Department Summary

A national leader in experiential and interdisciplinary legal education, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law is widely regarded as one of the nation’s most innovative and ascendant law schools. Located in a beautiful, distinctive, and economically dynamic city, the Sturm College of Law offers full- and part-time JD programs, a set of pioneering and nationally recognized Master’s degree programs, and certificate programs in animal law, constitutional rights and remedies, corporate and commercial law, environmental and natural resources law, intellectual property law, international law, and workplace law. The law school features a faculty of nationally recognized scholar-teachers, an outstanding and diverse student body, an accomplished and highly professional staff, and roughly 17,000 alumni who have achieved careers of distinction in law, business, government, public interest, and other professional domains.

Through research, teaching, and public engagement, the Animal Law Program at the Sturm College of Law seeks to elevate awareness about the well-being of non-human animals and to prepare the next generation of professionals to engage with the legal and moral issues surrounding the use of animals for food, entertainment, experimentation, and fashion. Complementing these programmatic efforts, the Animal Activist Legal Defense Project (the “Project”) provides legal representation and strategic communications support for activists engaged in investigations, protests, rescues, and other forms of action that seek to advance the welfare of non-human animals. 

Position Summary

The Animal Activist Legal Defense Project seeks to advance cutting-edge legal theories and innovative communications strategies to (1) provide animal activists with high-caliber representation in rapidly evolving areas of law; and (2) amplify the voices of those who bear witness to the suffering of innocent non-human animals. Areas of activity include counseling and litigation relating to free speech matters; SLAPP suit defense; criminal representation; national-, state-, and local-level policy work; press campaigns; and coalition building amongst other lawyers, organizations, and activists.

Working in close collaboration with the Director of the Animal Law Program and the Staff Attorney in the Project, the Assistant Staff Attorney will serve as counsel on legal matters undertaken by the Project; develop and advance innovative legal strategies and theories; teach and train law students affiliated with the Project; and collaborate on strategic communications, community engagement, collaboration with like-minded attorneys and organizations, and outreach to private donors and granting bodies.  

Essential Functions

• Serve as counsel on client matters undertaken by the Project, including contributions to the development and execution of strategies, filings, and other litigation-related matters.
• Collaborate with the Director of the Animal Law Program and other staff associated with the Project on matters that support activists with legal challenges across the country.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Capacity to solve complex problems with creative solutions
• Experience in planning, organizing, and managing processes that bring about the successful completion of specific goals
• Strong research and time management skills
• Strong grammatical, editing, and proofreading abilities
• Ability to take work on projects independently
• Strong collaboration and delegation skills
• The ability to work collaboratively with others and in high-performing teams
• A strong ethical orientation
• A positive attitude

Required Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience successfully developing and litigating significant cases or projects, ideally as part of an organization engaged in strategic impact litigation
• Juris Doctor degree and admission to practice law  
• Commitment to the vision, mission, and core values of the Project
• A commitment to vigorous and ethical advocacy on behalf of clients
• The vision and capacity to expand the theory and practice of animal law

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge and practice of activist defense and procedure

Work Schedule

Normal hours are typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. Some evening and occasional weekend hours are required. Travel will be anticipated in association with client meetings, litigation-related proceedings, conferences, and other events.

In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) May 26, 2025.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 13.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $90,000-$105,000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.