Hybrid Legal Director

at Black Pen Recruitment

• Job title: Legal Director
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Lead
• Salary: $145,000 - $170,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Postgraduate Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, New York City, United States

About the role

• Legal Director leading PEN America’s legal advocacy efforts for free expression in the U.S. and abroad, focusing on impactful litigation and collaboration with writers and organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead PEN America’s legal advocacy team, with overall responsibility for managing PEN America’s direct litigation and amicus docket, including discovery, motion practice, relationships with co-counsel and member-writers involved with PEN America in any litigation (in coordination with Membership team); includes recruitment of pro bono counsel
• Play a lead role in developing PEN America’s legal advocacy program, including overarching strategy and litigation priorities that support and advance the organization’s goals and priorities, in consultation with program colleagues and organizational leadership
• Serve as a key point of contact for prospective legal/litigation opportunities (including proactive outreach) and track and help drive internal analysis and decision making about such opportunities
• In collaboration with the staff attorney, serve as public spokesperson on PEN America’s legal advocacy and as the organization’s expert voice on broader legal developments in the free expression field.
• Represent PEN America, as appropriate, in coalitions and partnerships with a focus on legal advocacy
• In conjunction with the staff attorney, serve as a primary point of contact for PEN America staff with respect to the organization's legal advocacy
• Provide general in-house First Amendment expertise to programmatic staff, including legal review and analysis for PEN America advocacy work, such as for reports, blogs and statements
• Assist the Sy Syms Managing Director of U.S. Free Expression Programs in determining strategic and programmatic priorities, while bringing their legal expertise to bear on the development of organizational principles and positions
• Collaborate with the Development team to support fundraising for legal advocacy program
• If appropriate, determine if and when creation of a legal externship and fellowship program or other program seconding lawyers to PEN America is desirable and feasible

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree, admission to practice law in one or more jurisdictions, attorney in good standing
• Minimum of seven to ten years of litigation experience in First Amendment/free expression-related areas
• Demonstrated track record developing and playing a lead counsel role in impact litigation
• Ability to successfully lead a legal program and develop junior attorneys
• Excellent research and writing skills, both in terms of legal writing and for general audiences, and strong verbal skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment on multiple projects with many moving parts
• A track record of showing initiative and creative problem solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to navigate sensitive issues with care and conscientiousness and work effectively on issues that can be politically and socially contentious
• Ability to travel within the United States as needed and as the work demands, including on occasional weekends and off-hours
• Ability to spend long hours at the computer (e.g., for research and writing)
• Must be able to provide valid proof of U.S. work authorization
• Commitment to PEN America’s mission, centered on the celebration and defense of free expression for all.
• Willingness to defend the right to engage in speech that may be offensive and discomfiting and that reflects a wide range of political opinions and ideologies.
• Commitment to PEN America’s advocacy and support for writers, artists and their allies around the world, without regard to the ideology or actions of their country's government.

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision health insurance
• paid time off
• 10 paid holidays
• pre-tax commuter benefits
• 403b retirement plan