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National Legal Director at Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center

Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center No longer available

Job Description

Who We Are

MJC is a national nonprofit civil rights organization. We represent people who have been harmed by America's criminal legal system, seeking to vindicate their rights, elevate their story, and hold people with power accountable. We do this primarily through cutting edge litigation and advocacy across the country, on end to end issues in the criminal legal system, from policing, to prosecutorial discretion, to rights of indigent defendants, to mass incarceration, to prison conditions, to wrongful convictions and the death penalty. For more information on our work, visit .

The criminal legal system disproportionately harms people of color, people from low income communities, people who were formerly incarcerated, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We strongly encourage people who identify within these and other communities underrepresented in the legal profession to apply. All applicants must have and be committed to the cultural competence required to work with clients, co workers, and community partners who come from different backgrounds and experiences.

What You'll Do
  • Develop and refine the overall strategic direction for MJC's legal work to pursue MJC's overarching mission, values, and strategic goals most effectively in collaboration with the Executive Director and office directors
  • Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director and leadership team in actualizing MJC's mission
  • Regularly interface with MJC's Managing Director of Operations, Director of Communications, and Director of Development to maximize strategic alignment.
  • Participate in Board meetings and serve as a corporate officer
Implementation & Management of Legal Program
  • Lead the design and implementation of a realistic and concrete plan to execute the organization's legal strategy
  • Oversee MJC's legal function, including direct supervision of the organization's five office directors, and indirect oversight of the organization's full legal team of about 50 professionals
  • Motivate, nurture, and connect a diverse, inclusive, and high performing team
  • Direct the case approval process, including reviewing proposed new matters for mission alignment and impact, as well as ensuring adequate staffing and resources for matters in collaboration with office directors, prior to approval by the Executive Director
  • Developperformance management metrics and aprofessional development program for all legal professionals in

Typical senior pay: $131k for Producers and Directors nationally

National salary averages
Expected senior-level
$131k
Entry
Mid
Senior
Expected
$43k Market range (10th-90th percentile) $199k

Top performers earn significantly more—skill and negotiation matter.

Senior roles pay 119% more than entry—experience is well rewarded.

Strong candidate leverage

Pay is responsive to skills and negotiation. Position yourself as a specialist.

Hiring leverage
Balanced
Wage leverage
Strong
Mobility
Good mobility

Who this leverage applies to

Stronger for: Specialists with niche skills
Weaker for: Generalists

Where to negotiate

Base salary
Sign-on bonus
Title / level
Remote flexibility
Scope & responsibility
Start date / PTO

Likely Possible Unlikely

Watch out for

Wide pay variance: Compensation depends heavily on employer and specialization.

Use competing offers and timing to your advantage.

Does this path compound?

Job Growth →
High churn
Growth, flat pay
🚀 Compound
Growth + pay upside
⚠️ Plateau
Limited growth
Specialize
Experts earn more
Pay Upside →
Expertise pays off

Limited new roles, but specialists earn significantly more.

+5%
10yr growth
A bachelor's degree is typically expected.
Typical: Bachelor's degree

Openings come from turnover, not new growth. Differentiate to advance.

Labor data: BLS 2024