Job details
Job type full-time
Full job description
Overview:
American oversight is looking for a strategic chief counsel with litigation experience to lead our legal team and help us shine a light on government misconduct and threats to democracyWe’re a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that uses targeted public records requests and litigation for maximum impact to uncover evidence of corruption, abuse of power, or conflicts of interest.
We leverage our open records expertise to act where corruption and government power overlapFrom the federal freedom of information act to state transparency laws, we use carefully crafted records requests to extract information from the governmentWhen the government fails to respond as required by law, our team has the legal expertise to take them to court and enforce the public’s right to hold our leaders accountableAmerican oversight has obtained and published more than one million pages of emails, memos, calendars, text messages, and other records — ensuring accountability, exposing misconduct, and often driving significant corrective action, at all levels of government
The chief counsel will lead american oversight’s team of attorneys and legal support staff in drafting and litigating public records requests, and direct litigation and legal strategyThe chief counsel will also mentor, develop, and supervise a high-caliber legal team.
Job responsibilities:
Specific tasks will shift day by day with our work and with current events, but in a typical week, you will:
Proactively set legal strategies to extract public records and enforce the public’s right to hold our leaders accountable.
Serve as senior counsel for litigation of open records requests on behalf of american oversight and other clients.
Produce, edit, and help guide brief writing by counsel.
Hire, manage, coach, and develop legal team members.
Provide overall legal leadership and vision for american oversight.
Collaborate and coordinate with american oversight’s research, communications, and legal staff members to drive accountability and expose misconduct at all levels of government.
Engage in rapid response to current events, developments, and document releases in american oversight`s public records requests and litigation.
Work with communications and investigations teams on messaging materials and communications.
Collaborate with local counsel.
Represent american oversight in meetings with coalition partners and congressional committees.
Participate in internal organizational development initiatives.
Qualifications:
Expert litigation judgment including the ability to create legal strategies with appropriate levels of assertiveness and risk toleranceRelevant factors may include:
At least 10+ years’ combined experience at law firm(s) and/or in government.
Substantial experience leading litigation teams.
Trial court experience is strongly preferredDemonstrated case instinct in district courtStrategic approach for working with judges.
Substantial litigation experience at a leading national or international law firm or equivalent.
Litigation experience with one or more of the following: federal and state governments, transparency and/or commercial litigation experience.
Excellent academic credentials.
Jd or equivalent, and membership in good standing of at least one state bar.
A keen insight into which public records will contribute to american oversight’s mission.
Exemplary legal writing skills and ability to guide others’ written work product.
Can motivate, inspire, supervise and coach experienced, legal professionals in a collaborative legal environmentEncourage growth and new areas of work and manage and provide feedback for performance gaps.
Provide direction and workload distribution to team to ensure equity, engagement, and effectiveness.
Connects individual projects and complex workflows to overall strategyCan drive a team’s focus appropriately and make strategic decisions.
Ability to work collaboratively and with a focus on shared goals and our missionCan effectively build and manage relationships with local counsel, partner counsel, and other key stakeholders.
Exceptional judgment, the highest level of professional integrity and ethics, and commitment to the organizational mission.
Experience in organization-wide strategic planning is a plus.
Additional information:
American oversight is proudly an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse teamStudies have shown that diverse candidates in some instances may be less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they have every one of the qualifications listedOur hiring process is centered on assessing candidates with diverse lived experiencesWe would encourage you to apply, even if you aren’t certain whether you meet every one of our qualifications describedIf you are unsure of whether you meet the qualifications of this position, or how this would be determined, please contact us to discuss your application.
The salary range for this position is in the range of $200,000, commensurate with experienceGenerous and comprehensive benefits package, including health benefits, 403(b) match, vision and dental benefits, and paid parental leave.
American oversight is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
American oversight is a remote-first organization, and our employees can work from anywhere in the countryOur office in downtown washington, dc, is an optional workspace when pandemic-related restrictions allow.
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