Attorney

Position: Attorney
Location: Indianapolis, IN (preferred, virtual candidates will be considered)
Competitive salary commensurate with experience, full benefits

EdChoice, a national nonprofit organization that promotes state-based educational choice programs, is seeking an Attorney to join EdChoice Legal Advocates (EdLA). EdLA is the litigation division of EdChoice and was created to safeguard choice programs for families by representing their right to educational choice in court.

Within a collaborative culture, the Attorney will develop and recommend legal strategy, take discovery, file briefs and argue in court through every stage of litigation in state and federal tribunals across the United States. Principally representing parents of school-age children, an Attorney in this position will litigate school choice and educational freedom cases and undertake related public speaking, writing, direct advocacy, and media appearances. The Attorney will also review draft educational choice legislation for consistency with state and federal constitutions.

EdChoice Legal Advocates is looking for passionate, entrepreneurial candidates with 1-4 years of combined post-law school clerking and litigation. Successful candidates will possess excellent writing and communication skills and have experience clerking for a state supreme court, United States district court, or United States Court of Appeals and/or writing trial and appellate briefs.

Applicants should submit a cover letter detailing interest in and support of educational choice and joining EdChoice Legal Advocates, resumé, and 1-2 writing samples to carey@EdChoice.org.

This job post is active April 5, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION:

POSITION: Attorney
PURPOSE: Within a collaborative culture, attorneys at EdChoice Legal Advocates develop and recommend legal strategy, take discovery, file briefs and argue in court through every stage of litigation in state and federal tribunals across the country. Principally representing parents of school-age children, an attorney in this position will litigate school choice and educational freedom cases and undertake related public speaking, writing, direct advocacy, and media appearances. The attorney will also review draft educational choice legislation for consistency with state and federal constitutions.
REPORTS TO: Vice President and Director of Litigation

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Litigation: Case preparation, investigation, management, research, and writing

• Undertaking legal research for cases
• Conducting internet and on-site case investigation
• Conducting client interviews
• Submitting open records requests
• Completing full immersion in rules of a jurisdiction
• Writing legal memos
• Preparing complaints and responsive pleadings
• Preparing and arranging service of process
• Preparing litigation backgrounders and launching cases with full media effort
• Corresponding and negotiating with opposing counsel
• Participating in pretrial conferences
• Interviewing and prepping witnesses
• Working with experts and assisting with expert reports
• Drafting witness declarations
• Drafting and serving written discovery (interrogatories, RFPs, RFAs)
• Noticing, taking, defending depositions
• Drafting and filing motions and supporting memoranda
• Conducting opening and closing arguments
• Conducting direct and cross examinations of witnesses
• Conducting trial and appellate oral arguments
• Drafting and filing trial briefs
• Drafting and filing appeal briefs
• Drafting and filing attorney fee requests
• Drafting and filing amicus curiae briefs
• Managing cases and case files
• Other duties as assigned

Bill Review

• Review draft educational choice bills for federal and state constitutionality
• Communicate with state directors, lobbyists, and other EdChoice personnel regarding concerns about constitutionality
• In response to requests from state directors and lobbyists, draft proposed alternative text or bill amendments to address deficiencies

Other: Activism, Advocacy, and Community Presence

• Collaborate with other EdChoice divisions
• Liaise with state and federal officials
• Work with communications team to author op-eds and press releases
• Speak at trainings, conferences and law schools about the educational choice movement
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• J.D.
• Admission in good standing to the bar of a state or the District of Columbia
• At least 1 year of legal work experience either as a judicial law clerk (state supreme court or federal court) or in a litigation practice
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Experience drafting judicial opinions or writing trial and appellate briefs
• A passion for the educational choice mission
• Federal judicial clerkship preferred
• Experience at a large law firm, sophisticated litigation or appellate boutique, or state or federal SG office a plus
• Willing to travel occasionally as required for client, case, and other mission needs

ABOUT EDCHOICE

EdChoice is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing full and unencumbered educational choice as the best pathway to successful lives and a stronger society. EdChoice believes that families, not bureaucrats, are best equipped to make K-12 schooling decisions for their children. The organization works at the state level to educate diverse audiences, train advocates and engage policymakers on the benefits of high-quality school choice programs. EdChoice is the intellectual legacy of Milton and Rose D. Friedman, who founded the organization in 1996.

EdChoice, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer and does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any status protected by law, in any of its activities or operations. All qualified applicants will receive consideration. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, subcontractors, and partners.