Directing Attorney (Temporary)

The Team

NCYL’s Legal Advocacy team engages in impact litigation across all the issues on which NCYL works, including civil rights, youth justice, ensuring equitable education, youth healthcare access, prevention of harms from the family regulation system, access to core public benefits, among other priority areas. The team brings systemic litigation in federal and state courts to reform systems that serve children and youth, often in collaboration with other public interest legal organizations and with support from pro bono law firm partners. A description of our current cases can be found here: .

The Position

The Directing Attorney independently leads the development and execution of complex litigation, from identifying strategic legal opportunities to managing investigations, filings, discovery, negotiations, trials, appeals, and public communications. The role includes strategic case generation, overseeing remedy implementation, supervising legal staff, coordinating with co-counsel, and handling case budgeting and fee recovery. The position also requires collaboration on litigation strategy aligned with NCYL’s mission and participation in fundraising, media engagement, and external representation. This is a temporary position lasting approximately one year. The role will report to the co-directors of litigation.

Essential Functions

• Generate new litigation opportunities to ensure that children and families maintain access to critical public benefits, as well as litigation opportunities challenging other emerging harms to children and youth.
• Lead all aspects of complex litigation, representing plaintiffs and clients across multiple jurisdictions, including fact investigation; legal research; client engagement; drafting and filing pleadings, motions, memoranda, and briefs; written and oral discovery; expert retention and development; negotiating with opposing counsel; settlement negotiation and drafting; narrative development; court appearances and oral arguments; trial and appellate work; and media work.
• Lead all aspects of remedy and settlement implementation in litigation such as tracking compliance, communicating with clients and monitors, negotiating with opposing counsel and filing related motions and declarations.
• Manage litigation cost and fee recovery.
• Recruit co-counsel including pro bono counsel; negotiate co-counsel and retainer agreements; lead legal practice oversight for cases; supervise staff from co-counsel firms on case-related responsibilities as appropriate.
• Represent NCYL's litigation externally in a variety of forums, including at national conferences and with media outlets.
• Manage case budgets and support development efforts to support NCYL's litigation.
• Collaborate with NCYL Co-Directors of Litigation, Managing Directors, Senior Directors and other staff to develop litigation aligned with NCYL's mission and strategic plan.
• Supervise NCYL staff, including senior attorneys, staff attorneys, paralegals, fellows, and law clerks, as needed.
• Assist with other duties as assigned.