Director of Litigation

We are looking for an experienced Director of Litigation to join our team in Los Angeles and/or Orange County.

This search is being led by NPAG. We invite applications with a resume and cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications via the portal on NPAG’s website (AAAJ SoCal - Director of Litigation — NPAG).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Founded in 1983, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is the nation’s largest Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) legal and civil rights organization, and a critical leader and advocate working on behalf of the AAPI community in Southern California. We serve more than 15,000 individuals and organizations every year through direct legal services, impact litigation, policy and advocacy, community engagement, and demographic research. Rooted in the legacy of our immigrant forebears and fueled by modern advocacy, our mission is to protect and strengthen the rights and dignity of AAPI communities, especially those who are most disadvantaged. Our vision is for an inclusive, equitable world for all in which AAPI’s are empowered and thrive.

AJSOCAL is seeking an experienced and innovative leader with deep knowledge and experience and a passion for protecting and strengthening the rights and dignity of AAPI communities to serve as our Director of Litigation (Director). The Director will work closely with the CEO, Vice President of Programs, other leadership and program directors, and the Board of Directors to establish a unifying, actionable, and leveraged litigation strategy to protect and advance the rights of the most vulnerable members of the AAPI community. Strong candidates will have significant experience serving in impact or complex litigation roles addressing social justice issues; exceptional communication and ambassadorial skills; innovative problem-solving skills, and experience leading, managing and developing diverse, motivated, and effective leaders and teams

We are in an era of extraordinary social polarization, and we are contending with significant efforts to roll back hard-won protections for civil and reproductive rights, racial justice, and immigrant families. The stakes are arguably higher than they have been in decades, and this is truly a pivotal moment. The next Director will join a dynamic, evolving organization at an important inflection point, in a time of both challenge and opportunity for AJSOCAL and the communities we serve.

Our Impact Litigation Program AJSOCAL files lawsuits and other actions in state and federal courts that are designed to address systemic issues and improve the lives of vulnerable and oppressed individuals. We fight against economic and social injustice, including in the following areas: • Immigrant Rights • Anti-Asian Hate • Employment & Worker’s Rights • Language Access • Housing • LGBTQ+ Rights • Gender/Gender-Based Violence • Voting Rights • Education Justice

Since launching our Impact Litigation program over 30 years ago, AJSOCAL has represented hundreds of clients in federal and state actions, achieving sweeping and precedent-setting judgments and settlements that protect rights and improve conditions for thousands of people in a wide range of areas.

WHAT WE BRING

• The special opportunity to join a mission driven team
• Flexible, hybrid work schedules
• Rich medical, dental and vision benefits
• Retirement options through 403B and match

THE OPPORTUNITY

AJSOCAL is pleased to announce that we are seeking a Director of Litigation to join our organization. The Director will grow and lead our impact litigation team and advance a strategic impact litigation docket to meet the needs of our communities at a time of significant change and challenge in the AAPI community in Southern California, and at a pivotal moment in our country. In a time when many are seeking opportunities to engage in purpose-driven work that truly makes a difference, this is an extraordinary opportunity for a passionate, experienced litigator to defend and advance critical civil rights and fight injustice.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Programs, the Director will be responsible for all aspects of our impact litigation work. The new Director can expect to engage with the following opportunities and challenges:

Lead AJSOCAL’s litigation work. The next Director will provide strategic direction and visionary leadership as we expand our impact litigation docket to tackle injustice on behalf of the communities we serve. The successful candidate will be an experienced litigator (preferably federal and/or state) with an established impact litigation track record focused on social justice. The Director will be charged with leading all active litigation advanced directly by AJSOCAL and in partnership with others, guiding litigation strategies, and directing case development to ensure high quality work product. The Director will stay abreast of state and nationwide legal trends and think strategically about how AJSOCAL deploys litigation, policy, and advocacy tools and approaches in tandem to impact the issues that are most pressing in the AAPI community.

Be a strong ambassador for the organization and for the critical issues that affect the AAPI community in Southern California. As the spokesperson for AJSOCAL’s litigation matters, the Director will foster relationships with key stakeholders, allies, and partners and be a strong ambassador for the organization to amplify AJSOCAL’s position as a thought leader in the AAPI and impact litigation space nationwide. The Director will work with the board, staff, and other key stakeholders to create a unifying, actionable, and leveraged litigation strategy and amplify the visibility of our efforts.

Foster a cohesive, engaged, and impactful litigation team. The new Director will bring an entrepreneurial spirit to strengthen and grow our team of staff attorneys and legal advocates. They will benefit from the opportunity to work autonomously, bringing in their vision and creativity to build the team while developing a compelling litigation docket. The Director will mentor team members, provide ongoing feedback and evaluation to direct reports, and build the attorney team’s capacity to take on additional and increasingly complex cases.

