Staff Attorney

Core responsibilities:

• Research potential instances of discrimination against nontheists and violations of church-state separation, and prepare legal memoranda and demand letters
• Maintain an active caseload of administrative, federal and state court anti-discrimination and civil liberties litigation
• Conduct intakes of potential new clients and provide assistance to them as necessary
• Collaborate with the Legal Director to build cases based on novel legal theories that expand the rights of nontheists in America
• Assist in securing the services and expanding the pool of cooperating attorneys
• Monitor the litigation handled by cooperating attorneys and supply back-up help as needed
• Provide legal analysis to other senior staff as directed by the Legal Director

This role creates positive change by litigating to support the rights of America's largest religious minority - nontheistic people - to live freely and openly without threat of discrimination and with equal treatment by their government, including fighting for separation of church and state and challenging nontheists' exclusion from laws that protect freedom of conscience.

Required skills and qualifications:

• JD with active admission to the bar in at least one state
• At least two years of civil litigation experience
• Ability to excel in litigation including discovery, motion practice, briefs, trials, oral argument, and amicus briefs
• Ability to engage in litigation with minimal administrative support staff
• A demonstrated commitment to civil rights
• Ability to work independently
• History of diligent record keeping
• Demonstrated ability to write with clarity, focus, and polish
• Willingness to travel regularly for hearings and meetings, at times on short notice

Compensation: $80,000-85,000 plus excellent benefits, flexible hours, and generous PTO

The American Humanist Association promotes humanism as a community and worldview for nontheistic people, fighting the radical religious right in courts, Congress, and the streets to advocate for separation of church and state, equal rights for nontheists, progressive public policy, and community improvement through direct action.