Commission on Immigration - Staff Attorney 2/Chief Counsel

American Bar Association; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

American Bar Association in Washington, DC, seeks an experienced attorney to perform substantive legal work and potentially manage grant-funded projects or ABA entities. The role involves legal research, writing, policy analysis, and providing guidance on public policy, with opportunities to supervise junior staff and coordinate with government and media partners.

Candidates must have a JD, be admitted to the bar, and have at least four years in a relevant legal field, with strong writing,

Qualifications

• Requires JD and active bar admission in at least one jurisdiction.
• At least 4 years working in relevant specialized area of law.
• High level of skills at legal writing and research, oral and written communications, and organizational skill.
• Substantial experience in policy analysis.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and draft speeches, memoranda, and articles.
• Provide policy analysis and advice to leadership.
• Serve as ABA expert on a substantive area of law or policy.
• Includes contacts with government entities and with the media.
• Give presentations and teach on legal/public policy topics.
• Design substantive content for events, model documents, and trainings.
• Manage substantive project components.
• Oversee research, writing, and publication processes.
• Coordinate with member sub-groups and external stakeholders.
• Manage consultants and interns/externs.
• Analyze laws and regulatory text; draft memoranda on policy.
• Research, draft, write, review and critique legislative texts; policy proposals.
• Manage policy adoption process.
• Secure outside funding; write grants; liaise with grantmakers.

Skills

Legal writing

Legal research

Oral communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Policy analysis

Education

JD

Job description

Job Summary/General Purpose of Job

Does substantive legal work and may manage a grant funded project or provide substantive support to an ABA entity. May manage that entity. May be supervised by another attorney and frequently supervises more junior attorneys and/or other staff. Includes legal research, writing, speaking, provision of technical assistance, and may include grant development and/or fundraising.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Conduct research and write speeches, memoranda, articles, frequently for publication.
• Provide substantive advice, information and make policy recommendations.
• Serve as principal ABA expert on a substantive area of law or public policy.
• Includes contacts with government entities and with the media.
• Give presentations and/or teach on legal and public policy issues.
• Act as a consultant designing substantive content of events, developing model documents, and conducting trainings.
• Manage substantive/legal project aspects.
• Oversee research, report-writing, and publication.
• Coordinate or support member sub-groups and coordinate with external constituencies.
• Manage consultants, interns/externs.
• Analyze laws, regulations, court rules and policies/policy proposals; prepare memoranda of law or on public policy; provide legal counsel.
• Research, draft, write, review and critique legislative/rule/policy or regulatory text.
• Manage policy adoption process.
• Secure outside funding; write grants; deal with grantmakers.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Required Education, Qualifications, Experience

Requires JD and active bar admission in at least one jurisdiction. At least 4 years working in relevant specialized area of law. High level of skills at legal writing and research, oral and written communications, and organizational skill. Substantial experience in policy analysis.

Physical Requirements

Typical office work environment.

Extent of Travel Required in the Job

Ability to travel required.