Staff Attorney, Rhode Center, Legal Profession, Stanford Law School

• NOTE: This position has been deemed critical/has specific funding, has been approved by the Law School for posting, and is exempt from the hiring freeze.

About the Rhode Center

The Rhode Center on the Legal Profession is a leading research institution dedicated to studying the legal profession, legal institutions, and the lawyers who shape them. The Center brings together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and students to produce rigorous, impactful research with real-world relevance. The Center seeks to improve the civil justice system by expanding access to courts, enhancing transparency in legal processes, and promoting integrity and accountability in litigation.

The Role

The Staff Attorney will join a multidisciplinary team of legal scholars, data scientists, and economists, and student fellows at the Deborah L. Rhode Center on the Legal Profession.

The Staff Attorney will serve as a key legal advisor to the Center and will be responsible for conducting in-depth legal research and analysis, monitoring developments in case law and legislation, and translating the Center's empirical research into practical legal recommendations. The Staff Attorney will focus on the Center's brief-writing and amicus advocacy work-helping courts across the country adopt evidence-based reforms in MDL practice, contingency-fee transparency, and civil litigation integrity. The Staff Attorney will work closely with the Center's Faculty Co-Directors (Nora Freeman Engstrom and David Freeman Engstrom) and report to the Center's Executive Director (Malka Herman).

Location & Work Agreement Expectations

This position is primarily on-site at Stanford Law School. While not a formal requirement, residence in the local area or a willingness to relocate is strongly preferred with a hybrid work agreement of at least 3 days of work on campus.

Core Responsibilities

• Draft, research, and coordinate amicus briefs and other litigation filings to present courts with evidence-based recommendations grounded in the Center's empirical research. Participate in making improvement recommendations that impact legal policies and programs.
• Represent the Center in convenings, workshops, and meetings with judges, practitioners, policymakers, and scholars, and help plan and manage such events.
• Monitor developments in federal and state case law, court rules, and legislation relevant to the Center's focus areas, including MDL practice, civil procedure, access to justice, and the regulation of lawyers.
• Translate the Center's empirical research and policy proposals into clear, persuasive legal arguments for judicial, regulatory, and legislative audiences.
• Develop and manage new and existing research programs by conducting legal research, sourcing and analyzing data on the civil justice system, and generally making program recommendations aligned with the Center's mission.
• Coordinate with and mentor Rhode student fellows, providing guidance on research projects, offering substantive feedback on written work, and supporting their professional development.
• Write and edit complex content for proposals, research grants, peer-reviewed publications, white papers, op-eds, and other program materials.
• Develop and contribute to outreach strategies related to program communications, partnerships, and fundraising.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Required Qualifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar (or eligibility to obtain admission promptly)
• Minimum of three years of relevant legal experience, including litigation, appellate advocacy, and/or clerkship
• Ability to develop program partnerships
• Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization, including experience drafting substantive legal memoranda, briefs, or other persuasive legal documents
• Demonstrated expertise in legal research, statutory interpretation, and case law analysis
• Ability to oversee and direct staff
• Ability to synthesize empirical research and translate findings into clear, practical legal arguments
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively in interdisciplinary, research-driven environments
• Interest in and alignment with the Rhode Center's mission to improve the civil justice system, access to courts, and litigation integrity

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience drafting or contributing to appellate briefs, amicus briefs, or impact litigation
• Familiarity with civil procedure, federal courts, access-to-justice issues, or civil justice reform
• Experience working in an academic center, policy organization, law firm, nonprofit, government agency, or similar setting
• Experience engaging with empirical research or working alongside social scientists or data researchers
• Judicial clerkship experience
• Record of scholarly publications, policy reports, or public-facing legal writing
• Experience supervising students, fellows, or junior attorneys

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following materials electronically:

• Cover letter describing interest in the position, relevant experience, and how the candidate's background aligns with the Rhode Center's mission. Applicants should indicate their earliest available start date and whether they are able to relocate in their cover letter.
• Curriculum vitae or resume.
• Sample of legal writing (e.g., brief or legal memo)
• Names and contact information for at least three professional references.

Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2026. Review of applications will take place on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials as early as possible for full consideration.

We recognize that no single candidate will possess every qualification listed above, and we encourage individuals with relevant experience and a strong interest in the Center's work to apply.

The expected pay range for this position is $116,966 to $150,114 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford's extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.