National Legal Director

Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit civil rights organization based in Chicago is seeking a strategic leader to oversee legal initiatives and guide strategic planning. The role involves collaborating with the Executive Director and managing a diverse legal team of about 50 professionals. Candidates should have strong leadership skills and experience in legal strategy development. This position offers an opportunity to contend for justice within the criminal legal system while advocating for marginalized communities.

Qualifications

• Experience in legal strategy development and implementation in a nonprofit environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and connect with a diverse team.
• Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with executive leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine the strategic direction for MJC's legal work.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director.
• Lead the design and execution of the organization's legal strategy.

Skills

Strategic planning

Leadership

Team management

Legal expertise

Job description

Who We Are

MJC is a national nonprofit civil rights organization. We represent people who have been harmed by America’s criminal legal system, seeking to vindicate their rights, elevate their story, and hold people with power accountable. We do this primarily through cutting‑edge litigation and advocacy across the country, on end‑to‑end issues in the criminal legal system, from policing, to prosecutorial discretion, to rights of indigent defendants, to mass incarceration, to prison conditions, to wrongful convictions and the death penalty. For more information on our work, visitwww.macarthurjustice.org .

The criminal legal system disproportionately harms people of color, people from low‑income communities, people who were formerly incarcerated, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We strongly encourage people who identify within these and other communities underrepresented in the legal profession to apply. All applicants must have and be committed to the cultural competence required to work with clients, co‑workers, and community partners who come from different backgrounds and experiences.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and refine the overall strategic direction for MJC’s legal work to pursue MJC’s overarching mission, values, and strategic goals most effectively in collaboration with the Executive Director and office directors
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director and leadership team in actualizing MJC’s mission
• Regularly interface with MJC’s Managing Director of Operations, Director of Communications, and Director of Development to maximize strategic alignment.
• Participate in Board meetings and serve as a corporate officer

Implementation & Management of Legal Program

• Lead the design and implementation of a realistic and concrete plan to execute the organization’s legal strategy
• Oversee MJC’s legal function, including direct supervision of the organization’s five office directors, and indirect oversight of the organization’s full legal team of about 50 professionals
• Motivate, nurture, and connect a diverse, inclusive, and high‑performing team
• Direct the case approval process, including reviewing proposed new matters for mission alignment and impact, as well as ensuring adequate staffing and resources for matters in collaboration with office directors, prior to approval by the Executive Director
• Developperformance management metrics and aprofessional development program for all legal professionals in