable principles into legal, programmatic, and partnership work.
• Ability to travel as needed for court appearances and other work, including to locations outside the New York and DC areas.
• English language fluency required, Spanish a plus.