Legal Director

Maine Equal Justice (MEJ) is seeking a Legal Director to lead our litigation and legal services in pursuit of greater economic security and equity for people in Maine. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced legal professional who is passionate about economic justice, interested in anti-poverty law, and energized by the power of law, policy, and community advocacy working in concert.

As Legal Director, you will guide MEJ’s legal services and litigation strategy— developing and supporting high-impact cases and aligning legal advocacy with broader systemic goals. You will supervise and mentor a passionate team of attorneys and advocates, lead collaborative problem-solving across teams, and help ensure our work is community-centered, strategic, and aligned with the lived experiences of people most impacted by poverty.

The Legal Director works under the direction of the Executive Director and in close collaboration with the Advocacy & Programs Director and Organizing & Outreach Director. This is a highly collaborative role that combines litigation expertise, team leadership, strategic thinking, and deep commitment to advancing racial and economic justice.

Maine Equal Justice is a nonprofit legal aid and economic justice organization based in Augusta, Maine. We represent the interests of people with low income in the state legislature, before the courts and administrative agencies, and through community outreach and education. We work to increase economic security, opportunity, and equity in Maine, ensuring that everyone can access adequate health care, food, income security, and pathways to higher education and training. Learn more at MaineEqualJustice.org.

Representative Tasks:  

• Keeps current on the state of the law and procedures within areas of practice.
• Analyzes laws and regulations and evaluates opportunity to solve systemic problems through administrative advocacy, litigation, or legislation.
• Supervises the legal services team, ensuring quality and effective management and resolution of legal cases and the production of client education materials.
• Promotes litigation skills development and assists attorney staff in developing and pursuing affirmative systemic litigation.
• Represents clients and client groups in court, before administrative agencies, before legislative bodies, and in other appropriate forums.
• Leverages the efforts of the private bar in developing, negotiating and litigating systemic cases.  
• Prepares and drafts legal documents, pleadings, motions, briefs and appeals.
• Provides legal expertise and support for the policy team, helping to ensure effective, strategic lobbying and administrative advocacy, including support with legal research, policy analysis, drafting legislation, and commenting on agency rules.
• Collaborates with the Advocacy & Programs Director and Organizing & Outreach Director to ensure the organization’s policy advocacy, community organizing, and legal services are well coordinated and that MEJ is utilizing litigation effectively to help shape public policy and that litigation goals are community driven to the extent possible. 
• Collaborates and coordinates with other legal services organizations to inform the systemic advocacy at MEJ and assure a high quality of legal representation to MEJ's clients.
• Serves on various commissions, committees, advisory bodies, and substantive panels.
• Contributes to strategic discussions and priority setting within the organization.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Ability to analyze federal and state laws and policies.
• Ability to assess potential for success in different policy and litigation forums and identify strategic opportunities.
• Ability to secure the most benefit for people with low incomes, to know when to compromise, and realistically assess the tactics and amount of effort required to achieve the goal.
• Strong supervisory skills.
• Knowledge of the Code of Professional Responsibility and the Maine Bar Rules
• Knowledge of the State and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the State and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.
• Knowledge of Class Action litigation requirements.
• Ability to work cooperatively with Maine’s private bar, legal service providers, and government officials. 
• Ability to work with a diverse pool of low-income clients with cultural humility and in an effective, trauma-informed manner.
• Ability to work with other allies and to work effectively with people of differing opinions.  
• Knowledge of various areas of poverty law, including health, welfare, food assistance.
• Knowledge of administrative procedure and rulemaking and related case law.
• Ability to write clearly and persuasively.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of computer programs including Microsoft Office and G-Suite. Salesforce experience is helpful but not required.