About the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine (ACT) At
ACT, we are committed to advancing reproductive equity by expanding access to abortion care through telemedicine. Our work is rooted in empowerment, innovation, and collaboration, ensuring that individuals can access the healthcare they need regardless of their zip code or socioeconomic status.
About the Role - Legal Director ACT is seeking a passionate and outcomes-focused Legal Director to spearhead our legal and legislative efforts in this critical moment. Reporting directly to our co-founder,
Julie F. Kay, a globally recognized human rights lawyer and a leading voice in the fight for reproductive freedom, this is a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of the battle for abortion access. We need a legal activist ready to aggressively and creatively challenge restrictions, navigate complex legal landscapes, and fight vigorously to protect and expand access to telemedicine abortion care. You will be a key strategist and a vocal advocate, operating with autonomy and driving impactful change in a fast-paced and innovative environment.
Your responsibilities will include: - Legal Strategy & Execution: Work with the Executive Director to develop and implement proactive legal strategies to challenge restrictive state and federal laws hindering telemedicine abortion access. Identify litigation opportunities, collaborate with external counsel, and directly engage in legal advocacy.
- Legal Landscape Monitoring: Stay informed about relevant legal and legislative developments affecting telemedicine abortion access. Proactively monitor the legal landscape to identify emerging threats and opportunities.
- Coalition Building & Strategic Development: Develop and implement legal strategies and create coalitions of attorneys to protect legal access to abortion via telemedicine. Build and lead networks of legal professionals to amplify our impact.
- Litigation Oversight: Oversee legal challenges and litigation when necessary. Be prepared to manage and direct legal battles to defend and expand access.
- Legislation and Policy Development: Work closely with policy and advocacy teams to analyze, develop, and advocate for legislation and policies that protect and expand access to telemedicine abortion care. This includes developing a comprehensive legislative plan and prioritizing key initiatives at the national level to maximize impact.
- Risk Mitigation & Compliance: Work with pro bono counsel to identify and assess legal risks to ACT's operations and telemedicine abortion care. Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies and ensure regulatory compliance in partnership with external counsel.
- Public Speaking & Advocacy: Serve as a compelling spokesperson for ACT on legal and policy matters, presenting at conferences, participating in media interviews, and engaging with stakeholders. Collaborate effectively and transparently with allies and other organizations, ensuring all partnerships advance ACT's mission.
- Independent Project Management: Independently manage complex legal and legislative projects, ensuring timely completion and effective communication.
- Frontline Engagement: Be prepared to be on the front lines of the abortion battle, actively participating in strategic discussions, rapid response efforts, and public advocacy campaigns.
- Legal Team Supervision: Supervise and mentor legal team members ( currently including a Law Fellow, but will grow in the near future), providing guidance and ensuring effective project execution.
- Organizational Leadership: Serve as a key member of the organization's leadership team, contributing to the overall strategic direction and guiding ACT's growth and impact. Work closely with Medical team leadership to create tangible, proactive legal solutions to support telemedicine providers.
Qualifications: - A fierce and unwavering commitment to reproductive freedom and abortion access.
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
- Admission to and good standing with at least one state bar.
- Minimum of 7 years of post-JD experience with a demonstrated track record of successful litigation and/or legislative advocacy, preferably in the areas of reproductive rights, healthcare law, and/or civil rights.
- Proven ability to develop and execute aggressive legal and legislative strategies.
- Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
- Exceptional public speaking and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex legal issues clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects independently and meet deadlines with minimal administrative support.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and anti-oppression values, with experience fostering a workplace culture that embraces and prioritizes these principles in internal leadership and operations.
Compensation and Location ACT provides a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Employer-covered medical insurance, dental, vision, and life insurance.
- 13 standard and 4 floating paid holidays per calendar year.
- A 401k plan with employer contributions.
- 120 hours of vacation time per year, as well as paid sick and personal time.
The starting compensation for this position is a non-negotiable annual salary of $150,000. We are not able to negotiate salary with anyone in order for us to ensure equity across all candidates.
As for location, please read carefully: This is a remote position as the organization is a virtual one, but the candidate will be expected in NYC/Brooklyn quite often (on average, once a month, in addition to other travel) and, therefore, should live within a reasonable travel distance ( Washington DC/Boston area).
The Application Process ACT has engaged Equitable Hiring Group to support this hiring process. To apply, please complete the short form to the right.
Please submit your application by
Tuesday, May 6th. Our simple process makes it easy to apply early!
When you initially apply, please remove the names of your universities from your resume. For example, instead of listing "Juris Doctor from [Law School Name]," please simplify it to "Juris Doctor." Similarly, you can list "B.A. Economics" without the university name for your undergraduate degree. Our hiring team will not consider your university or law school during the initial review of applications. If you are selected to move forward in the hiring process, you will be invited to submit an unredacted resume before the panel interview.
This evaluation process will follow practices shown to reduce bias in decision-making and may be different from other application processes you have experienced.
The overall evaluation process will look to follow this anticipated timeline:
- Early May: Selected candidates will be asked to complete a short answer questionnaire.
- Mid-May: Selected candidates will participate in a video interview with ACT staff.
- Mid-May: Selected candidates will be asked to complete a paid, timed trial project.
- Late May: Selected candidates will participate in a video panel interview with multiple team members.
- Early June: Selected candidates will be invited for an in-person meet & greet and a one-on-one interview with Julie.
- Mid-June: Offer extended.
If you have any questions about the opportunity, please email
[email protected].