Job Opening: Center for Gender and Refugee Studies

Senior Staff Attorney/Associate Director of the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies

The Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS) seeks applicants for a full-time Senior Staff Attorney/Associate Director.  CGRS, the nation’s leading organization on gender asylum, works to positively impact the development of the law through a combination of appellate litigation and policy advocacy, public education and organizing strategies. CGRS provides extensive technical assistance and training, and publishes a broad range of materials providing guidance and analysis on cutting edge asylum issues. CGRS also operates as a national clearinghouse for gender asylum, tracking decisions in individual cases and maintaining an extensive database with case information.

Job Description: The Senior Staff Attorney/Associate Director will assist the Director in the administration and management of CGRS, including supervision of development and legal staff. He or she will be involved in all aspects of CGRS’s substantive legal work – from development of legal strategies to implementation of these strategies. He or she will be engaged in writing for a broad range of constituencies, and writing responsibilities may include drafting of briefs and analytical memos on legal developments; practice advisories for attorneys, and talking points for coalition partners. In addition, he or she will be expected to carry a significant management and supervision role.

Qualifications: Applicants must be admitted to practice law (any state) and have at least ten years of legal experience in asylum and related areas (i.e. withholding and Convention against Torture). The ideal applicant will have had experience in mentoring and supervising more junior attorneys, as well as in management and development. Applicants must be self-motivated, be able to work with a minimum of supervision, and be capable of complex analytical work. Applicants must have a proven track record demonstrating that they possess exemplary research and writing skills. They must also possess outstanding communication skills which allows them to communicate effectively to a variety of  constituencies. Preference will be given to applicants with prior experience in, and demonstrated commitment to social justice and public interest law.

Salary and benefits: Salary is based on experience and qualifications. There is an excellent package of full benefits.

Application procedure: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To apply, send a substantive cover letter, resume and list of references to the address below. Please no phone calls or emails. Applications must be in paper form, and addressed as follows:

CGRS Senior Staff Attorney Search Committee
Center for Gender & Refugee Studies
U.C. Hastings College of the Law
200 McAllister Street
San Francisco, California 94102

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