Planned Parenthood is one of the nation’s leading health care providers, educators and advocates, serving women, trans and nonbinary patients, men, teens and families. Our 49 locally-governed affiliates operate more than 600 health centers, serving the diverse needs of each community. For over 100 years, we’ve worked tirelessly to improve and promote the health and safety of the communities and patients we serve, prevent unintended pregnancies, and guarantee that safe and legal abortion services are available to all patients who need them.
Public Policy Litigation & Law Department (“PPL&L”) represents PPFA and Planned Parenthood affiliates in policy matters that affect the mission of the organization. PPL&L seeks applicants for the position of a senior counsel. This role can be located in NYC,Washington, D.C., or remote. If in NYC or DC, PPFA operates on a hybrid schedule, requiring at least 2 days per week in-office. If telecommuter, this role will require periodic travel to NYC and/or D.C. in addition to other work-related travel. This position reports to a Senior Director in PPL&L.
Purpose:
The Senior Counsel’s primary responsibilities will revolve around conducting and supervising significant and high visibility litigation on behalf of PPFA or Planned Parenthood affiliates, and providing legal advice to PPFA and Planned Parenthood affiliates about legal issues such as pending legislation, regulatory matters, and activities of those opposed to Planned Parenthood that interfere with our ability to provide comprehensive reproductive health care.
Engagement:
The Senior Counsel will work closely with the members of the L&L team, as well as with affiliate leadership and staff; other PPFA colleagues; coalition partners; and outside counsel.
Delivery:
The Senior Counsel will conduct and supervise litigation in state and federal courts across the country, as well as acting as a resource and advisor for colleagues in developing their cases, making strategic decisions, and preparing for oral argument, evidentiary hearings, depositions, etc.
The Senior Counsel may also be engaged in work related to pending legislation and regulatory matters; advising clients in navigating a rapidly shifting post-Roe environment, including by working closely with operational and clinical personnel both at PPFA and at affiliates; and coordinating with internal and external partners on litigation and related strategies, among other responsibilities.
The Senior Counsel will also support the career development of senior staff attorneys, staff attorneys, associate staff attorneys, interns, and paralegals and contribute to PPL&L’s ongoing work to center the communities most affected by laws restricting access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Required Qualifications:
Law degree.
Fifteen or more years of legal practice.
Strong research and writing skills.
Demonstrated commitment to antiracism and to diversity, equity, and inclusion across differences in race, ethnicity, religion, ability, cultural background, socioeconomic circumstance, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation.
Established interest in public interest work, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and/or impact litigation is a plus, but not mandatory.
Many different litigation career paths can develop skills that are valuable for the Senior Counsel role; candidates are not expected to have experience in all aspects of the position. Experience in reproductive rights is not a requirement. Relevant skills and experience include:
Trial court and/or appellate drafting and argument experience
Experience working in a coalition and/or with co-counsel for multiple organizational clients
Managing discovery, including document production and depositions
Working with fact and expert witnesses including in preparation for deposition and trial testimony
Criminal defense and/or prosecutorial experience
Advising clients on compliance and risk mitigation issues
Reproductive justice work
Communications work in connection with litigation
Work on amicus briefs or strategy
Mentoring or supervising more junior attorneys or other colleagues
Travel: 0-10% domestic travel
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé, and legal writing sample at the following link: https://jobs.lever.co/ppfa/f6e61394-f28a-431e-a7f2-3ca0ad0bbd05. Ideally the writing sample would be an unedited memo, brief, or draft opinion addressing a complex legal issue, but we understand that the nature of the sample will vary according to your work experience. Please also include information on whether and to what extent the sample was edited by anyone other than you. Feel free to submit your initial application without a writing sample and add your sample at a later date.
We intend to fill several positions and applications will be reviewed and interviews conducted on a rolling basis. We encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.