Legal
Full time

The Southern Poverty Law Center works to reduce the imprisonment of poor children of color in the Deep South by advocating for juvenile justice and educational systems that are responsive to the needs of children, families, and their communities. Specifically, SPLC works to end school disciplinary practices that exclude students from public schools, to ensure that juvenile justice systems are humane, and aims to reduce juvenile delinquency by building on the strengths of young people and their families.

We use a variety of strategies to in our work—including community organizing and mobilizing, legislative and media advocacy and litigation. Our litigation successes include IDEA litigation in several Louisiana Parishes, which resulted in a complete overhaul of overly punitive, ineffective disciplinary policies that violated federal law. These school districts now rely on Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions to create a culture that fosters learning and reduces conflict in schools. Additionally, SPLC attorneys have successfully protected the constitutional rights of imprisoned children throughout the state of Mississippi. Litigation there has resulted in a substantial reduction in the number of incarcerated young people. Our public policy campaigns have secured funding for community-based alternatives to incarceration and have reformed Mississippi's Youth Court Act.

Responsibilities of Position:
We are currently seeking an experienced and dedicated Policy Director to work collaboratively with our MS and LA staff on multiple initiatives. The position will be based in our New Orleans office. Responsibilities of the position include:

• Developing and executing policy campaigns that are responsive to needs of families and youth and that complement and enhance SPLC's ongoing litigation;
• Institutionalizing the capacity of state legislatures to further a progressive education and juvenile justice agenda;
• Working collaboratively with affected communities to identify concerns and craft achievable solutions;
• Producing (or supervising the production of) advocacy materials including one-pagers, briefing books, op-eds, media advisories and other written materials necessary to support our campaigns;
• Drafting legislation and/or policies;
• Working collaboratively with juvenile justice and education stakeholders, elected officials, the faith-based community, and other advocacy organizations
• Facilitating campaign planning meetings.

Necessary Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• Experience working on education and/or juvenile justice reform campaigns that have used multi-pronged approaches to achieve concrete, measurable results
• Creativity and a demonstrated willingness to take calculated risks in crafting and executing strategies
• Initiative, vision, and a strong commitment to the struggle for social justice
• Strong writing and communication skills
• A non-hierarchical, client-centered approach to advocacy, and experience working with and for parents, students, and/or imprisoned young people
• Experience collaborating with lawmakers, school boards, other elected officials and/or law enforcement
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and have fun in a high-energy, fast paced work environment
• Public policy experience is strongly preferred

The position provides a very competitive salary and excellent benefits, including a generous 401 (k) plan. To apply for the position, please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to humanresources@splcenter.org. For more information about the position, contact Sheila Bedi.

The Southern Poverty Law Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance.