Senior Staff Attorney / Litigation Counsel

Position Type: Full-time, Exempt
Reports to: President
Anticipated Salary: $80,000–$100,000, commensurate with experience

Location: Washington, D.C. with the ability to work on-site four days a week with one remote day preferred; remote/hybrid accommodations can be made for excellent candidates residing in other locations

About the Role:

ADC seeks a skilled litigator with at least 5 years of litigation experience to serve as Senior Staff Attorney or Litigation Counsel, depending on experience level. This attorney will play a key role in strengthening ADC’s legal work by helping identify litigation-worthy cases, drafting and reviewing litigation materials, supporting staff attorneys, and arguing motions in court.

This role is intended for an attorney with strong litigation judgment, substantial civil litigation experience, strong knowledge of constitutional law and ideally experience with First Amendment law, excellent legal writing skills, and the ability to help manage a growing civil rights litigation docket. The attorney will work closely with the President/Legal Director and support ADC’s broader legal strategy, while helping ensure that litigation work is timely, strategic, and high quality.

For the right candidate, this position may develop into a Litigation Director role over time, depending on demonstrated ability, leadership, and organizational needs. The President will continue to make final decisions regarding which cases ADC brings.

Key Responsibilities:

Identify potential litigation-worthy cases in coordination with the President/Legal Director and legal team.
Evaluate legal claims, facts, evidence, risks, and strategic value of potential cases.
Draft complaints, motions, briefs, declarations, demand letters, and other litigation materials.
Review, edit, and strengthen written work produced by staff attorneys.
Argue motions and other matters in district court.
Assist with litigation strategy, case development, and legal research.
Help manage litigation timelines, filings, deadlines, and case priorities.
Support staff attorneys by providing legal guidance, feedback, and mentorship.
Work with the President/Legal Director on high-priority litigation matters.
Coordinate with other ADC departments as needed to support legal, advocacy, communications, and community response efforts.
Ensure that ADC’s litigation work reflects strong legal analysis, sound judgment, and ADC’s organizational mission.

Necessary Qualifications

J.D. from an accredited law school.
Active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
Minimum of 5 years of litigation experience.
Significant experience drafting complaints, motions, briefs, and other litigation filings.
Demonstrated ability to analyze potential claims and identify strong litigation opportunities.
Excellent legal writing, editing, research, and analytical skills.
Experience arguing motions and/or appeals judgment and ability to assess litigation risk, strategy, and case value.
Ability to review and improve the legal work of other attorneys.
Ability to manage multiple matters, deadlines, and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Commitment to civil rights, justice, and ADC’s mission.

Preferred Qualifications

Civil rights, constitutional law, discrimination, immigration, education, or public interest litigation experience.
Federal court litigation experience.
Experience supervising, mentoring, or editing the work of junior attorneys.
Appellate experience is a plus but not required.

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for this position is $80,000–$100,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

How To Apply

Please submit a resume cover letter, and 10-20 page writing sample (unedited by others) to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.