We are thrilled to share this job announcement with the Montana community!
Position Overview
Legal Voice fights for gender liberation across the Northwest. From courtrooms to the court of public opinion, we challenge patriarchal and racist power structures to widen pathways to justice.
Legal Voice works in the state and federal courts in the Pacific Northwest, and advocates for legislative change at the local and state level in Idaho, Montana, and Washington State.
REPORTS TO: Advocacy Director
POSITION STATUS: Exempt; Full time. This position is grant funded and dependent on continued funding.
POSITION SUMMARY: The Staff Attorney will work to advance gender equity in Montana through legislative and litigation strategies that are informed by the community and Legal Voice’s mission.
Based in Montana, the Staff Attorney must have experience in one or more of the following substantive areas related to gender equity: reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, economic justice (labor and employment, housing, etc.), gender-based violence, family law, and/or civil rights.
As a progressive feminist organization with an intersectional approach to gender justice, we strive to center marginalized community voices and racial equity in our litigation and legislative strategies. We are committed to prioritizing racial justice in our advocacy and among our staff, board, and volunteers. The ideal candidate for this position will have a well-developed equity framework that includes an understanding of systemic racism and oppression and will be self-reflective and willing to grow and learn around these topics.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Staff Attorney will work collaboratively with other program staff, coalition stakeholders, and community partners to develop and maintain Legal Voice’s litigation docket and legislative agenda in Montana:
● Identify, seek out, and initiate impact litigation, amicus, and legislative opportunities in partnership with Montana communities that will advance gender equity.
● Work collaboratively with community groups and individuals who are most impacted by the legal issue or are more closely connected to the individuals and groups impacted.
● Manage and support litigation handled by local cooperating attorneys, including preparing retainer, research, case strategy development, and writing and editing briefs, memoranda, etc.; ensure that all litigation is approached through an intersectional feminist lens and that the goals and interests of the impacted community are addressed and advanced; ensure that Legal Voice’s quality standards are met; and provide additional assistance as needed.
● Work collaboratively with lobbyists, community partners, coalition stakeholders, and volunteers to advance legislation that supports Legal Voice’s mission, including analyzing bills and review Legal Voice comments/testimony as needed.
● Maintain expertise in specified subject areas, with particular attention to emerging legal issues and to the intersection of feminist, racial, and social justice jurisprudence.
● Establish and maintain relationships with national, local, and regional gender justice/equity and civil rights organizations; assess requests for Legal Voice partnerships and ensure accurate and persuasive representation of Legal Voice’s position.
● Work with other program staff to ensure that Legal Voice’s litigation and legislative advocacy strategies are aligned.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & RACE EQUITY
● Develop and maintain meaningful relationships with community organizations, particularly in communities we have not historically engaged with, especially communities of color and indigenous communities; represent Legal Voice on various coalitions; and center community voices in Legal Voice’s programs and strategies.
● Screen external requests for assistance and act as a legal resource to Montana community organizations, attorneys, advocates, and stakeholders.
● Work closely with Legal Voice’s race equity consultants and the internal team as the organization develops a broader roadmap to ensure that our policies, practices, and culture promote principles of racial equity.
PUBLIC EDUCATION & MEDIA
● In collaboration with program and communications staff, engage in outreach and public education by:
○ Providing public presentations on gender equity based legal issues to community groups, lawyers, law students, etc.;
○ Responding to media requests and inquiries;
○ Writing or reviewing newsletter articles, emails to supporters, press releases, public statements, etc.
OTHER
● As appropriate, engage in scholarship to further intersectional feminist legal jurisprudence.
● In collaboration with other attorneys, support law student intern recruiting, mentoring and evaluation.
● Provide technical support on litigation and legislation to attorneys, advocates, and other community partners throughout the region within areas of expertise.
● Attend and engage in Legal Voice meetings, trainings and events;
● Other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
● Four or more years of legal experience as a licensed attorney (legislative or litigation), ideally in a substantive area of Legal Voice’s work (listed at the top of this job description).
● Excellent writing and communication skills.
● Bar license in Montana or in the process of obtaining license within one year.
● A demonstrated commitment to social justice, racial equity and gender justice.
● A demonstrated desire and ability to build and maintain relationships and foster engagement and collaboration with marginalized communities, particularly communities of color.
● A desire and commitment to engage in race equity work, participate in race equity training and recognize personal biases and improve performance through a racial equity framework.
● Strong time management and planning skills.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
● Experience with legal issues affecting communities of color, immigrant or non-English speaking communities, and/or transgender, intersex and non-binary people.
● Flexibility, motivation, and openness to learning
● Ability to work generatively through conflict
● A relationship builder who fosters engagement and collaboration
● Excellent problem-solving skills
● Fluency in a language other than English
● Prior experience working in a non-profit setting and/or with community-based organizations
Salary & Benefits: This full-time position has a salary range of $80,000-100,000; depending on experience. Benefits include medical, mental health, dental and vision coverage; annual leave is PTO 45 days per year; 401K eligibility after six months of employment with a possible employer contribution; flexible and generous family leave; and professional development opportunities. This is a grant funded position and dependent on continued funding.
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to info@legalvoice.org. Open until filled; priority deadline is March 31, 2024. In your cover letter, please share why you are interested in the staff attorney position, how your lived or professional experience would contribute to our advocacy, and if you prefer Legal Voice retain your application for future consideration. Writing samples and references will be requested upon offer of an interview.
Non-discrimination: As an organization committed to prioritizing reproductive justice, economic justice, and racial justice, Legal Voice believes in fostering the leadership of all women, particularly those from underrepresented and marginalized communities. Legal Voice follows an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, and marital status.
