Senior Counsel
NYC or DC /
Policy, Campaigns & Advocacy – Litigation & Law /
Full Time
/ Hybrid
Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.
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 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 the 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.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
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
Application Instructions:
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, résumé, and legal writing sample at the following link: 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.
$165,000 - $185,000 a year
