Staff Attorney, Litigation Team

Transgender Law Center; Oakland, New York (CA, NY); Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision benefits

HRA (employer-funded)

Lifestyle Spending Account

Flexible Spending Account

Employee Assistance Fund

Disability insurance

Sick leave (3 weeks)

Vacation (19 days)

Holidays (12)

Sabbatical after 5 years

Retirement plan with match

Professional development

Home office reimbursement

Mental health benefits

Job summary

Transgender Law Center is seeking a Staff Attorney for its Litigation Team. The role supports investigating, developing, and litigating cases on behalf of transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

The position can be remote or based in TLC offices in Oakland or Brooklyn, and reports to the Legal Director or designee. Ideal candidates will have a JD, state bar admission, 2–4 years of civil rights experience, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing equity across communities.

Qualifications

• Bar admission in one or more states.
• 2–4 years of post-graduate experience in civil rights litigation, criminal defense, immigration, or legal aid.
• Experience with pro-bono attorneys preferred.
• Experience with advocacy related to incarceration, criminalization or law enforcement.
• Familiarity with transgender and gender nonconforming communities.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and develop potential new cases with clients and documentation.
• Develop litigation strategy and manage relationships with co-counsel; draft briefs.
• Manage all stages of litigation, including motion practice, discovery, and trial.

Skills

Bar admission

Legal research

Brief writing

Oral advocacy

Client communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Position: Staff Attorney, Litigation Team

Status: Full Time, exempt

Location: This position can be remote or work out of TLC’s offices in Oakland or Brooklyn

Reports to: Legal Director or Legal Director’s designee

Salary: $107,500.00

Our compensation model is designed to promote equity and alignment with our values. We actively work to reduce pay disparities across roles and responsibilities. We utilize an equitable compensation framework to determine the salaries for each position, and therefore our salaries are not negotiable.

Note: We’re thrilled by the interest in this role! To help our team manage the volume of applications, we kindly ask that you avoid calling or emailing to check on your status. We’ll be sure to reach out if you’re selected to move forward.

About Transgender Law Center

Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national, trans-led organization working to set all people free. We champion the rights of all transgender and gender-nonconforming people to make their own choices and live freely, safely, and authentically. Prioritizing BIPOC, disabled, and HIV+ communities, we advance community-driven strategies that harness trans knowledge, power, and joy to ensure that we all not only survive but thrive at all ages and phases of life.

You can learn more about our work at www.transgenderlawcenter.org.

About the Position

This position is within TLC’s litigation team and will focus on investigating, developing and litigating cases on behalf of trans and gender-nonconforming people.

Key Responsibilities

• Investigate and develop potential new cases, including corresponding with and meeting with potential clients, conducting research, finding and reviewing records, and drafting demand letters.
• Develop litigation strategy, manage relationships with co-counsel, perform legal research, and draft or edit briefs.
• Assume responsibility for all stages of litigation, including motion practice, discovery, trial, appeals, settlement negotiations, and settlement monitoring.
• As needed, join and support existing teams working on previously-filed litigation.
• When necessary, support TLC’s legal services project, including reviewing inquiries, researching local and state laws, policies, and procedures, and crafting responses with personalized legal information.
• Engage in direct advocacy on behalf of criminalized people by, for instance, calling or sending advocacy letters to public defenders or prison officials, and identifying other creative solutions.
• Develop and draft written resources including know-your-rights material and sample legal documents.
• Engage in education efforts for community members and attorneys, including speaking at conferences, trainings, and webinars.
• Participate in organization-wide activities and shared responsibilities that support team alignment and culture.
• Support the work of the legal team and the organization generally.
• Other duties as assigned.

The position is full time and may include travel and occasional work at nights and on weekends.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Membership in the bar of one or more states.
• Must have at least two to four years of post-graduation experience practicing law in the areas of civil rights litigation, criminal defense, immigration, or legal aid.
• Experience working with pro-bono attorneys preferred.
• Experience with legal or policy advocacy relating to incarceration, criminalization or law enforcement.
• Familiarity with transgender and gender nonconforming communities.
• Experience working with communities of color and transgender communities.
• Deep understanding of intersecting oppressions including anti-Blackness, white supremacy, transphobia, ableism, misogyny, colonialism, and capitalism.
• Strong writing, editing, and legal research skills and experience with public speaking.
• Skill at working collaboratively both within the organization and with other groups.
• Strong personal organization and time management skills.
• Creativity and good judgment.
• Enthusiasm for the work of the organization and its potential.
• Willingness to travel and to work long hours when necessary.

Benefits

• Medical/dental/vision (TLC covers 100% of premiums for employees, 80% for dependents)
• Employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account (currently $3,500 per year)
• Employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Account (currently $1,500 per year)
• Optional employee-funded Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Fund that can grant financial assistance for certain qualifying disasters and personal hardships
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 3 weeks’ sick leave
• 19 days’ vacation (24 after 3 years’ employment) and 12 holidays
• Organizational ‘slowdown’ in winter and summer, including, historically, 2 weeks paid time off in the summer and 2 weeks paid time off at the end of the year (separate from employee vacation time)
• 2-month paid sabbatical program available after 5 years of employment
• Retirement plan with partial organizational matching
• Indemnity insurance for critical illness, hospital confinement, and accidents
• Professional development & coaching
• Office setup, phone and internet reimbursement (if working from home)
• Additional mental health, budgeting, travel, and pet benefits

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Transgender Law Center is proud to be an affirmative action employer. All interested individuals, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; women and femmes; people with disabilities; and people who are transgender, intersex, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer are particularly urged to apply. For more information about Transgender Law Center please visit our website: www.transgenderlawcenter.org.