Staff Attorney LGBTQI+ Rgts Clinic

Department: Law Legal Clinic
Salary/Grade: EXS/10

Target hiring range for this position will be between $87,900 - $115,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

About the LGBTQI+ Rights Clinic

• The LGBTQI+ Rights Clinic ("Clinic"), within the Bluhm Legal Clinic at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, is one of the first and leading law school LGBTQI+ advocacy clinics dedicated to preserving and advancing the rights of LGBTQI+ people and people living with and impacted by HIV. Founded in 2024, the Clinic engages in public policy, community education, coalition organizing, impact litigation, and direct services strategy to challenge discrimination in health care access, employment opportunities, identity recognition, and the ongoing criminalization of LGBTQI+ and HIV+ people.

Position Overview

• The Clinic seeks an experienced, collaborative, and mission-driven Staff Attorney to partner with the Clinic's Director in managing a diverse docket of policy, impact litigation, public education, and direct services matters and in teaching the clinic seminar. The Clinic represents individuals and nonprofit clients and collaborates with peer organizations in policy efforts across a broad range of LGBTQI+ and public health matters at the local, state, and national levels.

Role and Responsibilities

• The Staff Attorney serves as lead or co-lead counsel on complex litigation, policy advocacy, and strategic initiatives, exercising substantial independent judgment in shaping case strategy, directing client representation, and cultivating organizational partnerships that advance the Clinic's mission.
• The Staff Attorney provides strategic legal leadership through direct client representation, exercises substantial independent judgment in managing a complex docket of litigation, agency advocacy, and policy matters, and serves as a primary representative of the Clinic before courts, agencies, coalition partners, and other external stakeholders. The Staff Attorney supervises and mentors student attorneys engaged in direct client representation, collaborates with the Clinic Director on docket development, case selection, and workflow, and helps advance the Clinic's strategic priorities, programmatic growth, and academic mission within the broader Bluhm Legal Clinic.

Position Details

• The position has year-round case and project management responsibilities, with no teaching obligations in the summer. This position is based at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in downtown Chicago, with flexible working arrangements consistent with the academic calendar. Start date is flexible. This position reports to and/or will be supervised by a Clinical Professor/Attorney.

Application Process

• All applications must include a cover letter, resume/CV, a list of at least three references (names and current email and telephone contact information), and a legal writing sample. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis and may be called for a preliminary round of virtual interviews, possibly followed by an on-campus, call-back interview.

Our Community

• Northwestern Pritzker Law prides itself on its active and diverse community, which brings together a passionate and talented group of students, staff, and faculty. The Law School endeavors to take principled action toward ensuring that we live up to our responsibility-and our institutional values-to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for all constituents. Law School leadership commits to working tirelessly to ensure every member feels valued, all students can study and train to be successful in their careers, all staff members can develop personally and professionally, and where our faculty can both teach and support our students and produce top-quality research and scholarship.

Specific Responsibilities:

Legal Strategy and Advocacy

• Serve as co-counsel on litigation, public education, and policy matters in local, state, and federal courts/venues
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic legal or advocacy initiatives aligned with organizational mission and goals
• Exercise independent professional judgment in developing legal strategy, case theory, and advocacy approaches
• Manage a diverse docket of litigation and policy matters, including client intake and matter screening, from intake through resolution
• Conduct legal research and factual investigation; draft and file pleadings, briefs, and memoranda of law; and participate in court, coalition, and agency proceedings
• Maintain primary responsibility for client communications, deadlines, case outcomes, and file management
• Oversee policy projects, including developing work plans, conducting research, and engaging with policymakers

External Engagement & Partnership Development

• Serve as an external representative of the LGBTQI+ Rights Clinic to courts, agencies, community organizations, advocacy coalitions, and movement partners
• Cultivate and manage strategic relationships that advance the Clinic's litigation and policy goals
• Identify and develop new matters aligned with the Center's mission and strategic priorities
• Lead and participate in trainings, presentations, and public-facing programming that promote the Clinic's work and impact

Student Supervision, Mentorship & Clinical Instruction

• Provide substantive supervision and mentorship to student attorneys engaged in direct client representation and partner work
• Lead case, matter, and project planning, feedback, and professional identity development for student attorneys
• Coordinate student workflow, assignments, and deadlines across active matters
• Collaborate with the Clinic Director on docket priorities, case/project/matter selection, and student supervision models
• Contribute to the instructional mission of the clinic seminar and broader Bluhm Legal Clinic programming

Program Development, Strategy, Organizational, and Leadership Skills.

• Contribute to the Clinic's docket planning, strategic priorities, fundraising efforts, and programmatic growth
• Support institutional and funder compliance, reporting, and documentation requirements, as applicable
• Assist in developing systems and processes to strengthen case management, student supervision, and operational effectiveness
• Contribute to communications, website content, and visibility efforts for the Center and Clinic

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school

• Active membership in good standing in the Illinois bar or active membership in good standing in at least one state bar and the ability to waive into the Illinois bar or sit for the Illinois bar within six months

• Three-five years of legal experience

• At least three years of advocacy experience on behalf of LGBTQ+ communities and/or people living with HIV

• Indicia of high-performance ability, such as demonstrable movement lawyering experience or strong academic credentials

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strong written and oral advocacy skills, including the ability to address legal and other complex issues in clear, persuasive terms for a wide variety of audiences

• Demonstrated ability to perform lawyering, policy advocacy, public education, and litigation skills independently (i.e. preparing and submitting basic court or agency filings, efficient legal drafting, managing client communications, engaging effectively in coalition settings, public speaking experience etc.)

• Significant subject-matter experience in some combination of civil rights law, human rights law, LGBTQI+ legal issues, HIV-related legal issues, community lawyering, administrative law, legislation, and complex litigation in federal and Illinois courts

• Demonstrated ability and interest in lawyering across differences and working with community-based client organizations

• Experience or interest in teaching, supervising or mentoring law students or entry-level attorneys

• Creativity, initiative, and leadership potential to shape and drive impactful advocacy and public education strategies.

• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines

• Strong project management and organizational skills, with attention to both detail and big-picture strategy

• A deep commitment to the Clinic's mission and to advancing the rights of LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV

Preferred Qualifications:

• Teaching or supervising law students

• Advocacy on behalf of communities of color and/or other historically marginalized groups

• Experience devising legal theories and litigation strategies in trial and appellate courts with a high degree of independence

• Identification and cultivation of policy, public education, and litigation opportunities, including from referrals from private attorneys, media accounts, in response to government action, or other sources

• Amicus curiae support through brief writing and coordination

• Conceptualizing and draft legislative and administrative proposals affecting the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV

• Experience providing testimony, administrative and regulatory comments, and letters of support or opposition concerning policy proposals

• Work with stakeholders at the local, state, and national levels-including elected and appointed officials, community leaders, and partner organizations-to support or oppose policy proposals

• Experience cultivating relationships with key coalition partners and allied organizations

• Experience pursuing opportunities to share the Clinic's organizational expertise, including by speaking at legal conferences, participating in continuing legal education programs, giving interviews to print, radio, television, and web reporters, and engaging in other public speaking

• Paralegal experience

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Comfort and fluency with digital platforms, including social media, web content, and multimedia formats
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage respectfully and empathetically with clients, community partners, and coalition members
• Fluency in Spanish or another language in addition to English is a strong plus

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.