Staff Attorney

Term of Employment: Full-Time, Exempt

Union: Bargaining Unit Position, Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU)

Reports To: Litigation Program Director

Location: Remote (U.S. Based)

Application Deadline: November 30, 2026

Who We Are:

The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Animal Legal Defense Fund accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, gathering data about and advocating for effective regulation of animal exploitative industries and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.

Role Description:

The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Litigation Program accomplishes the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission by filing strategic high-impact lawsuits against government agencies, individuals, and industries that exploit animals, including factory farms, puppy mills, and roadside zoos that seek to expand the protections for animals under the law.

Senior Staff Attorneys (Non-Supervisory) in Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Litigation Program are responsible for the day-to-day management of their assigned cases and projects, including ensuring the completion of all necessary research, filings, and other aspects of litigation. Senior Staff Attorneys (Non-Supervisory) are also responsible for assisting the Litigation Program in developing new cases. Senior Staff Attorneys (Non-Supervisory) have more experience than Staff Attorneys, and more case responsibilities.

How You Will Make a Difference:

• Act as lead counsel, and be responsible for all research, filings, and other aspects of litigation, for all assigned cases and projects.

• Research and develop novel legal theories and strategies, as well as fact patterns, for new cases.

• Provide oversight, mentorship, and quality review of work produced by law clerks and fellows, without formal supervisory responsibilities.

• Draft, edit, and submit amicus curiae briefs on behalf of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

• Work with Communications and other departments to answer questions on civil legal issues and procedures, and to propose, draft, proof, and/or edit content on cases and legal developments.

• Coordinate with other programs on cases that have, or could have, both civil and criminal components.

• Manage pro bono and local counsel on cases with external counsel.

• Prepare and deliver presentations for professional conferences, fundraising events, etc.

• Provide in-house expertise for staff on questions concerning Litigation Program cases, animal law civil cases in general, and civil procedures and legal strategy.

• Perform other duties as assigned to advance the Litigation Program and the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s strategic objectives and mission.

Please note, this job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position, which are subject to change in order to best advance ALDF’s strategic objectives and mission.