Amicus Attorney

Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE); Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Retirement matching

Paid time off

Job summary

Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) seeks an Amicus Attorney based in Philadelphia, PA or Washington, D.C. The position operates on a hybrid schedule with in-office and remote work days for eligible employees; fully remote work is not considered.

The Amicus Attorney will draft amicus briefs, track requests, coordinate with allied organizations, and support FIRE’s direct litigation while collaborating with a legal team and Communications staff.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of civil-litigation experience or demonstrably equivalent qualifications.
• Excellent written advocacy skills.
• Excellent legal research skills.
• Meticulous planning and organizational skills.
• Strong time-management to handle multiple amicus filings.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and track requests for amicus support.
• Identify opportunities for strategic amicus participation.
• Draft amicus briefs and supporting documents.
• Coordinate with allied organizations on amicus briefs.
• Assist in coordinating with allied orgs to support FIRE’s litigation.
• Maintain metrics on amicus requests, submissions, victories, and KPIs.
• Update amicus pages on FIRE’s site and draft summaries of amicus filings.
• Draft blog posts related to amicus briefs; assist Communications in coverage.

Skills

Excellent written advocacy

Legal research

Planning and organizational skills

Time-management

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Articulating FIRE’s mission

Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

Education

ABA-accredited law school

Bar admission in at least one state

Job description

This position will be based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or Washington, D.C. FIRE operates on a hybrid work schedule that allows for a mix of in-the-office and remote work days for eligible employees. Fully remote work will not be considered for this position.

About FIRE

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.

Position Description

The Amicus Attorney reports to FIRE’s Legal Director and works collaboratively in a supportive team with other attorneys and staff across other FIRE departments.

The Amicus Attorney will be responsible for a variety of duties, including:

• Evaluating and tracking requests for amicus support;
• Identifying opportunities for strategic amicus participation;
• Drafting amicus briefs and supporting documents;
• Coordinating with allied organizations on amicus briefs;
• Assisting in coordinating with allied organizations to submit amicus briefs in support of FIRE’s direct litigation;
• Maintaining metrics on amicus requests, submissions, victories, and other key performance indicators regarding FIRE’s amicus work;
• Updating amicus pages on FIRE’s website, including drafting summaries of FIRE’s amicus filings for internal and external audiences;
• Drafting blog posts related to FIRE’s amicus briefs; and
• Working with the Communications team to promote and ensure accurate coverage of FIRE’s amicus filings.

In addition, the Amicus Attorney may be responsible for media appearances and public speaking as assigned. This position will involve limited travel. Occasional work on weekends and evenings should be expected, given the demands of litigation briefing schedules.

Qualifications

Candidates must demonstrate knowledge of and passion for FIRE’s mission, and the ability to articulate that passion in a way that makes others enthusiastic about our cause. A candidate must have at least three years of civil-litigation experience or demonstrably equivalent academic or professional qualifications, and must also be able to demonstrate:

• Excellent written advocacy skills;
• Excellent legal research skills;
• Exemplary planning and organizational skills, including meticulous attention to detail;
• Excellent time-management skills to manage multiple amicus filings and handle dynamic and challenging situations;
• Demonstrated ability to work productively across disciplines and viewpoints;
• Ability to articulate FIRE’s mission to various audiences;
• Proficiency with the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Candidates must be a graduate of an ABA-accredited law school and a member of the bar of at least one state.

Salary and Compensation

The projected salary range for this position is $95,000-150,000, based on experience and education. FIRE conducts periodic evaluations in which employees may receive raises or bonuses for outstanding or excellent work. FIRE also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance for employees; a Section 125 Flexible Spending Account option; matching retirement contributions; and a generous paid time-off plan.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

FIRE is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

As part of FIRE's hiring process, all candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment will be required to undergo a background check as permitted by and in compliance with federal, state and local law.