Application Guide
How to Apply for Staff Attorney
at Respect Together
🏢 About Respect Together
Respect Together is a national leader in the movement to end sexual violence, serving as the umbrella organization for NSVRC and PCAR. The company uniquely combines direct advocacy, policy work, and community mobilization, offering staff the chance to make a systemic impact while supporting survivors on an individual level.
About This Role
As a Staff Attorney, you will provide holistic, trauma-informed legal representation to survivors of sexual violence, including handling Title IX hearings, protection orders, and employment discrimination cases. This role is impactful because it directly empowers survivors to navigate legal systems and assert their rights, while also contributing to broader systemic change through collaboration with advocacy networks.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with reviewing emails and prioritizing client needs, followed by a virtual court hearing for a protection order. You might then meet with a new client to discuss a Title IX complaint, draft legal documents, and collaborate with an advocate on a coordinated response. Afternoon could involve legal research on a novel issue, a team meeting to discuss policy advocacy, and ending with a follow-up call to a client to provide case updates.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Respect Together Is Looking For
- A licensed Pennsylvania attorney with at least three years of practice, significant courtroom experience, and a deep understanding of trauma-informed legal approaches.
- An expert in Pennsylvania civil law related to sexual violence, including protection orders, Title IX, and privileged communications, with a demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge in complex litigation.
- A skilled communicator who can build trust with survivors from diverse backgrounds, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and advocate effectively in court and administrative settings.
- A proactive problem-solver who can independently manage a caseload, conduct thorough investigations, and adapt legal strategies to meet each client's unique needs.
📝 Tips for Applying to Respect Together
1. Highlight specific courtroom experience in your resume, including the number of hearings or trials and outcomes related to sexual violence or similar civil matters.
2. In your cover letter, explicitly connect your knowledge of Pennsylvania protection orders and Title IX to Respect Together's mission, citing relevant cases or training.
3. Demonstrate trauma-informed practice by mentioning any training or certifications (e.g., trauma-informed lawyering, victim advocacy) and how you apply it in client interactions.
4. Research Respect Together's current campaigns and publications (e.g., NSVRC's resources) and reference them to show genuine interest in their work beyond the job description.
5. Prepare a writing sample that involves legal analysis of a sexual violence-related issue (e.g., a motion for a protection order or a Title IX complaint) to showcase your substantive knowledge.
6. Network with current or former PCAR/NSVRC staff via LinkedIn or professional events to gain insights and mention those connections in your application (if appropriate).
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Emphasize your commitment to trauma-informed, survivor-centered legal practice and how it aligns with Respect Together's core values.", 'Detail your experience with Pennsylvania-specific laws on sexual violence, including protection orders and Title IX, and provide concrete examples of successful outcomes.', "Showcase your ability to collaborate with advocacy organizations and multidisciplinary teams, highlighting any partnerships or referrals you've worked with.", 'Express enthusiasm for the dual focus of direct representation and systemic change, demonstrating how your work can contribute to both individual and community-level impact.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → 1. Review Respect Together's website, especially the NSVRC and PCAR sections, to understand their current projects, publications, and policy priorities.
- → 2. Read recent reports or toolkits published by NSVRC, such as those on trauma-informed advocacy or campus sexual assault, to grasp their approach.
- → 3. Look into Pennsylvania's specific legal landscape for survivors, including recent court decisions or legislative changes related to protection orders and Title IX.
- → 4. Follow Respect Together on social media and note any recent events, webinars, or campaigns they've promoted to show awareness in the interview.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- 1. Failing to mention trauma-informed practices or using language that could be perceived as victim-blaming or insensitive to survivors.
- 2. Overemphasizing criminal law experience without connecting it to the civil legal needs of survivors (e.g., protection orders, Title IX).
- 3. Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference Respect Together's specific mission or programs, making it seem like a mass application.
📅 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 Respect Together!