Legal Director

Company Background/Culture:

Established in 2003, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is the largest and oldest education and advocacy organization and the pre-eminent voice for Hindu Americans. HAF advances the understanding of Hinduism to secure the rights and dignity of Hindu Americans now and for generations to come.

We do this by providing:

• accurate and engaging educational resources about Hinduism and Hindu Americans
• impactful trainings, advocacy and services that protect and promote religious liberty, free expression, equality and justice
• critical and creative programs empowering Hindu Americans to sustain their culture and identity

Position Summary:

The Legal Director is responsible for building and overseeing the first ever Hindu American Legal Justice Center providing free legal resources and services to the Hindu American community. They will work closely with the Executive Director and Managing Director, Policy & Programs to implement HAF’s vision for the Center and oversee its daily activities,  including establishing a legal intake process, creating resources, developing and conducting trainings, cultivating and managing relationships with external stakeholders, and establishing a legal advisory or referral network.

Essential Duties:

The successful candidate will be able to perform the following duties with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Create community education resources on a range of legal topics
• Develop and conduct legal and cultural proficiency trainings for law enforcement and corporations as well as Know Your Rights trainings for students and community members
• Create an intake process and conduct intakes and field inquiries from community members to provide legal assistance, resources, or referrals on a range of civil rights issues
• Develop and oversee a legal advisory and referral network
• Serve as a liaison with external stakeholders (e.g., schools, corporations, law enforcement) as necessary when providing legal assistance to community members
• Serve as the primary liaison with outside counsel on civil rights high impact litigation cases
• Perform factual and legal research and analysis
• Draft legal letters, memos, and other legal documents as necessary
• Provide legal advice, resources, and referrals to students and community members seeking guidance on responding to anti-Hindu hate and discrimination
• Assist students filing discrimination, bias, and harassment complaints in K-12 and university campuses
• Review amicus brief sign-on requests and legal documents upon request

Required Education and Experience:

• Must have a Juris Doctor degree from an American Bar Association accredited school
• Member in good standing of a state bar
• 5-7 years of prior associate level or nonprofit legal experience
• Ability to lead and manage a team
• Demonstrated proficiency in conducting legal intakes and trainings
• Strong legal writing and analysis skills
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Detail oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to manage time and projects effectively.
• Fluency in platforms such as Google, Asana, Slack, Zoom, Power Point
• Proficiency in conducting legal research using LexisNexis/Westlaw and district, state, and federal court systems

Physical Requirements:

To perform the essential duties of this role, candidates must be able to perform the following activities with or without accommodations:

• Sit or stand for prolonged periods.
• Operate computer, including viewing a computer monitor, for extended periods.
• Drive a vehicle, whether owned or rented.
• Travel periodically by air or train.