SwAA is Hiring!

Join our team as LEGAL DIRECTOR

About Stand with Asian Americans

Stand with Asian Americans (SwAA) seeks applicants for a full-time Legal Director position to drive the mission, objectives and impact of SwAA’s Workplace Justice Initiative (WJI). SwAA was launched in the aftermath of the tragic Atlanta spa shootings in 2021 with a full page, open letter in the Wall Street Journal, signed by over 1,000 Asian American leaders in just 10 days – including founders, athletes & CEOs of Zoom, DoorDash, YouTube and Alphabet. In the open letter, we demanded resources to fight anti-Asian hate, support Asian American employees and ensure fair representation of Asian Americans in the workplace. Three years on, that letter has 9,000+ signatories, and SwAA has organized national rallies to fight anti-Asian hate and supported hundreds of Asian Americans facing workplace discrimination.

As we saw vulnerable Asian Americans spat on, physically attacked, killed in streets, we recognized that acts of hate extend into the workplace and our institutions. To end anti-Asian hate, Asian Americans must be empowered to speak up without fears of retaliation and be fairly represented in positions of leadership. No longer do we accept being typecast as the workhorse and worker bee – expected to keep our heads down, overdeliver, only receiving a fraction of what we deserve while others get ahead. Through our experiences, we also found a lack of resources available for Asians facing employment discrimination and violation of their civil rights in the workplace.

In response to our community’s unmet needs, in 2024, SwAA strategically focused its vision and mission to become the nation’s first legal civil rights organization focused primarily on fighting anti-Asian discrimination in the workplace. We concurrently launched the Workplace Justice Fund, an unprecedented initiative designed to provide comprehensive legal support and education for Asians in America facing workplace discrimination. Our goal is to harness the power of litigation, education and community to protect and advance the workplace rights of every member of the Asian American community no matter their socio-economic circumstance.

Position Overview & Function

The Legal Director will report to the President & General Counsel and contribute to the following four pillars of WJI:

Direct Legal Action & Advocacy: The Legal Director will be the first member of a litigation team of legal experts to offer direct pro bono and affordable representation, focusing on cases with potential to create social justice impact and set important precedents in workplace discrimination law for Asians in America. The Legal Director will manage and develop an ambitious docket that advances SwAA’s strategic priorities through impact litigation and other legal advocacy. The Legal Director will be responsible for selecting, developing and litigating employment discrimination cases in state and federal courts.
Education, Research and Training: The Legal Director will develop resources and programs to educate both employers and employees about workplace rights and issues affecting Asians in America; will assist in designing studies related to systemic workplace discrimination against Asians in America to inform policy recommendations and corporate best practices.
Community Services and Support: The Legal Director will assist in developing our support platform for plaintiffs and the wider community, facilitating incident reporting, community building, healing and ongoing learning.
Partnerships: The Legal Director will collaborate with law firms, employment attorneys, corporations and civil rights organizations to amplify the fund’s impact and extend its reach.

Day to day responsibilities will include the following:

Act as lead attorney to identify employment discrimination cases that will deliver the most social and legal impact for Asians in America, prioritizing clients who are economically marginalized.
Actively litigate cases in state and federal courts, which include the following:
Draft and negotiate demand letters, settlement / separation agreements and severance packages
Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions and briefs
Conduct legal research and factual investigation
Interview potential clients and witnesses
Participate in discovery and other trial practices
Conduct research and investigation to identify policies and practices that can be challenged through litigation.
Draft educational and non-litigation advocacy materials.
Help manage and supervise legal fellows and interns.
Oversee administrative systems for the legal department.
Collaborate with the senior leadership team to ensure communication and
cooperation across the organization, and that the President & Board are adequately informed of work, including through regular meetings and reports.
Participate in strategic visioning for the legal department and help lead organization-wide strategizing and develop plans for growth.
In coordination with the President, serve as a spokesperson of SwAA by speaking publicly on panels, workshops, conferences and with the media, and by meeting with donors to discuss the work of SwAA and its legal department and other relevant issues pertaining to SwAA’s mission and strategy.
Develop relationships with external stakeholders, including issue coalitions, allies and legal organizations such as bar associations and law firms.
Engage in special projects and other duties as needed.

Qualifications

J.D. from an accredited law school, admission to at least one state bar (NY bar admission preferable).
5+ years litigating employment law / civil rights cases with a significant portion of that experience in a substantial or lead role (ideally from pre-suit through trial or decision on the merits and appeals) with an excellent track record.
Proven legal strategist with expertise leading and developing litigation, legal services and legal advocacy strategies, more specifically in employment discrimination law.
Exceptional legal research, writing and analytical ability.
Excellent written and oral communication skills; demonstrated experience with public speaking and speaking with the media.
Experience juggling and prioritizing many concurrent tasks at once, and the ability to manage a high-volume workload, pay extremely close attention to detail, adapt quickly to changing organizational priorities and meet moving deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to take initiative, problem-solve, multi-task and work efficiently to see projects through to completion.
Committed to advancing the mission of SwAA, demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties and racial justice, and track record of providing legal services to the Asian American community or other marginalized communities.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience, emotional intelligence, cultural competency and the ability to participate in, create and sustain inclusive and engaging spaces for other people with a wide range of personal lived experiences.

Compensation

$125,000 – $150,000 commensurate with experience and locality adjustment.

You will also be eligible for our comprehensive benefits package, including:

medical, dental and vision insurance
20 days paid vacation/personal time off
professional development opportunities

To Apply

Apply to legal@standwithasianamericans.com with a resume and cover letter in PDF format. Application review will begin in September 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.

***SwAA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, sexual orientation or any other protected class. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our partners and the broader community by demonstrating kindness, empathy and respect for each other.***