Senior Directing Attorney

National Center for Youth Law

. Develop litigation strategy aligned with NCYL’s mission and strategic plan .

Posted 10/23/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesSenior💰 $151,500 - $179,400 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in impact litigation, particularly in children's civil rights, with a strong ability to lead complex cases from inception to reform implementation. Exhibits strong leadership and project management skills while fostering relationships with diverse stakeholders and external partners.

Highest-signal resume keywords

JD DegreeMember Of State Bar16 Years Of Relevant ExperienceImpact Litigation ExpertiseLeadership And Mentoring Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Litigation Strategy DevelopmentLegal ResearchPleadings And MotionsDiscovery ManagementTrial And Appeal RepresentationBudget ManagementCompliance TrackingClient EngagementNegotiation SkillsCreative Problem-Solving

Soft Skills

Strong LeadershipOrganizational SkillsProject ManagementPersuasive Oral CommunicationAbility To Work Independently And Collaboratively

Industry Keywords

Children's Civil RightsSystemic ReformStructural Racism UnderstandingEquity And Inclusion CommitmentDiverse Youth Engagement

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop litigation strategy aligned with NCYL’s mission and strategic plan
Generate new litigation opportunities challenging emerging harms to children and youth
Lead complex litigation across multiple jurisdictions, including investigations, legal research, client engagement, pleadings, motions, discovery, expert work, negotiations, trials, appeals, and media work
Lead remedy and settlement implementation, including tracking compliance and communicating with clients and monitors
Manage case budgets, litigation costs, and fee recovery
Manage relationships with external litigation partners, co-counsel, and pro bono counsel
Represent NCYL’s litigation at national conferences and with media outlets
Support strategic communications advancing NCYL’s goals
Participate in fundraising and development efforts
Supervise directing attorneys, senior attorneys, staff attorneys, paralegals, fellows, and law clerks
Report to the co-directors of litigation
Assist with other duties as assigned

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum of a degree in law (JD)
Member in good standing of the bar of at least one state
Minimum of 16 years of relevant experience since law school graduation
Demonstrated success leading relevant impact litigation from inception to reform implementation
Expertise in impact litigation involving children’s civil rights and public systems affecting children and youth
Demonstrated ability to apply legal knowledge to complex situations and achieve systemic reform
Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills
Experience supervising, leading, and mentoring staff
Demonstrated understanding of structural racism and bias in public systems
Deep subject matter expertise in at least one NCYL issue area
Demonstrated generation and leadership of complex civil litigation on behalf of youth
Experience building rapport and respect with diverse youth and their families
Excellent research, writing, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills
Strong, clear, and persuasive oral communication skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Ability to coordinate litigation development with other advocacy strategies
Ability to manage, deepen, and broaden relationships with external partners
Ability to develop new legal theories or extend existing precedent
Strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
Commitment to NCYL’s mission and goals
Fluency in English required; oral and written fluency in another language is preferred
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
Some travel required
Submission of a cover letter, resume, and litigation-based writing sample

Benefits

Comp & perks

Health insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life insurance
Generous vacation benefits
Generous sick benefits
Flexible spending account
Commuter benefits
Employer contribution to a retirement plan
Short-term disability insurance
Long-term disability insurance
Fully remote work arrangement
Equal employment opportunities
At-will employment contingent upon continued receipt of funding