Litigation Director

Litigation Director
Position Type: Management  Regular Full-Time Exempt
Location: Minneapolis, MN 55403

Introduction:
MMLA is seeking a dedicated individual to be part of our dynamic team. If you’re ready to contribute your skills and compassion to meaningful work, we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity.

Position Overview:
As the lead attorneys within the organization, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s Litigation Directors have the primary role of helping our attorneys and advocates help our clients have their legal rights and protections enforced and advanced through litigation. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid’s litigation practice includes representing clients in state and federal district courts, state and federal appellate courts, administrative agency hearings, and through class-action litigation.
Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Litigation Director works collaboratively with our current Litigation Director to share oversight of litigation conducted throughout Legal Aid, to ensure consistently high-quality, impactful, civil legal services on behalf of our clients. The Litigation Directors work in close supervisory and advocacy coordination with Managing and Supervising Attorneys within each unit and program.

What’s in it for you?
•    We believe in work-life harmony. This role offers the flexibility to blend remote work with in-office collaboration. 
•    Litigation Directors work across each of our three locations, covering 20+ counties in Minnesota in a variety of civil legal issues
•    On Fridays, the office closes at noon and employees enjoy a half-day of paid flex time.
•    MMLA provides on-the-job training and mentorship, with opportunities for growth within the organization.  

Why MMLA?
•    We’re not just ticking boxes. We’re genuinely committed to diversity. Bring your unique identity, experiences, and perspectives—we want them all!
•    We believe differences such as age, race, culture, disability, and sexual orientation are valuable and an asset to our organization. 
•    Our mission? Equal justice for all. In your cover letter, tell us how your background can amplify this cause. Let’s change our lives together.
•    Discrimination and harassment have no place here. We’re building a respectful, supportive workplace where everyone thrives.

Primary Responsibilities:
•    Maintaining training program for attorneys and advocates to build high level of competence in full range of litigation and appellate skills
•    Mentoring and guiding attorneys and advocates in developing litigation and appellate skills within active individual caseloads
•    Overseeing and leading identification of prioritized systemic issues susceptible to change through litigation and/or policy advocacy
•    Developing and supporting the implementation of such prioritized systemic issue advocacy strategies, including leading litigation as first chair as needed
•    With the other Litigation Director, provide legal advice to senior management and other departments on litigation risks and strategies. 
•    Participation in senior leadership of organization through Legal Aid’s Management Committee
•    Special projects as directed by Executive Director and as needed.
•    Conduct legal research, draft legal documents, and represent clients in court.
•    Collaborate with colleagues and community partners to address legal needs.
•    Advocate for clients’ rights and ensure access to justice.

Required Qualifications:
Strong candidates for this position must:
•    Be a licensed attorney with at least seven years of experience, and with the ability to conduct investigations, develop complex advocacy strategies, and represent both classes and individuals.
•    Have strong litigation skills with a significant depth and breadth of litigation experience, including first-chair trial and appellate experience
•    Have demonstrated teaching and/or mentoring experience
•    Have interest in conducting impact litigation and other systemic advocacy to enforce the legal rights of individuals suffering from poverty, exploitation, violence, discrimination, abuse, neglect, and other violations of legal rights and protections
•    Have the ability to work across multiple substantive areas of law; ability to identify systemic legal issues, including patterns of violations of rights, and to craft creative solutions to multi-faceted legal problems
•    Have the ability to lead and participate in multi-organization and interdisciplinary teams. 
•    Have demonstrated interest in and commitment to the needs of clients with low incomes and disabilities. 
•    Have a capacity to produce high-quality legal analyses and to provide effective advocacy through both complex civil litigation as well as informal and alternative dispute resolution.
•    Be dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles.
•    Be proficient in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

Preferred Qualifications:
•    Advocate for clients’ rights and ensure access to justice.
•    Professional experience relating to Legal Aid’s practice areas, which include, but are not limited to: 
o    Addressing discrimination
o    Accessing public benefits or long-term care services
o    Disability rights 
o    Housing
o    Consumer and tax law
o    Immigration
o    Senior, family, and youth issues, including abuse and neglect
•    Experience with pro bono work and the ability to leverage relationships in the private bar to identify pro bono partners to assist on high impact litigation is highly valuable.
•    Commitment to social justice 
•    Skilled communicator and motivator

Compensation Information:
•    $101,674- to $110,000 per year, depending on experience, plus benefits. Benefits include family medical and dental insurance, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, 403(b) with employer match, FSA, employee assistance programs, and generous paid time off.  The salary range represents a reasonable estimate of the annual salary based on our commitment to provide equitable and market-competitive pay. The actual salary offered will take into consideration many factors including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills and experience, internal pay equity, and business need.

Application Submission:
Interested candidates should submit their cover letter, resume, and references at https://mylegalaid.org/employment. 

If you require reasonable accommodation for completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in our employee selection process, please contact Megan Cook at [email protected]. 
Please direct all other inquiries to [email protected]. 
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.