Job Description

Salary: $110,000 to $140,000 depending on experience

Location: Hawaii

Brief Description Of Need

Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (“NHLC”) is a nonprofit, public interest law firm, and the only law firm in the world dedicated to Native Hawaiian rights. NHLC’s mission is to protect and advance Native Hawaiian identity and culture with legal and other forms of advocacy.
NHLC is hiring a Senior Litigation Counsel to join NHLC’s impact litigation team. NHLC’s Impact Litigation section advocates for government rules, policies, practices, and laws that advance Native Hawaiian rights. These cases have far reaching impact for the Native Hawaiian community, are typically complex, and frequently involve appellate practice. NHLC has argued numerous appellate cases in Hawai’i State Courts and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, resulting in historic decisions that have helped to shape and define the contours of Native Hawaiian law.
Representative cases include natural resource protection through the assertion of water rights and environmental protection actions, public access rights, the protection of historic and cultural properties including burial sites, government transparency and accountability, and suits brought to preserve and protect traditional and customary practices. NHLC’s impact litigators have extensive trial, evidentiary hearing, and motions-practice experience.

General Responsibilities

The Senior Litigation Counsel provides legal services, advice, guidance and assistance on a wide variety of legal issues to the Litigation Director and the organization.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Develop and manage assigned cases, including:
  • case assessment, including required client interviews, preliminary document review, and due diligence,
  • formulation of litigation strategy,
  • completion of all litigation activities, including oversight of others that may be working on the case
• lead the marshaling of relevant facts and evidence, including discovery, the identification and preparation of witnesses, and the taking and defense of depositions,
• research, draft, edit, and finalize all written advocacy,
• preparation for and lead at trials and at oral argument on appeal,
• effectively lead litigation settlement discussions on the client’s behalf, as appropriate, and
• in all other ways exercising primary responsibility for representation of clients in litigation.
• Develop positive, effective, and efficient client relationships and engagements.
• Frequent and regular communication with NHLC colleagues, including the Director of Litigation, Executive Director, and the Board as needed.
• Counsel NHLC clients and NHLC leadership on substantive matters related to NHLC’s practice areas. Demonstrate thought leadership on relevant legal issues, including litigation trends and policy.
• In coordination with the Litigation Director and other colleagues at NHLC, engage in communities important to NHLC, e.g., the Native Hawaiian community, the community of Native Hawaiian Organizations, the national community of indigenous rights lawyers, etc., through written articles, speaking engagements, and participation at community and industry events. Represent NHLC and demonstrate thought leadership on Native Hawaiian rights and legal issues within these communities.
• Work efficiently to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment with a demanding case workload, while prioritizing workflow to adjust for fluctuations.
• Effectively build relationships and collaborate with NHLC partners, including co-counsel at other non‑profit legal service providers or pro bono counsel, to advance NHLC projects and represent NHLC clients.
• Performs confidential legal tasks, duties, activities and special projects as assigned by the Litigation Director.

Minimum Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience as a practicing attorney in litigation required.
• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited American school of law
• Active license to practice law in the State of Hawai?i and a member in good standing with the Hawai?i State Bar Association.
  • If not licensed in Hawaii, applicant will need to successfully apply for limited admission immediately and secure full admission within the first two years of employment.
• Experience handling first chair responsibility in litigation. Trial experience, and appellate experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of or ability and interest to quickly learn:
  • State and federal laws, statutes, regulations, policies, practices and standards applicable to NHLC and its mission
  • Trial presentation techniques.
  • Native Hawaiian communities, culture, language, lands, and waters.
  • Native Hawaiian and/or indigenous law and human rights.
  • History of legal issues and legal decisions applicable to NHLC
  • Current and historical legal challenges to laws applicable to NHLC
  • Federal and state court legal proceedings, practices, and requirements
  • Relevant court, legislative, and federal/state agency interpersonal dynamics
  • Negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution
  • Principles of risk management
  • Nuanced understanding of administrative law
• Must have demonstrated skills or ability to:
  • Work as part of a diverse and inclusive team, and to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace
  • Read and interpret complex written material.
  • Conduct complex legal research.
  • Write/edit pleadings, legal briefs, arguments, opinions, and position papers
  • Negotiate favorable agreements.
  • Effectively participate in organizational planning, budget development, and operations.
  • Manage data and records.
  • Develop and maintain a professional relationship, collaboration and rapport with others.
  • Maintain an excellent work ethic.
  • Make formal oral presentations and communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences.
  • Effectively use computer software (including Microsoft Office products) to draft legal documents, manage workloads and communicate with others

Work is performed primarily indoors with site visits outdoors to locations relevant to litigation matters as needed. Employee will be in contact with chemicals and materials normally found in office environments. Employee will be exposed to low to moderate levels of noise and distraction. Employee may be required to walk to various agencies to conduct research and may be exposed to city pollution, sunlight, heat, humidity, and inclement weather.

• Medical and dental insurance.
• Generous combined leave and holiday policy.
• Family leave.
• Flexible hybrid-work policy.
• After 1 year of employment, 401(k) contribution plan with employer matching.

Notes

This job posting in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee filling this position. Employee will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by the litigation director or staff attorneys.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship. The Executive Director shall have authority to amend this job posting to meet the organization’s needs.

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