Counsel/Senior Counsel, Abortion Access Legal Defense Fund

The Position

The National Women’s Law Center seeks a Counsel or Senior Counsel on the Reproductive Rights and Health Team to support the Abortion Access Legal Defense Fund as well as the RRH Litigation team. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an initiative that aims to help abortion patients and supporters pay for legal expenses that they face because they sought an abortion or helped someone else get an abortion. The person in this position will also have the opportunity to support the RRH team’s litigation work.

Reporting to the Senior Director of the Abortion Access Legal Defense Fund, this Counsel or Senior Counsel will help the Senior Director manage all aspects of the Fund, including outreach, processing of applications, legal research, systems development and management, and strategic planning for the Fund. The Counsel or Senior Counsel will also have the opportunity to work on litigation with the RRH team, alongside the Senior Director of the Abortion Access LDF. This position will additionally have the opportunity to represent the Abortion Access LDF with coalition partners and other stakeholders, including partner organizations within the Abortion Defense Network.

The person in this role must be comfortable working independently and proactively, able to work in coalition with external partners as well as in partnership with other RRH team members, and excited to help problem solve and iterate on processes to ensure the Abortion Access LDF functions smoothly and responsively to the needs of the people it aims to serve.

This is a full-time, exempt position of 37.5 hours per week.

The Organization 

The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) fights for gender justice — in the courts, in public policy, and in our society — working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls. 

We use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us — especially women of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and low-income women and families. 

For 50 years, we have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women, and we need you with us to continue this fight. Find out more at NWLC.org. 

Job Responsibilities

• Process, conduct interviews for, and evaluate applications for Abortion Access LDF funding;
• Implement and help to refine internal processes for the Abortion Access LDF;
• Work in close collaboration with coalition partners in the Abortion Defense Network to contribute to group strategizing and to ensure that its work is informed by expertise held within the RRH team and NWLC more broadly;
• Participate in litigation with the RRH litigation team;
• Help to field questions from coalition partners, attorneys, prospective funding recipients, and other stakeholders about the Abortion Access LDF;
• Draft written materials, including legal analyses, case summaries, and talking points.
• Prepare presentations and as needed conducting presentations about both the Abortion Access LDF and the Abortion Defense Network;
• Help to conducting interviews with stakeholders periodically to ensure the fund is responding to community needs, and helping revise AALDF processes as needed;
• Conduct periodic check-ins with attorneys receiving funding;
• Complete as needed legal research relating to the Abortion Access LDF, the Abortion Defense Network, and RRH-related litigation;
• Work with other RRH team members to ensure that all legal and policy work is informing and is informed by the Abortion Access LDF and Abortion Defense Network and working with other NWLC staff as needed;
• Travel as needed to conferences, meetings, and other events to represent the Abortion Access LDF and Abortion Defense Network, or RRH litigation (travel estimated to be approximately 5-10% of time);
• Other duties as assigned

For Senior Counsel, additional job responsibilities may include:

• Greater autonomy in the above responsibilities;
• Leading the RRH team’s participation in a litigation matter; and
• Supervising legal fellows and/or interns.

Qualifications

The candidate must possess:

• For Counsel, a law degree ;
• For Senior Counsel, a law degree and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience;
• Admission to a state bar with ability to waive into the DC Bar if not already admitted
• Knowledge of and/or passion for gender justice and advocacy, in particular around abortion access and reproductive rights and justice more broadly;
• Flexibility, creativity, and initiative in evaluating and growing a project to be efficient and responsive to the needs of the people it aims to serve;
• Experience in civil or criminal litigation;
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively;
• Ability to build credibility and trust with coalition partners;
• Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Comfort with public speaking.

Additional preferred skills and knowledge:

• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience;
• Familiarity with ecosystems of abortion support and provision in the United States—for example, abortion funds;
• Familiarity with attorney financial practices, including, for example, retainer agreements for hourly and/or contingency clients, firm billing practices, and motions for attorneys’ fees;

• Experience in direct legal services;

• Experience with project management;
• Experience with coalition work within progressive spaces, in particular reproductive rights, health, or justice spaces.

Key Relationships

The Counsel or Senior Counsel will report directly to the Senior Director of the Abortion Access Legal Defense Fund and will work closely with staff across the Reproductive Rights and Health Team, as well as with the General Counsel and the Campaign and Digital Strategies team. If hired as Senior Counsel, this position may have supervisory opportunities with legal interns and/or legal fellows.

Compensation & Benefits 

A salary within the range of $88,055-$96,786 will be provided to the successful Counsel candidate with 0 up to 4 years of experience, consistent with the National Women’s Law Center’s compensation framework. A salary within the range of $105,321-$142,824 will be provided to the successful Senior Counsel candidate with 5 or more years of experience. The successful candidate’s salary within these ranges will be determined by the number years of relevant experience they bring to the role. 

The Center offers a comprehensive benefits package, and four weeks of annual vacation. 

NWLC is a nonprofit organization whose headquarters and staff are based in Washington, D.C.  This role is designated as remote but will be expected to work from one of the states in which NWLC is licensed to do business: DC, MD, VA, NJ, OR, PA, IL, IN, NY, OH, or CT. The successful candidate will need to live in or relocate to one of these states. 

The first 90 days of employment will be considered a probationary period. 

Classification 

NWLC recognizes a staff bargaining unit, NWLC United, affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union/IFPTE Local 70, a union for non-profit workers. This position is included in NWLC’s bargaining unit. Specific employment terms are subject to collective bargaining. 

How to Apply 

To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter outlining how your professional background is a good fit for this position. Resumes should include exact start and end dates (month and year) of employment, as well as the average number of hours worked per week in each job. Applications accepted until position is filled. 

Applicants will be contacted if selected for an interview. We kindly request that interested parties refrain from calling, emailing, or visiting NWLC’s offices to express interest or check on the status of their application. 

The National Women’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people with disabilities; people of all genders, gender identities and sexual orientations; people of color; and veterans.  

Research indicates members of marginalized groups tend to underestimate their qualifications and apply only if they are a 100% match. If you are passionate about NWLC’s mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t check all the boxes, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application. 

Reasonable Accommodations 

If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email NWLCHR@nwlc.org.