The Southern Poverty Law Center is seeking a Senior Supervising Attorney committed to dismantling white supremacy.

The Senior Supervising Attorney in the Inclusion and Anti-Extremism (IAE) Advocacy and Litigation Impact Team (ALIT) develops and litigates individual and class action cases raising constitutional and statutory claims in state and federal court and develops and leads multi-strategy advocacy campaigns falling under the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Impact Area dedicated to dismantling white supremacy, including but not limited to representing victims of hate and extremism, and to stem the tide of online radicalization and extremism. The position also provides opportunities to work on cases and campaigns vindicating and advancing the rights of communities, such as LGBTQ people and immigrants, among others, targeted by hate groups.

Who You Are

Experienced. Demonstrated experience leading and litigating complex cases and campaigns involving constitutional and civil rights, ideally including any of the following: First Amendment and equal protection rights, the Ku Klux Klan Act and other nondiscrimination statutes, public and private torts, and/or digital and cyber law.

People Manager. Experienced legal staff manager with proven success in leading, training, and developing teams. Clear communicator of goals and priorities of goals and priorities, organizational policies, and processes, keeping the SPLC’s and its clients’ best interest at the heart of all communications, decisions, and actions.

Effective leader. Established leadership in creating work plans, setting annual goals, and supporting and tracking staff performance towards achieving the goals. 

Advocate. Experience working with community organizations, grassroots campaigns, and impacted communities, particularly in the Deep South, to dismantle white supremacy.

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 ALITs, external organizations, and stakeholders to execute specific strategies to advance the work and cases of the IAE ALIT.

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

Mission, Vision & Culture Alignment. Demonstrated awareness for SPLC's mission and vision; and a commitment to ideals of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and fostering an anti-racist work culture and anti-racist principles and learning.

What You'll Do

Lead the implementation of SPLC’s inclusion and anti-extremism legal advocacy strategies, especially in the Deep South.

Develop, lead, supervise, consult, and advise on complex civil rights impact cases in federal and state courts and administrative entities.

Supervise and manage litigation teams within the ALIT and the Legal Department that include SPLC attorneys, paralegals, analysts and investigators, cooperating counsel, fellows, legal interns, and others from within the SPLC, providing mentoring and coaching in support of the work.

Collaborate with the Deputy Legal Director and the Policy Department to identify and support the advancement of SPLC’s state, local, and federal policy priorities; and the Communications Department to develop communication strategies around cases and campaigns.

Collaborate with team members of other ALITs in the Legal Department as well as all other members of other SPLC Departments to advance the impact goals and campaigns of SPLC.

Serve as a public thought leader on issues confronting the communities the SPLC serves, and represent SPLC in the media, at conferences, and in other public venues as assigned and/or approved.

Develop and maintain relationships with community partners, coalition members, and legal allies to maintain open communication and collaboration with directly impacted people and communities.

Hire, train, and monitor staff performance and development, and conduct performance reviews.

Perform other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job classification.

Uphold our JEDI principles by seeking diverse collaborators and partners that can deliver genuine, authentic and impactful work while ensuring their contributions are directed towards the shared mission, vision and values of the Center and Legal Department’s goals.

Minimum Qualifications 

  • At least eight (8) years of federal court civil litigation or comparable legal experience;
  • At least two (2) years of supervisor experience managing legal professionals;
  • 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.

Compensation & Benefits

This is an exempt role, and the minimum starting salary is $164,864.00 annually. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Click here to view the benefits available to SPLC staff.

Where & How You'll Work 

This role has the following work designations options:

  • Local Remote: Will work remotely but is expected to attend work-related activities that occur at the SPLC offices or in the states in which the SPLC operates.
  • Telework: Will work at an SPLC office at least three days per week and may work two days per week from an alternative work location.
  • This position will report to the Deputy Legal Director, Inclusion & Anti-Extremism ALIT.

Other Special Considerations 

This job is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to any strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

 

Disclaimer:

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

An Equal-Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally without regard to age, caregiver status, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, national origin, on the basis of genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, or veteran status.

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