Staff Attorney

Glendalefire; Philadelphia, Northern (Philadelphia County, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Retirement contributions match

Paid time-off

Travel opportunities

Job summary

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is seeking a Staff Attorney to litigate First Amendment cases in a hybrid Philadelphia/DC setting. The role includes drafting pleadings, developing case strategies, and making media appearances to advance FIRE’s mission.

You will supervise fellows, mentor clerks, and collaborate with paralegals and outreach staff. Travel and evening work are expected as needed.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an ABA-accredited law school and member of the bar in at least one state.
• Strong written and oral advocacy, research, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and across disciplines to advance First Amendment rights.

Responsibilities

• Litigate strategic First Amendment cases in support of FIRE’s mission.
• Identify matters for potential litigation and recruit plaintiffs.
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and supporting documents.
• Develop case strategies and conduct depositions and discovery.
• Collaborate with Communications on case coverage and engage in public speaking.

Skills

Advocacy skills

Legal research

Time management

Organizational skills

Public speaking

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Discovery rules

Civil Procedure

Factual investigation

Education

ABA-accredited law school graduate

Bar admission in at least one state

Job description

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.2. Outreach and editorial duties3. Supervise and mentor summer fellows and semester law clerks.

• 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.
• 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.

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.