Collaborate closely with other members of the AJSOCAL team to support a healthy culture and achieve shared goals. The Director will collaborate and coordinate with team members throughout the organization to establish our litigation priorities. They will develop a thorough knowledge of AJSOCAL’s services and available resources, both within and outside the organization. They will report to the Vice President of Programs and serve as a member of the Strategy, Programs, and Mission team. The Director will work closely with the CEO, Policy Director, Community Engagement Director, Demographic Research Director, and Managing Director of Client Services to determine how to leverage impact litigation as a strategic tool to advance AJSOCAL’s priorities and how our services and advocacy can inform or lead to litigation. The Director will also work closely with the communications team to create a media strategy to advance our litigation goals and announce our settlements and courtroom wins.

Strengthen and deepen the partnership with the Board of Directors. The AJSOCAL Board of Directors is comprised of a deeply committed group of community leaders who are passionate about AJSOCAL’s mission. There are several impact litigation experts on the board, as well as a newly created Litigation Committee (LC). While the Director will not report directly to the board, they will consult closely with the LC to glean insights into relevant developments in the litigation space and gain support and mentorship.

QUALIFICATIONS

AJSOCAL’s next Director of Litigation will be an experienced and innovative leader and impact litigator who has deep knowledge and passion for protecting and strengthening the rights and dignity of AAPI communities and a robust, values-aligned set of leadership skills to advancing those rights. While no candidate will embody all the qualifications set forth below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal competencies, attributes, and experiences:

• Dedication to protecting and strengthening the rights and dignity of AAPI communities, especially those who are most disadvantaged.

• An experienced and dedicated litigator – A minimum of 4-6 years of extensive and varied experience in public interest, government, or private legal practice in impact or complex litigation, including as lead litigator with co-counsel. Background in addressing social justice issues strongly preferred.

• An excellent communicator and effective ambassador within the AAPI community - Capacity to communicate effectively and connect with a wide range of audiences. A dynamic and persuasive public speaker.

• A visionary leader with an entrepreneurial spirit – Demonstrated track record using entrepreneurial, innovative approaches to lead teams in achieving shared goals and desired outcomes.

• An empathetic, responsive, and clear manager – Demonstrated commitment to fostering a healthy, participatory organizational culture while holding decision-making authority over key organizational matters. Respectful and thoughtful in their communications with colleagues, with a demonstrated capacity to engender trust between the senior leadership team and other staff members.

• Effective partner to the Board of Directors – Experience partnering with a Board of Directors to inform strategy and secure guidance and support.

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and an active member in good standing of the California State Bar.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of relevant statutes, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

• Ability to use logic and reasoning to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. • Capacity to develop systematic approaches to complex problems.

• Ability to synthesize, evaluate, and integrate relevant information to develop and implement solutions.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.

• Successful track record of strategic planning, managing teams, and executing deliverables.

• Ability to assemble relevant facts and evidence crucial to cases through creative low-cost investigation strategies.

• Organizational and strategic capacity to efficiently and effectively advocate for clients.

• Strong preference for knowledge and prior experience working with immigrant, low-income, and limited-English proficient communities.

• Experience in and/or strong commitment to working with AAPI communities preferred.

• Fluency in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Tagalog, Korean, Thai, Cantonese, or Cambodian a plus.

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

• Demonstrated strong leadership experience and ability to work effectively with multiple teams, developing, enabling, and motivating effective teams.

• Leadership style that prioritizes the growth, well-being and empowerment of employees and fosters a culture of belonging in which people can bring their whole selves.

• Skills and experience in engaging and working with colleagues at all levels of the organization, and with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

• High EQ, evidenced by thoughtful listening skills, compassion in all interactions, and empathy with others' reactions and feelings.

• Intellectual curiosity and a growth mindset that actively supports the vision of a unified AJSOCAL and embraces new programs, approaches, perspectives, and ways of working.

• Strong drive and intellectual curiosity to explore and pursue opportunities for impactful social justice initiatives

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This position is hybrid. The Director can work out of our offices in Los Angeles and/or Orange County, CA and the role entails some local, state and national travel throughout the year. The base compensation range for this position is $118,600 – $170,000, to be determined in accordance with the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications. AJSOCAL offers a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, Life and AD&D insurance, paid sick days, floating days, holidays and an end of the year holiday break. Employees are eligible to contribute to their 403(b) on date of hire and will receive the employer match (4%, increases based on tenure) after their one-year anniversary.

HOW TO APPLY

This search is being led by Ellen LaPointe, JD, Phuong Quach, and Ebony Breaux-Liang of NPAG. We invite applications with a resume and cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications via the portal on NPAG’s website (AAAJ SoCal - Director of Litigation — NPAG). Should you have questions, candidate nominations, or if you need assistance or accommodations in the application process, please contact Ebony Breaux-Liang at ebony@npag.com.

At AJSOCAL, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. AJSOCAL strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or other covered persons, including interns.