Senior Staff Attorney/Legal Director
4 days ago
New York
UNITED SIKHS seeks a strategic Senior Staff Attorney/Legal Director to provide strategic legal leadership across multiple practice areas and to build sustainable partnerships that expand legal capacity, funding, and team strength. This role is suited for a seasoned attorney or organizational builder who has not only practiced law but also helped grow legal programs through partnerships, grants, and funder engagement. The Senior Staff Attorney will play a key role in shaping legal strategy, strengthening pro bono and institutional partnerships, supporting fundraising efforts, and mentoring a growing legal team. Location New York/New Jersey, California Key Responsibilities Legal Leadership & Strategy • Provide senior-level legal expertise across immigration, civil rights, constitutional law, family law, and humanitarian relief, • Design and implement legal strategies aligned with UNITED SIKHS’ advocacy, litigation support, and policy goals, • Identify opportunities for impact litigation, amicus participation, and strategic legal interventions, • Ensure all legal work is ethically sound, trauma-informed, and community-centered Policy & Advocacy • Lead or support policy development and advocacy at local, state, federal, and international levels, • Draft legal analyses, policy memos, and advocacy materials for public and institutional audiences, • Represent UNITED SIKHS in coalitions, legislative briefings, and human rights forums Pro Bono & Law Firm Partnerships • Build and manage relationships with national and international law firms, bar associations, and justice institutions, • Recruit, onboard, and supervise pro bono attorneys across multiple legal disciplines, • Serve as primary legal liaison between UNITED SIKHS and external counsel, • Develop long-term pro bono pipelines and strategic firm partnerships Fundraising & Organizational Growth • Partner with executive leadership and development staff to raise funds that expand the legal framework and team, • Support grant writing and reporting by contributing legal strategy, impact metrics, and case outcomes, • Cultivate relationships with institutional funders, foundations, and law firm philanthropic arms, • Participate in donor briefings, site visits, and funder strategy conversations as a subject-matter expert, • Help design sustainable funding models for legal programs and pro bono initiatives Program Development & Team Building • Expand and strengthen legal programs, including Umeed Helpline (Hope for families), • Help recruit, supervise, and mentor staff attorneys, fellows, and legal volunteers, • Build internal legal infrastructure, workflows, and best practices as the team grows, • Collaborate with communications and development teams to articulate legal impact Collaboration & Communication • Work closely with cross-functional teams across advocacy, humanitarian aid, communications, and leadership, • Serve as a strong internal and external communicator, representing UNITED SIKHS with clarity and credibility, • Foster a collaborative, mission-driven team culture Required Qualifications • J.D. from an accredited law school; an active U.S. bar license is required (NY/NJ or California), • 8–12+ years of relevant experience in one or more of the following:, • Civil rights or constitutional law, • Immigration and asylum law, • Family law and humanitarian legal services, • Policy advocacy or legislative engagement, • Demonstrated experience building or scaling legal programs or organizations, • Proven ability to partner with leadership to raise funds through grants, foundations, or institutional relationships, • Experience managing or coordinating pro bono attorneys and law firm partnerships, • Strong leadership, supervision, and project management skills, • Experience in impact litigation or strategic legal advocacy, • Prior work in nonprofit, international NGO, or movement-lawyering organizations, • Familiarity with human rights frameworks (domestic and/or international), • Deep commitment to civil and human rights and community-based justice, • Strategic thinker who balances legal rigor with advocacy and growth goals, • Strong relationship builder with funders, partners, and legal professionals, • Collaborative team player and mentor Qualified applicants are invited to submit a resume and cover letter outlining their experience and how it aligns with the responsibilities and qualifications described above to