Managing Attorney

americansunited; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 153,688 - 181,135; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care premiums

401(k) with match

Commuter subsidy

Job summary

Americans United is seeking a Managing Attorney in Washington, DC to lead litigation in church-state issues and manage the legal fellowship program. This role involves serving as lead counsel, advancing civil rights, and encouraging diversity.

The ideal candidate will have ten years of litigation experience, exceptional analytical skills, and a commitment to the separation of church and state. This position offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• At least ten years of litigation experience, including as lead counsel.
• Exceptional analytical and writing skills.
• Experience in training and developing legal fellows or new attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead counsel in church-state cases across the country.
• Manage AU’s legal fellowship program.
• Engage in public speaking and media appearances.

Skills

Litigation experience

Analytical skills

Writing skills

Persuasive oral advocacy

Interpersonal skills

Commitment to diversity

Education

J.D. or equivalent

Job description

About Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all of us. Founded in 1947, Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from all walks of life: lawyers and lobbyists, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans. AU includes people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith. It is a community that welcomes people of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues with many different communities, we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Position Summary

The Managing Attorney will be a forward-thinking, passionate leader for change who is excited to lead and collaborate with a dynamic team and organization, working together to fight for freedom without favor, and equality without exception.

This role will focus not only on litigation but also will assist in managing the largest program at Americans United. AU’s Legal Department litigates church-state issues in federal and state courts across the country, with a substantial practice before the federal courts of appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Most of our cases involve novel, cutting‑edge First Amendment and other constitutional issues. In recent years, for example, we have litigated lawsuits and submitted amicus briefs challenging or opposing:

• Coercive religious practices in public schools.
• Religion-based refusals by businesses, foster‑care agencies, and government officials to provide services to LGBTQ+ people and religious minorities.
• Religion-based efforts to deprive people of access to abortion and contraceptives.
• Race-based and sex-based employment discrimination by religious employers.

A significant portion of time will be spent serving as lead counsel in trial and appellate litigation of church-state cases around the country. Your work will include defending the rights of women, LGBTQ+ people, and racial and religious minorities against religion-based discrimination and oppression. And you will fight to keep religion out of government—including through challenges to religious activities in public schools, public financing of religious institutions, and government-sponsored religion in the public square.

This role will also assist in managing AU’s legal fellowship program. AU currently has three constitutional litigation fellowship positions. Our fellows participate in all aspects of litigation and receive the intensive training in trial and appellate litigation needed to become the next generation of impact lawyers. A portion of your time will be spent recruiting, hiring and onboarding these fellows. This role will also further develop AU’s legal fellowship program by strengthening existing relationships with national law firm who lend associates as fellows for limited terms, and exploring other opportunities AU has to host legal fellows from organizations like Equal Justice Works.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Develop, Litigate, and Lead Lawsuits

• Serve as lead counsel in church-state cases throughout the country.
• Serve as principal counsel for Americans United in church-state cases co‑counseled with pro‑bono teams from law firms or with other public‑interest organizations.
• Draft and edit pleadings and briefs, take depositions, deliver oral arguments, conduct trials and evidentiary hearings, and prosecute appeals.
• Develop new cases by investigating the applicable facts and law, formulating case strategies, and identifying plaintiffs with standing.
• Draft and edit amicus curiae briefs; evaluate amicus opportunities to determine whether to file briefs.
• Make public‑speaking and media appearances.
• Help determine strategic vision and direction for Americans United’s litigation program.
• Collaborate across departments and partner organizations to initiate, lead, and/or support integrated advocacy campaigns that support AU’s legal cases, public policy work, and campaigns, and other initiatives.

Supervise Legal Fellows and Develop Fellowship Program

• Lead hiring team for legal fellows and manage onboarding of legal fellows; conduct regular check‑ins and annual performance evaluations.
• Together with other attorneys in the Legal Department, provide direct supervision, mentoring, and professional development support to legal fellows and their work.
• Set clear performance expectations and support fellows in meeting them.
• Further develop and shape impact of the Americans United legal fellowship program.
• Align fellowships with strategic plan and organizational goals.

Skills and Experience

Americans United seeks an attorney who ideally:

• Has at least ten years of litigation experience (Judicial‑clerkship experience counts toward those years).
• Has substantial experience serving as lead counsel in litigation.
• Has exceptional analytical and writing skills.
• Is a persuasive oral advocate.
• Is a self‑starter who takes initiative and gets excited about identifying and developing new cases and opportunities to assume representation on appeal.
• Is able to travel as their cases require.
• Has experience and interest in training and developing legal fellows, new attorneys, or legal advocates.
• Has supervisory or managerial experience.
• Has the interpersonal skills to work well with our staff and co‑counsel and to serve as a trusted adviser to clients and partner organizations.
• Is committed to advancing the public interest and the separation of religion and government.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and to fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment.

Americans United welcomes applicants of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions and beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, socio‑economic backgrounds, and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues and with many different communities, we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

This is a hybrid position that primarily involves working from a home office and/or professional office environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and video conferencing tools. It requires the ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods, communicate effectively, and occasionally move about within the workspace.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $153,688.50 - $181,135.50. This stated range includes a 5% locality pay adjustment for the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The successful candidate’s placement within that range will be consistent with AU’s compensation framework, which is based on role placement and years of related experience.

Americans United offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer‑paid premiums for health care, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑term disability, long‑term disability, 401(k) with match, and commuter subsidy.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AU is an equal‑opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. If you need an accommodation for a disability to apply to this position, please let us know by emailing [e-mail].

Application Information

We will only be accepting applications from candidates who currently live in or would be willing to relocate to the Washington, DC metro area.