Chief Legal Officer

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic thought partnership on legal objectives and priorities to the President, CEO, and Board
• Lead the development and expansion of new litigation strategies and policy work
• Manage and support litigation strategies across various practice groups
• Oversee the operations of the Legal Department, including budgeting and structural changes
• Recruit, coach, and mentor a team of highly skilled litigation professionals
• Ensure alignment of litigation priorities with broader strategic, policy, and communications objectives
• Build and maintain relationships with human rights organizations and outside counsel

Requirements

• JD from an accredited national law school
• Admission to any state bar in the United States
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in large, complex federal and state litigation
• Significant managerial and leadership experience guiding high-performing legal teams
• Proven track record in civil rights or social justice litigation
• Strong organizational acumen and business sense

Preferred Qualifications

• Foundational litigation training from government, private law firms, or in-house departments
• Leadership experience in a non-profit legal organization
• Experience working in a unionized environment

About the Company

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is one of the nation’s most influential forces for racial justice in the United States, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.