Associate Legal Director

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a leader in the fight against hate and bigotry in the United States, is seeking nominations and applications for the newly-created position of Associate Legal Director (ALD). Joining a legal team that uses impact litigation and policy advocacy as its primary tools to relentlessly pursue justice and equal rights, the Associate Legal Director will refine, build, and maintain internal systems that support a rapidly growing and highly talented legal team.

As fear, political and cultural division, hatred, and economic uncertainty persist in the American consciousness and manifest in discriminatory policies, speech and actions, individuals across the country are reigniting their commitment to justice for all. Southern Poverty Law Center’s Legal Department is growing in response to the increased demand to protect Americans whose civil rights are being threatened in cities and states across the country.  Because of this internal growth, there is an increasingly critical need for an internal systems-thinker who can assess, develop, and implement the consistent use of tools and practices designed to support the effectiveness of the legal team and build successful practices at every stage of litigation. In just the last 12 months, SPLC has increased its legal team by 50% and plans to continue a strong pace of growth in 2018.

Reporting to the Legal Director, the ALD will support and work collaboratively across six office locations and five legal practice groups in the areas of: Criminal Justice Reform, Children’s Rights, Economic Justice, Immigrant Justice, and LGBT Rights and Special Litigation (including litigation against hate groups). The ALD will streamline internal systems to ensure that the appropriate frameworks, tools, systems, and policies are in place, will review monthly budgets and reporting, will oversee talent strategy for fellowship, internship, and recruitment programs, and will partner with the Legal Director to research new opportunities for growth.

The ideal candidate will be committed to SPLC’s mission and the transformative power of impact litigation. He/she/they will hold a law degree and ideally have litigation experience, but will have shifted professional focus toward the administration of strong operational and management systems that support a legal enterprise. The ideal candidate will be a natural relationship builder and effective communicator with demonstrated project management success coordinating across, and synthesizing feedback from, multiple teams and locations. He/she/they will additionally have seasoned and successful experience in change/growth management and talent strategy, including recruitment and professional development. The selected candidate will have experience working with and supporting a strong and diverse team and will bring a healthy sense of humor and enthusiasm to the work environment.