Senior Counsel - Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) - Georgetown University Law Center

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Senior Counsel - Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) - Georgetown University Law Center

The mission of Georgetown Laws Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) is to use the power of the courts to defend American constitutional rights and values. The Institute draws on expert litigators, savvy litigation strategy, and the constitutional scholarship of Georgetown to vindicate individuals rights and protect Americas constitutional way of life.

ICAPs Senior Counsel drives results in complex, fast-moving, high-impact litigation to defend key constitutional rights and values, as well as related legal rights. They do by employing diverse litigation experience as well as exceptional legal abilities in responsibilities that include but are not limited to: 1) Conceptualizing and effectuating high-impaction litigation in defense of constitutional rights and values and, (2) Ensuring that Georgetown Law students are meaningfully and materially integrated into those litigation efforts.

In particular, the Senior Counsel engages in factual development and legal research - and draws on legal research provided by students, research assistants, and other ICAP attorneys - to assist in conceiving of and then driving constitutional impact litigation strategies in close coordination with the institutes Legal Director and Executive Director. Their responsibilities include determining when litigation represents a promising mechanism for pursuing the defense of constitutional rights, and then conceptualizing how litigation might be used in such circumstances and exploring the possibilities of filing such a suit - to include the identification of, and outreach to, potential plaintiffs and partner organizations.

Furthermore, the Senior Counsel - drawing on high-level previous litigation and legal writing experience and the years of feedback received on it - carefully drafts, revises, and edits briefing materials to be filed in court pertaining to those cases, at times with ultimate responsibility for the filings themselves; assists in mooting the oral advocates presenting and arguing the cases; and presents evidence and oral argument directly in courts, potentially at all levels of the state and federal court systems.

They often assume the lead role in individual cases, subject to the supervision of the Legal Director and Executive Director; and closely support ICAP's leadership in overseeing a practicum seminar designed to involve Georgetown Law students in understanding the nature of constitutional impact litigation and in contributing to ICAP's work.

Overall, the Senior Counsel identifies opportunities for, then develops and acts on, litigation strategies and tactics in extremely complex court cases, including cases involving multiple plaintiffs and defendants; class actions; cases involving a wide range of legal claims - potentially including a mix of federal-law and state-law claims; and cases arising in federal courts, as well as in state courts around the country.

Work Interactions and Mode of Work Designation

Reporting to ICAP's Executive Director and Legal Director, the Senior Counsel works closely with ICAP's other attorneys engaged in factual development and legal research and writing in support of ICAP's litigation efforts.

As well, they coordinate directly with ICAP's co-counsel in litigation and, moreover, interacts with other Georgetown Law faculty supporting ICAP's work on particular cases and with students participating in the practicum seminar offered in connection with ICAP's work.

All told, the play an essential role in fulfilling ICAP's mission of harnessing the talent and expertise of Georgetown Law's faculty and students in designing and effectuating strategically selected, complex constitutional litigation on cutting-edge issues, and exposing the law school community, including students in the ICAP practicum, to such work in meaningful ways.

Case Work

• Identify opportunities for high-impact ICAP litigation
• Engage in factual development for potential cases, including interacting with clients and witnesses, traveling to gather on-the-ground facts, and acquiring and analyzing data
• Conceptualize litigation strategies for pursuing ICAP litigation.
• Draft briefing materials.
• Revise, edit and provide feedback on briefing materials, and ensure that improvements are made effectively
• Present briefing materials to ICAPs Executive Director and Managing Director.
• Moot oral advocates preparing to present cases and oral argument in connection with ICAP litigation.
• Prepare for and engage in the presentation of evidence and oral argument at the trial and appellate court levels

Academic Design

• Serve as deputy in practicum seminar involving students in ICAP litigation
• Provide mentorship, feedback, and guidance to practicum students
• Refine legal writing generated by the practicum and incorporate it into briefing associated with ICAP litigation
• Assist in the design of academic program offerings

Research Management

• Oversee and provide feedback on legal research to determine appropriate ICAP involvement in constitutional litigation likely to have an impact at a programmatic or policy level
• Oversee and provide feedback on legal research to inform ICAP participation in constitutional impact litigation, including in support of written briefing materials and oral argument

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree and J.D.
• 5 to 7 years of related experience - preference for 6 to 10 years of experience in legal work after law school (including clerkship time)

Preferred qualification

Experience as a federal court clerk, ideally to include at the district court level

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EEO Statement:

Georgetown University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer fully dedicated to achieving a diverse faculty and staff. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and expression, and sexual orientation), disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Benefits:

Georgetown University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, retirement savings, tuition assistance, work-life balance benefits, employee discounts and an array of voluntary insurance options. You can learn more about benefits and eligibility on the Department of Human Resources website.