[Hiring] Counsel, Lawyers Network @Center for Reproductive Rights

Job Title: Counsel, Lawyers Network

Department: US Programs

Center Background:  The Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights around the world. With offices in New York City, New York; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; Geneva, Switzerland; and Washington, D.C., the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has powered the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of over $50 million and won the respect of law firms in countries around the world, with an additional $29 million annually of donated legal services, representing the work of countless lawyers from more than 46 countries. 

The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they are today. The Center has a track record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. Additionally, the Center has led the development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights and has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting.

The Role: The Counsel, Lawyers Network will play an integral role in the Center’s Lawyers Network team within the US Program department. 

The Lawyers Network builds knowledge and support for an array of reproductive rights by engaging legal leaders from law firms, corporate legal departments, government and non-governmental organizations, and other areas of the profession in collaboration with bar associations at the international, national, state, and local level. We work to motivate, activate and inspire lawyers through programming and opportunities for action through individual and association advocacy to support reproductive rights. 

The Counsel, Lawyers Network will report directly to the Director, Lawyers Network and work closely with other members of the Lawyers Network team, as well as members from the Center’s US Program, and other global regionals programs, Pro Bono team, and other Center departments as required.

This position is based in Washington, D.C., Texas, New Orleans, or Chicago. Covid-19 Vaccination is required for all U.S.-based Center employees.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Counsel’s main responsibilities will include:

• Engage in outreach and partner actively and as appropriate with national, state, local bar associations; and with legal leaders, including corporate, non-profit, and government;
• Maintain proactive relationships with bar association leaders and members;
• Represent the Center at association networking events, meetings, and conferences;
• Develop and execute CLE programs or other programming on reproductive rights in conjunction with bar association partners, other Center legal staff, and advocacy partners;
• Develop articles for national, state, and local bar association publications;
• Actively collaborate with national, state, and local bar associations to develop association resolutions and policies around reproductive rights;
• Catalyze national, state, and local bar associations to engage in the Center’s litigation and advocacy campaigns;
• Maintain relationships and ensure coordination with external Center partners; 
• Maintain internal relationships and ensure coordination and integration across the US Program teams and with other Center departments;
• Supervise interns and fellows; and 
• Assume additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years post-law school experience;
• JD required; Licensed to practice law in a state and good standing and seek admission to the Washington, D.C. bar within 12 months.
• Proven experience with bar associations;
• Proven knowledge of bar association governance and processes; 
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission and purpose;
• Familiarity with constitutional law and knowledge of reproductive rights issues, issues relating to women’s equality, human rights, civil rights, or racial and social justice issues, or experience working with or on behalf of marginalized communities is required;
• General understanding of litigation and court strategy;
• Proven ability to build strategic alliances;
• Must be comfortable with and available to travel regularly in the U.S.;
• Legal research and writing skills with the ability to translate the Center’s work and priorities to different legal audiences within bar associations;
• Strong public speaking skills and experience; and,
• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, strong interpersonal and collaborative skills.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At the Center, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.  You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Behavioral Competencies:

• Develop & Manage Self & Others: Takes ownership of individual growth in order to achieve full potential; recognizes the value of direct reports and helps them develop their full potential while also achieving set objectives. 
• Collaboration (People First): Works intra- and/or cross-departmentally to support the goals and overarching strategies of the Center and its strategic plan.
• Feedback (Improve & Innovate): Actively engaged in feedback cycles: Gives and requests feedback to and from peers, supervisors and direct reports about work products, behaviors, values, style, and approaches with a view on how this impacts self, other individuals, and teams.
• Accountability: Follow-through on each commitment made to individual contributors, teams and partners and proactively informs others of any delays that occur along the way.

Work Competencies:

• Project Management: Works effectively on project teams in order to achieve long-term project goal and objectives.
• Problem Solve & Make Decisions: Identifies, analyzes and resolves existing and anticipated problems, using common sense to make timely decisions in order to reach the best solutions for the organization.
• Internal/External Focus: Anticipates internal and external partner’s needs; assesses requirements and identifies new solutions that align with overall goals and objectives of the organization.
• Communication & Influence: Communicates with and influences others to gain agreement and commitment to the strategic goals of the organization.

Compensation: This position is starting at $125,000, commensurate with years of experience. This salary is reflective of a position based in Washington, D.C. This salary will be subject to a locality adjustment, if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting. Note that most of the salaries listed on our job postings reflect New York, NY salaries, where our National offices are headquartered.

Benefits:

• Health: The Center pays up to 95%* of the premium for a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage. (* % may differ in various countries)
• Flexibility: The Center currently operates in a hybrid model, allowing staff to work 3 days in the office and work 2 days from home
• Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical and community well-being.  The Center offers generous leave including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are also closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend time with their loved ones.
• Growth: You will be working with and learning from some of the top legal and operational minds, all passionate about the mission of advancing reproductive rights around the world. You will also be eligible for a stipend to use towards professional growth.
• Global: You will get a front-row seat to update on the fight for reproductive rights in the global space. You will also have access to Employee Resource Groups to connect to colleagues that share similar interests/backgrounds/views.
• Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (* only applicable in US and Kenya) 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role and unsure about whether your past experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles.

Our hiring processes and our work culture offer support and flexibility for staff with a variety of needs. Should you face an accessibility barrier in the application and interview process please let us know by contacting [email protected]. We will work with you to provide the accommodation that works best for you. 

To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights

Learn more about the Center for Reproductive Rights, go to  www.reproductiverights.org

How to Apply: Please complete the application below to apply. A cover letter and resume must be included in your application. Please include these application materials as attachments.

Please note that all genuine Center openings must be applied through the Center website. The Center does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process (application, interviews, or selection). Nor does it request any medical examinations or bank account information as part of this process. If someone contacts, you on behalf of the Center requesting payment for your application please notify [email protected] before taking any further action.

Our hiring processes and our work culture offer support and flexibility for staff with a variety of needs. Should you face an accessibility barrier in the application and interview process please let us know by contacting [email protected]. We will work with you to provide the accommodation that works best for you. 

Deadline for applications: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. 

Center policy on visa sponsorship for US based positions: Applicants for employment in the US must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the US by The Center for Reproductive Rights.

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