Investigates, initiates, and leads complex litigation, including cases that raise issues of first impression to help vulnerable people 50+ secure the essentials, particularly through the promotion of solutions that enable such people to earn a living. Exercises a fair degree of autonomy in this role, with guidance and direction from Senior Attorneys and others.
This position requires
- Mission-driven commitment to preventing, reducing, and alleviating poverty, especially through advocacy for maximizing the opportunity to earn a living
- Demonstrated interest or experience in using litigation as a tool to drive social change and impact, especially in the context of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity.
- Entrepreneurial spirit to develop innovative legal theories, partnerships, and approaches to achieve results;
- Interest or experience in establishing and managing relationships within and across complex organizations, including with clients, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and witnesses.
- Ability to effectively represent individuals and classes of individuals, as well as institutional clients (i.e., AARP and AARP Foundation)
- Investigative, analytical, and litigation skills that enable the Attorney to work on all aspects of a case
- Sound judgment in the selection of cases, clients, partners, case strategy, and tactics
- Superior research and writing skills
- Drive to work in cross-functional teams and to engage different units across the Foundation -- especially the Vice Presidents for Strategy and Innovation, Impact Areas, and Workforce Programs -- and the AARP enterprise to achieve AARP Foundation’s mission.
- Will have a very high impact on AARP Foundation’s ability to execute its strategy and reach both its short- and longer-term goals.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Litigates in federal and state courts nationwide to promote the following:
- The well-being of individuals 50 and older, with a focus on preventing, reducing, and alleviating poverty, particularly with respect to their ability to earn a living, and, as appropriate, other aspects of AARP Foundation’s income impact area, as well as the isolation, housing, and hunger impact areas.
- AARP’s advocacy agenda and policy priorities.
- Leads interdisciplinary and cross-cutting efforts to use litigation and advocacy to
- reduce public and private barriers to innovation and economic opportunity through entrepreneurship and employment, including self-employment.
- Support AARP Foundation’s strategy of continuously developing social innovations that increase our ability to provide practical and scalable solutions to the needs of the low-income 50+.
- Works with Senior Attorneys and Vice Presidents in the planning, strategy, and execution of cases.
- Seeks and investigates potential cases to determine whether to recommend filing a lawsuit or an amicus brief by considering the importance of the case, the weight of evidence, the potential costs, and other factors.
- When litigation is approved, works with other AARP Foundation attorneys and co-counsel, if any, to perform legal analyses; prepare pleadings, briefs, and other court filings; conduct discovery; engage in mediation and settlement negotiations; and participate in hearings and trial.
- When an amicus filing is approved, prepares or works with outside pro bono counsel to prepare a top-quality brief and arrange for its filing.
- Works with colleagues across AARP Foundation, especially AARP Foundation Programs, to identify and integrate legal, programmatic, and policy solutions to the biggest challenges facing the low-income 50+ and their families.
- Proactively seeks opportunities and partnerships to grow and maximize impact.
- Serves as an internal and external thought leader concerning law, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity.
- May also serve as a thought leader on law and policy in one or more of the following or related subjects:
- Income
- employment discrimination
- employee benefits, including pensions and investments
- consumer litigation, including fraud and misrepresentation and unfair, deceptive, abusive, and anti-competitive practices.
- Isolation
- elder justice (abuse, neglect, and exploitation)
- community integration, including Olmstead
- long-term services and supports
- barriers to social connectedness (e.g., planning, design, transportation, etc.).
- Hunger
- food security
- malnutrition.
- Housing
- aging-in-place
- fair housing
- mortgage lending and servicing
- unlawful takings, including eminent domain abuse.
- Income
Educational Background:
Completion of a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree
Skills/Experience:
- At least 5 years of post-J.D. experience as a practicing attorney, with at least 2 years of experience handling complex litigation. Must be a member in good standing of the District of Columbia Bar or be eligible for admission to the District of Columbia Bar. Superior academic credentials.
- Experience with class or collective actions, especially on behalf of plaintiffs, is desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully litigate cases individually or in teams.
- Demonstrated interest or experience in addressing barriers to innovation and economic opportunity to enable individuals 50+ to earn a living.
- Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
- Highly self-motivated and entrepreneurial.
- Experience in legal matters concerning low-income or older population’s desirable, especially with respect to public/private barriers to economic opportunity, including employment, entrepreneurship, and self-employment.
- Experience in the following or related areas are also desirable:
- Income
- employment discrimination
- employee benefits, including pensions and investments
- consumer litigation, including fraud and misrepresentation and unfair, deceptive, abusive, and anti-competitive practices.
- Isolation
- elder justice (abuse, neglect, and exploitation)
- community integration, including Olmstead
- long-term services and supports
- barriers to social connectedness (e.g., planning, design, transportation).
- Hunger
- food security
- malnutrition.
- Housing
- aging-in-place
- fair housing
- mortgage lending and servicing
- unlawful takings, including eminent domain abuse.
- Income
Compensation/Benefits:
AARP offers competitive benefits with a 401K, 100% company funded pension plan, health, dental, vision and life insurance, STD/LTD, paid vacation and sick, and other benefits.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Jan 31 2018
Active Until:
Mar 3 2018
Hiring Organization:
AARP
industry:
Nonprofit