Senior Staff Attorney (Litigation)

Asian Law Caucus; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 114,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous vacation and holidays

Premium health/dental/life insurance (

FSA

Commuter benefits

401(k) with employer match

Job summary

Asian Law Caucus is seeking a Senior Staff Attorney in San Francisco to build strategic, impact litigation in civil rights, immigrant justice, and economic justice areas. The role reports to the Litigation Director and collaborates across programs to advance inclusive democracy and a fair economy.

The attorney will lead case development, supervise junior attorneys, and engage in high-stakes state and federal court litigation while traveling as required.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of state and/or federal court litigation, preferably in public interest or civil rights.
• Excellent legal research, analysis, and persuasive writing and oral advocacy.
• Commitment to low-income, immigrant, API/AMEMSA communities.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic, impact litigation addressing civil rights and economic justice issues affecting API and other communities.
• Collaborate with Litigation Director, Program Directors, and Managing Attorneys to identify potential cases.
• Lead and manage litigation teams, fostering collaboration and mentorship.
• Analyze court rulings and legal strategy for diverse stakeholders.

Skills

Legal Research

Oral Advocacy

Written Advocacy

Multi-tasking

Education

BA/BS

JD

California Bar

Job description

Type:

Regular, Exempt, Full-time. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by CWA Local 9410.

Location:

San Francisco, CA. This is a hybrid role that is required to work in the office 2 days a week.

Deadline:

Applications are due by Monday, November 30, 2026.

Reports to:

Litigation Director

Compensation and Benefits:

The Senior Litigation Attorney’s salary range is $113,912 - $148,629.

This position is eligible for language premiums for demonstrated proficiency in a language other than English that is regularly used in their job duties. The annual premium is $1,500 for oral proficiency and $1,500 for written proficiency in each language.

• generous vacation and paid holidays
• medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage (ALC pays 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for qualified dependents)
• a flexible spending account (FSA)
• commuter benefits
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer non-elective contribution and match

Travel & Meetings:

The Senior Staff Attorney will be expected to travel as required for case investigations, depositions, hearings, trials, and related activities. All ALC staff are expected to participate in regular check-in meetings with their supervisor/supervisees, staff meetings, team meetings, and other organization meetings, as required. This includes two (2) annual retreats and an anniversary celebration dinner in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Opportunity

The Asian Law Caucus is increasing its capacity to meet this critical moment in fighting for our inclusive democracy, just immigration system, and a fair economy. ALC seeks a Senior Staff Attorney who will build out strategic litigation to meet the community needs identified across our program areas. This litigation may seek to change or define legal precedent, protect community members from harm, shed light on systemic drivers of injustice, shape narratives, and/or deter unjust actions by governmental and private actors. The Senior Staff Attorney will report to the Litigation Director and work closely with attorneys across the organization.

The Organization

ALC is the nation’s first legal organization focusing on advancing and defending the civil rights of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. Since 1972, ALC has fought for access to affordable housing in San Francisco’s Chinatown, litigated high-profile civil rights cases, advocated for the passage of landmark policy changes, and provided an array of services, including community education, advocacy, and direct client representation to further the rights of low-income immigrants and communities of color, across our Housing Rights, Workers’ Rights, Immigrant Justice, and National Democracy Initiative programs, and other emerging areas of law.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop strategic, impact litigation addressing the civil rights and economic justice issues affecting Asian and Pacific Islander, including Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian, communities, as well as other low-income and immigrant communities.
• Work with Litigation Director as well as Program Directors and Managing Attorneys to identify potential litigation to further inclusive democracy, immigrant justice, workers’ rights, and housing rights, drawing on direct-services experiences and community partners.
• Develop innovative and effective legal theories and strategies and identify litigation needs that cross or fall between ALC’s program areas, such as: racial equity, census, national security, privacy and other constitutional protections.
• Engage in factual investigation and foster trusting relationships with potential clients, including organizational, associational, and individual plaintiffs, and prospective co-counsel (with support from the Pro Bono and Volunteer Services Manager)
• Pursue cases and conduct all aspects of civil trial and appellate litigation in state and federal court, including case development and filing, discovery, mediation, motions practice, including dispositive and class certification (if appropriate), evidentiary proceedings, trials, appeals, and settlements.
• Lead and help manage litigation teams, staffed with more junior attorneys, co-counsel, and/or pro bono counsel, fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Analyze court rulings and legal strategy for ALC staff and board of directors, the public, the media, and other stakeholders.

An attorney hired at the Senior Staff Attorney level will exercise a greater degree of leadership and independence consistent with ALC’s criteria for senior designation.

Desired Qualifications

• B.A./B.S. and J.D. degrees. California bar membership required
• At least five years of experience conducting state and/or federal court litigation, with particular focus on public interest and/or civil rights litigation
• Experience with voting rights, administrative law, constitutional law, discrimination law, structural reform, writ and/or class-action practice is a plus
• Demonstrated commitment to low-income, immigrant, and/or API/AMEMSA communities
• Excellent skills in legal research, analysis, and written and oral advocacy
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple cases and projects in a timely manner
• Effective communicator and storyteller to both legal and lay audiences
• Highly motivated self-starter with a willingness to learn and grow
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaboration with other attorneys, advocates, and community-based organizations
• Language proficiency in an Asian or Middle Eastern language is a plus

Asian Law Caucus is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified persons are encouraged to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including HIV, cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital or domestic partner status, reproductive health decision-making, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions) gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim and survivor status, political affiliation, height, weight, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.