Application Guide
How to Apply for Associate Director, Impact Litigation
at Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence
🏢 About Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence
GIFFORDS is unique as the nation's premier legal organization dedicated exclusively to gun violence prevention through litigation, policy, and research. Unlike general civil rights or public interest firms, it combines deep legal expertise with a focused mission to hold the gun industry accountable using innovative legal strategies. Working here means joining a team that has shaped gun safety laws for three decades and directly contributes to saving lives through strategic legal action.
About This Role
As Associate Director of Impact Litigation, you'll lead affirmative litigation against the gun industry, developing cases from investigation through trial and appeal. This role is impactful because you'll directly shape legal precedents on gun industry accountability while supervising a team of attorneys to advance GIFFORDS' mission. You'll work at the intersection of law, policy, and advocacy to create systemic change in how gun violence is addressed legally.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing case developments with your litigation team, strategizing on discovery approaches for an active deceptive marketing case, and drafting motions while coordinating with the communications team on public messaging. You could spend the afternoon meeting with coalition partners about joint litigation strategies, then reviewing grant proposals with the development team to secure funding for future impact cases.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence Is Looking For
- A litigator with 7+ years experience who has led affirmative or impact litigation cases from start to finish, not just participated in them
- Someone with 3+ years specific experience in gun-related litigation, regulation, or enforcement who understands the unique challenges of Second Amendment law and gun industry practices
- A strategic leader who can both manage a team of attorneys and develop innovative legal theories using federal, state, and local statutes
- A mission-driven professional who can represent GIFFORDS in court, with public officials, and in coalitions while advancing both legal and organizational goals
📝 Tips for Applying to Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence
Highlight specific affirmative litigation cases you've led (not just worked on), emphasizing your role in case development, strategy, and execution
Demonstrate your knowledge of gun industry practices and recent legal developments in gun violence prevention litigation, not just general interest in the cause
Show how you've worked with communications teams to message complex litigation to the public, as this role specifically mentions supporting communications
Provide concrete examples of managing litigation teams toward strategic goals, not just supervising day-to-day work
Connect your experience directly to GIFFORDS' specific focus areas: gun industry misconduct, distribution practices, deceptive marketing, and community safety through legal accountability
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your experience with affirmative litigation development and execution, specifically how you've identified and built cases from investigation through resolution", 'Your specific knowledge of gun violence prevention law and the gun industry, including any experience with relevant statutes or regulations', 'Your leadership approach to managing legal teams while advancing strategic organizational goals', "How your litigation philosophy aligns with GIFFORDS' mission-driven approach to creating systemic change through the courts"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → GIFFORDS Law Center's recent litigation victories and current cases, particularly their affirmative litigation against the gun industry
- → The organization's specific legal theories and approaches to gun industry accountability as outlined in their publications and court filings
- → Chief Counsel and VP of GIFFORDS Law Center's backgrounds and public statements about litigation strategy
- → Recent developments in gun violence prevention law and how they affect litigation strategy, including relevant state and federal court decisions
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing only on defensive litigation experience or general litigation skills without demonstrating specific affirmative litigation leadership
- Showing only general interest in gun violence prevention without demonstrating specific legal knowledge of gun industry regulation or litigation
- Presenting as purely a technical litigator without showing how you connect legal work to organizational mission and strategic goals
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence!