Litigation Attorney – NCLC

About the Position
The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) is seeking an experienced litigation attorney to work for economic justice for low-income and other disadvantaged communities. The position’s primary duties are working with NCLC’s Director of Litigation on NCLC’s ongoing lawsuits, originating and litigating new cases, researching and writing for NCLC’s publications, and providing training and technical assistance on litigation issues at both the national and state levels. Some travel is required for meetings, court appearances, presentations, and conferences.

The organization is looking for a collegial and collaborative individual who can develop strong working relationships with internal and external partners and participate in NCLC’s critical legal work to file and litigate lawsuits—mostly class actions—with the goal of benefitting low-income consumers. Candidates should be highly skilled at both developing strategies that will lead to successful outcomes and in building and maintaining solid relationships with litigation partners.

About NCLC
NCLC is a nonprofit, public interest advocacy organization that seeks to build economic security and family wealth for low-income and other economically disadvantaged people. NCLC is a leading source of legal and public policy expertise on consumer issues for lawyers, federal and state policymakers, consumer advocates, journalists, and front-line service providers. For more information, please see our website at www.nclc.org.

NCLC represents consumers in cutting-edge litigation that seeks to reform the rules of the marketplace. NCLC is interested in cases that will have a far-reaching impact, make systemic change to benefit low-income consumers, and advance racial justice. To maximize its limited resources, NCLC helps bring together strong litigation teams made up of private lawyers, legal aid, and nonprofit groups. NCLC’s litigation activities are restricted to consumer law matters, focusing on cases where low-income consumers may benefit from NCLC’s unique legal and policy expertise, particularly in the areas of consumer sales and services, credit, debt collection, bankruptcy, preservation of home ownership, and the provision of services to low-income utility users and potential users. NCLC’s initiation of litigation is guided by an internal litigation steering committee made up of other attorneys on staff. Members of NCLC’s two-person litigation team (sometimes supplemented by other attorneys on staff) typically co-counsel cases with private or legal services attorneys. In addition, NCLC often files or joins amicus briefs on behalf of our low-income clients.

NCLC’s litigators carry an active caseload of complex, challenging cases that require intensive research, writing, negotiation, court appearances, and strategy development. The position also involves organizing and presenting at training conferences and seminars, outreach to the consumer litigation bar, occasional legal advice to NCLC about governance and external relations, and work on NCLC’s Consumer Class Actions manual. It sometimes involves policy advocacy, primarily on litigation-related topics; contributions to NCLC work on non-litigation projects and publications; and development of relationships with prominent attorneys in the consumer law community.

The majority of NCLC’s staff are based either in the Boston headquarters or the Washington D.C. office, both of which operate on a hybrid schedule of at least two days in-office per week, with Wednesday as a required day in Boston and Monday in D.C. This arrangement will continue for the foreseeable future. NCLC has a strong preference for candidates who will be based in our Boston office, where the Director of Litigation is located. Candidates who would work from our Washington D.C. office or remotely will also be given consideration.

Qualifications

  • Law degree and admission to the bar in at least one state.
  • At least 10 years of complex litigation experience in consumer cases, cases in closely related areas, or public interest cases, preferably including class actions.
  • Outstanding writing, analytical, and litigation skills, including a demonstrated ability to analyze and write about complex legal issues.
  • Consumer law expertise preferred.
  • A demonstrated commitment to advocating for equity for low-income and other economically disadvantaged people, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
  • Outstanding communication and advocacy skills.
  • The ability to think creatively, be strategic, and exercise good judgment.
  • The ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Key Responsibilities
The Senior Attorney will work with the Director of Litigation to further NCLC’s mission as follows:

  • Identify, investigate, prepare, and participate in significant litigation to promote economic justice for low-income consumers.
  • Promote NCLC’s co-counseling role.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with nationwide networks of litigators, act as a liaison to litigation directors at legal services programs and other public interest organizations, and foster relations with other organizations and governmental agencies.
  • Contribute to fundraising efforts; develop and maintain relationships with existing and potential supporters in the consumer law community.
  • Research and write on consumer issues (primarily litigation issues).
  • Provide legal and technical support to private and civil legal aid lawyers, consumer advocates, and government officials.
  • Organize, lead, and present at workshops, conferences, webinars and other training sessions for lawyers and advocates, including major responsibility for NCLC’s annual Class Action Symposium.
  • Lead or participate in advocacy projects, primarily on litigation issues such as court rules and litigation-related legislation; develop and participate in implementing strategies to achieve policy change, including communications strategies.
  • Meet with and respond to requests from policymakers, other advocacy organizations, industry groups, and the media.

Salary
NCLC pays on a competitive salary scale, commensurate with years of experience. For example, starting annual pay at 10 years is $133,442 and 15 years is $148,032.

Benefits
NCLC offers an outstanding benefits package that includes employer-paid medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as pre-tax savings plans, a retirement savings plan with employer contribution, and generous paid time off including holidays, sick time, personal time, parental and family leave, and 4 weeks of vacation per year. Relocation assistance is available for candidates that wish to relocate to the Boston or Washington, D.C area.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to careers@nclc.org (subject line: Litigation Attorney 2023) and complete the online employment application: https://forms.gle/c5AkkKpG2xXYmp98A
While applications will be considered on a rolling basis, priority consideration will be given to applicants that apply by August 14, 2023.

The National Consumer Law Center is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status, or to other non-work-related factors.