Director of Litigation

Description

Who We Are 

The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley (“Law Foundation”) is dedicated to advancing the rights of historically excluded individuals and families across Santa Clara County. Through our legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach, we empower over 15,000 individuals and families each year. Our Children & Youth, Health, Housing, and Pro Bono Programs use legal advocacy as a catalyst for social change, creating innovative solutions to the legal challenges facing low-income communities in our region. With a dedicated team of over 75 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region of the Bay Area. Learn more at https://www.lawfoundation.org/. 

The Opportunity  

The Law Foundation is looking for an experienced and dynamic impact litigator and leader to protect and advance justice for low-income individuals and families through strategic and community-driven litigation.  

The Law Foundation has a deep history of impact litigation stretching back to its founding in 1974. Through decades of work, the Law Foundation secured systemic reforms across housing, disability rights, criminal justice, and immigrant and civil rights, achieving precedent-setting rulings and settlements that changed conditions for thousands of low-income people across the region. After a period without a dedicated Director of Litigation, the Law Foundation is making a deliberate and sustained reinvestment in this work. The Director of Litigation (“DOL”) will lead that effort, building on a storied legacy while shaping what comes next. 

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer (“CPO”), the DOL will lead and support impact litigation across all of the Law Foundation’s programs and serving as the organization’s primary litigation resource across all of our programs and, over time, building and leading a dedicated Impact Litigation team. The DOL will provide litigation expertise and strategic thought partnership to staff across programs, honoring and amplifying the subject matter expertise and experience of each individual program. The DOL will build litigation skills throughout the organization by mentoring and training staff, promote retention by giving interested staff the opportunity to actively participate in impact cases, and foster collaboration across programs and departments. 

The DOL will work closely with the Pro Bono Directing Attorney to identify and engage pro bono co-counsel for impact litigation matters. The Law Foundation has deep relationships with Silicon Valley law firms and a long history of co-counseling with those firms and peer public interest organizations across the state. The DOL will inherit and expand those partnerships, bringing the resources and reach of the private bar to bear on the systemic issues confronting the Law Foundation's clients. 

What You’ll Do 

Leadership and Management Litigation Leadership and Strategy 

• Leads and develops the Law Foundation’s impact litigation strategy. 
• Hires, supervises, and trains direct reports. 
• Maintains and manages the organizational impact litigation docket. 
• Provides mentorship, support, and training to attorneys throughout the organization regarding litigation. 
• Builds and sustains strong relationships with community partners, co-counsel, coalitions, peer organizations, and external stakeholders to support impact litigation.  

Impact Litigation Planning and Execution 

• Files and leads impact litigation in state and federal court. 
• Collaboratively develops the Law Foundation’s impact litigation priorities across issue areas and operationalizes the priorities in partnership with the CPO. 
• Stays abreast of legal developments to ensure the Law Foundation deploys the most effective strategies to achieve its priorities and goals. 
• Collaborates with staff and community members to identify, evaluate, and develop potential litigation matters. 
• Coordinates amicus strategy across the organization. 
• Consults on factual investigations, legal research, case analysis, and risk assessments to determine litigation viability.  
• Manages the Law Foundation’s attorneys’ fees practice. 

Cross-Organizational Collaboration, Partnerships and External Engagement 

• Partners with the Pro Bono Directing Attorney for placement of impact litigation cases with appropriate pro-bono counsel. 
• Engages with the Board of Directors with updates and alignment on litigation strategy. 
• Partners with the communications team to elevate the visibility of the Law Foundation’s litigation work. 
• Represents the organization at conferences, trainings, and other public facing events. 
• Collaborates with the development team to secure grants and other support for impact litigation. 
• Partner with IT to identify and implement technology and AI-based tools that strengthen litigation management. 
• Work collaboratively with other Law Foundation programs and departments to build cohesion and unity within the organization. 

