Job Description

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of  Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel in the Criminal Law Reform Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY , San Francisco, CA, or Washington, DC. This is a  hybrid role  that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.  

This is a 2-year, limited term position. 

The Criminal Law Reform Project’s mission is to advocate for the constitutional and civil rights of those impacted by criminal legal systems. We use litigation and advocacy to confront systemic government conduct that fuels the carceral state and police abuse, and oppresses people based on race, class, and other characteristics. CLRP does this work because everyone suspected, accused, or convicted of a crime deserves dignity, fairness, and an opportunity to thrive.  

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Reporting to the Director or the Deputy Director for Policing , this role offers a unique opportunity to pursue impact litigation and integrated advocacy aimed at challenging systemic misconduct by federal and state law enforcement agents in carrying out the Trump Administration’s mass incarceration and deportation agendas.  The role may also contribute to other areas of CLRP’s docket as necessary.  

This is an ideal opportunity for an attorney committed to racial justice, transformative change, and the power of legal advocacy to shift narratives and systems.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

Litigation and Advocacy  

• Lead and contribute to impact litigation in state and federal courts across the U.S., including investigating potential lawsuits, researching and drafting pleadings and briefs, engaging in discovery and motion practice, and conducting evidentiary hearings, oral arguments, trials and appeals
• Maintain a docket of active and developing lawsuits challenging illegal and unconstitutional practices by federal and state law enforcement agents
• Provide legal and strategic advice to local ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys, and other partners on litigation 
• Serve as a resource for ACLU legislative and policy work, as well as advance ACLU policy goals through public education, advocacy and participating in coalitions
• Collaborate across departments—Communications, Political Advocacy, Data & Analytics, and Affiliate Support to develop integrated strategies
• Represent CLRP in public forums and media, articulating legal and policy visions to a variety of audiences

Staffing and Management  

• Support hiring, onboarding, and development of new team members
• Mentor junior attorneys, interns, and fellows, fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• J.D. degree and bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
  • Those with 8-15 years of experience will have the title of Senior Staff Attorney and those with 16+ years of experience will have the title of Senior Counsel. 
• Demonstrated civil litigation skills and experience, including drafting complaints and briefs and conducting discovery
• Strong ability to conduct thorough and goal-oriented fact-finding and investigation
• Skilled in working with litigation and/or project teams, including development of clear goals, strategy, team processes and communication, and accountability
• You value and excel at working with a wide range of people while fostering a collaborative, respectful team environment
• You thrive in a complex, cross-departmental structure, particularly with respect to identifying and leveraging organizational resources
• You have a familiarity with and commitment to criminal and racial justice (e.g., as a criminal defense lawyer, formerly incarcerated person, civil rights litigator, etc.)
• You have excellent legal analytical, research, and writing skills
• You are willing to travel as needed

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated leadership skills, for instance serving as lead counsel on a litigation or project team
• Familiarity with law and policy relating to Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures
• Ability to develop novel litigation theories to challenge criminal legal abuses. 
• Experience with data analysis as an advocacy or litigation tool
• Experience with complex litigation, such as civil rights class actions or other forms of impact litigation.
• Skill working with or representing vulnerable clients, particularly those involved in the criminal legal system
• You have deposition, trial, or hearing experience, or experience at oral argument or appellate litigation
• Experience with press strategies for advocacy, such as drafting press releases, and op-eds, or conducting television appearances

COMPENSATION

The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on year of law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details, based on individual circumstances)

• 0-2 years since law school graduation: $92,374-$115,393
• 3-5 years since law school graduation: $129,244-$152,480
• 6-10 years since law school graduation: $159,461- $179,891
• 11-15 years since law school graduation: $183,255-$193,657
• 16-20 years since law school graduation: $195,485-$200,519
• 21-25 years since law school graduation: $201,534-$205,663
• 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $206,654- $210,677

The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY where are National Offices are headquartered. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

For details on our pay structure, please visit:

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email  [email protected] . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

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