Staff Attorney

thefire; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression seeks a Staff Attorney based in Philadelphia, PA, or Washington, DC, on a hybrid schedule. The role focuses on litigating strategic First Amendment cases, developing matters at all stages, and engaging in media, writing, and public speaking to advance FIRE’s mission.

Responsibilities include supervising summer fellows and law clerks, collaborating with staff and departments, and occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Graduate of ABA-accredited law school and bar admission in at least one state.
• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills.
• Strong legal research and analytical abilities.
• Outstanding planning, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to explain complex legal concepts to students and non-attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Litigation: identify matters, draft pleadings, develop case strategies, take depositions, and assist with discovery.
• Outreach and editorial duties: promote FIRE’s cases, engage with allied organizations, write for public audiences, and participate in media appearances.
• Supervise and mentor summer fellows and law clerks; collaborate across departments; travel as needed.

Skills

Advocacy skills

Legal research

Planning & organization

Time management

Explain legal concepts

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Discovery rules knowledge

Evidence & Civil Procedure knowledge

Factual investigation

Education

ABA-accredited law school

Bar admission in at least one state

Job description

Staff Attorney

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 Staff Attorney will report to the Supervising Senior Attorney. In this role, you will litigate strategic First Amendment cases in support of FIRE’s mission. In addition to supporting FIRE’s cases and even developing their own cases at each stage of litigation, staff attorneys are also expected to be advocates outside the courtroom through media appearances, writing, and public speaking engagements.

1. Litigation duties

• Identify matters for potential litigation.
• Recruit and evaluate potential plaintiffs.
• Draft memoranda and demand letters for pre-litigation matters.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and supporting documents.
• Develop strategies for cases.
• Draft discovery requests and responses.
• Review documents received in response to discovery requests/FOIA requests.
• Take and defend depositions.
• Attend and participate in hearings, trials, and other proceedings.
• Assist in drafting amicus curiae briefs.
• Work with paralegals to identify and negotiate with legal vendors for litigation services (e.g., court reporters, discovery vendors), as needed.
• Assist in devising strategies for securing First Amendment rights in new and unique contexts.
• Assist in substantive and proofreading reviews of court filings.

2. Outreach and editorial duties

• Work with the Communications team to promote and ensure accurate coverage of FIRE’s cases.
• Conduct outreach to allied organizations.
• Regularly engage in writing for public audiences.
• Engage in media appearances.
• Present at conferences or other speaking engagements.
• Edit blog posts for Newsdesk and other FIRE publications as needed.

3. Supervise and mentor summer fellows and semester law clerks.

This position will also perform other support functions for the day-to-day operation of FIRE and will frequently collaborate with other staff members and departments on general duties and specialized projects, including but not limited to writing articles and legal analysis for FIRE’s Newsdesk; working closely with our outreach staff and the FIRE Student Network when gathering plaintiffs; and gaining input from our Policy Reform Program during settlement.

This position involves a moderate amount of travel. Occasional work on weekends and evenings should be expected.

The expected start date for this position will be as soon as possible.

Qualifications

A successful candidate will have a good work ethic, be a self-starter, and have the ability to work independently. Most importantly, the candidate must demonstrate a knowledge and passion for FIRE’s mission and an ability to articulate that passion in a way that will make others enthusiastic about our cause. A candidate must also be able to demonstrate:

• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills.
• Excellent legal research skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, including meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent time-management skills and ability to manage a full caseload and handle dynamic and challenging situations.
• Ability to explain legal concepts to students and non-attorneys.
• Demonstrated ability to work productively across disciplines and viewpoints.
• Knowledge of discovery rules and methodology.
• Knowledge of the Federal Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure.
• Knowledge of how to conduct a factual investigation into potential cases.

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 $70,000-95,000, based on experience and education. FIRE conducts periodic evaluations where employees may receive raises or bonuses for outstanding and 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.