Who You Are 

The ideal candidate brings: 

• A demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, along with a genuine investment in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion both in the workplace and in the communities the Law Foundation serves 
• Experience working with clients living in poverty, including those navigating addiction or mental health challenges, paired with a trauma-informed approach to legal advocacy as a matter of practice, not just principle 
• The ability to work well across teams, levels, and functions, and to navigate difficult conversations and address conflict directly and constructively 
• Excellent judgment and discretion, along with interpersonal, management, and organizational skills that earn respect both internally and with external partners 
• An inspiring, decisive, collaborative, transparent, and flexible leadership style — someone who adapts their approach to the moment without losing sight of the bigger picture 
• High emotional intelligence and cultural competency: curious, self-aware, cognizant of bias, compassionate, patient, willing to listen, and grounded in a growth mindset 
• Experience developing strategic communications and engaging with press and funders 
• Meaningful experience mentoring and developing attorneys, with a proven ability to teach and cultivate talent at every level 

Requirements

•  J.D. and current California Bar membership in good standing 
• At least 10 years of legal experience 
• Significant management and/or mentorship experience including working with and fostering the talents of junior staff, with experience in an organization-wide role at a non-profit or legal aid organization   
• A demonstrated track record of success leading impact litigation, including meaningful outcomes achieved and attorneys' fees secured 
• Significant trial experience in state and federal courts, including drafting legal briefs and arguing motions or appeals 

What We Offer  

This is a full-time, exempt position, reporting to the Chief Program Officer. The annual salary range for this role is $140,000 to $185,000.   

We are committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and professional development of our team members. To that end, we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefit package, which includes: 

• 19 paid holidays per year 
• 3-5 weeks of vacation per year 
• 12 days of sick leave per year 
• Up to 6 months of parental leave 
• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums 
• Free/discounted mental health therapy and wellness services for employees and their dependents through our Employee Assistance Program 
• A 401(k)-retirement plan with employer contributions 
• A sabbatical after 5 years of employment 
• An additional monthly stipend for those who are bilingual and utilize their language abilities in the course of their job 
• An annual budget for professional development 
• Employer paid CA Bar license and/or social work license fees 
• The flexibility to work a hybrid schedule 
• An office building that offers a fully equipped gym, outdoor terrace, convenient on-site parking, bike storage, lounge areas, and 24/7 security 

Workplace Expectations 

The Law Foundation is a hybrid workplace. The Director of Litigation will be expected to work from our San Jose office a minimum of 2 days/week.  Candidates based in the Bay Area or broader Northern California are preferred. We will consider candidates elsewhere in California who are willing to meet in-office requirements and travel to our San Jose Office as needed at their own expense. 

Due to logistical challenges regarding taxes, insurance, and time zones, we are unable to consider candidates outside of California at this time. 

Working at the Law Foundation 

The Law Foundation is a unionized workplace, and members of the bargaining unit are represented by SEIU Local 521. This position is not part of the bargaining unit.  

We are strongly committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for our staff, volunteers, clients, and partners. We actively work to improve communications, community engagement, systems, structures, and office culture to create a workplace where differences are acknowledged and valued. 

We strongly encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.  

How to Apply 

Please submit the following:  

• Cover letter addressing: How has your personal background or experiences, professional or otherwise, prepared you to contribute to social justice, race equity and diversity among our staff? 
• Resume 
• Two writing samples within the last five years (samples may include briefs, motions, appellate filing or legal memoranda. If you submit co-drafted work, please include a short note describing your role and contributions. 
• Contact information for three professional references. We will always ask for your consent and inform you before contacting any of your references. 

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Priority review will be given to applications received by January 8, 2027. Interviews are conducted by phone, video, and/or in person. 

If you are passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a team that values people, trust, accountability, creativity, joy, and fun, we would love to hear from you. 

The Law Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer.  We encourage people of color, womxn, people living with disabilities, older people, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to apply.  It is the policy of the Law Foundation to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, medical condition or genetic information, veteran status, national origin, disability, marital or other protected status.  The Law Foundation will conform to the spirit, as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations. 

ADA Accessible Facility - Equal Opportunity Employer - Drug-Free Workplace