Supervises attorneys and support staff on matters that focus on income, consumer, and other economic challenges facing low-income populations 50 and older.
- Provides administrative and technical oversight for day-to-day AARP Foundation Litigation activities.
- Manages, coaches, develops, and evaluates attorneys and support staff.
- Manages litigation in federal and state courts nationwide to promote:
- the well-being of individuals 50 and older, with a focus on preventing, reducing, and alleviating poverty - particularly with respect to AARP Foundation’s income impact area, and, as appropriate, the isolation, housing, and hunger impact areas;
- AARP’s advocacy agenda and policy priorities.
- Oversees the planning, strategy, and execution of litigation.
- Reviews and edits legal memoranda, amicus briefs, and other documents to ensure top-quality advocacy that advances AARP’s and AARP Foundation’s strategic priorities.
- May also handle litigation and amicus briefs directly, workload permitting.
- 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.
- 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 and policy in one or more of the following or related subjects:
- Income
- employment discrimination;
- public/private barriers to economic opportunity, including employment, entrepreneurship, and self-employment;
- employee benefits, including pensions and investments;
- Position Description Form Page 2 of 5 Rev: 10/2009
- consumer litigation, including fraud; misrepresentation; and unfair, deceptive, abusive, and anticompetitive 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.
- Acts for SVP, as requested.
Areas of Responsibility:
This position is responsible for supervising and managing the investigation, initiation, and conduct of complex litigation, including cases that raise issues of first impression, to help vulnerable people 50+ secure the essentials. The VP will exercise a strong degree of autonomy in this role and be responsible for the results.
This position requires:
- mission-driven commitment to preventing, reducing, and alleviating poverty;
- demonstrated interest or experience in using litigation as a tool to drive social change and impact;
- ability to supervise, lead, and develop attorneys and support staff, including o encouraging creative tension and differences of opinions; anticipating and taking steps to prevent counter-productive confrontations; managing and resolving conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner;
- fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization;
- developing the ability of others to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods;
- inspiring and fostering team commitment, spirit, pride, and trust; facilitating cooperation and motivating team members to accomplish group goals.
- entrepreneurial spirit to develop innovative legal theories, partnerships, and approaches to achieve results;
- experience in establishing and managing relationships within and across complex organizations, including with clients, co-counsel, opposing counsel, witnesses, etc.;
- ability to represent effectively individuals and classes of individuals, as well as institutional clients (i.e., AARP and AARP Foundation);
- investigative, analytical, and litigation skills that enable the VP to provide appropriate supervision and guidance;
- sound judgment in the selection of cases, clients, partners, case strategy, and tactics;
- superb courtroom and presentation skills;
- excellent negotiation skills;
- superior research, writing, and editing skills;
- drive to work in cross-functional teams and to engage different units across the Foundation and the AARP enterprise to achieve AARP Foundation’s mission;
- ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision to oversee and manage all aspects of litigation.
Position Description Form Page 3 of 5 Rev: 10/2009
- This position will have a very high impact on AARP Foundation’s ability to execute its strategy and reach both its short- and longer-term goals.
Skills/Experience:
At least eight (8) years of post-J.D. experience as a practicing attorney, with at least five (5) years of experience managing complex litigation, including at least two (2) years of experience supervising attorneys and/or support staff in litigation matters.
- Experience with class or collective actions, especially on behalf of plaintiffs, is desirable.
- Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
- Superb courtroom and presentation skills;
- Excellent negotiation skills;
- Highly self-motivated and entrepreneurial.
- Experience in legal matters concerning low-income or older populations preferred, especially with respect to the following or related areas:
- Income
- employment discrimination;
- public/private barriers to barriers to economic opportunity, including employment, entrepreneurship, and self-employment;
- employee benefits, including pensions and investments;
- consumer litigation including fraud; misrepresentation; and unfair, deceptive, abusive, and anticompetitive 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.
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.
Additional Information:
AARP is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. AARP does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Aug 23 2017
Active Until:
Sep 24 2017
Hiring Organization:
AARP
industry:
Nonprofit