We are seeking an experienced litigator, inspiring leader, successful manager, and passionate advocate for civil rights and civil liberties to develop and litigate high-impact cases and identify multi-pronged legal, policy, and community engagement strategies. The Senior Staff Attorney will also provide high quality supervision and mentorship, take a solutions-oriented approach, and exercise sound independent judgment to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders. Open May 2018 until filled.
You are responsible for mentoring and supervising Staff Attorneys and/or legal fellows and litigating cases involving significant civil-liberties and civil-rights issues. You are a member of the Legal-Policy Department management team and play a significant role in supporting alignment and coordination between the San Francisco and Fresno offices. You carry significant responsibility for leading and supervising civil-liberties and civil-rights impact litigation, with a particular focus on criminal justice, racial justice, immigrants’ rights, economic justice, and voting rights. In coordination with the ACLU of California and national ACLU office, you actively engage in policy advocacy campaigns at the local, state, or national level. You are the person that others turn to for legal expertise on litigation matters and/or draft legislation and regulations that impact your region, and may be asked to speak before legislative bodies.
Staff supervision and coordination
Supervise attorneys in their litigation and non-litigation related work and professional development, and supervise department support staff in your office;
Participate in Legal-Policy Department management meetings and facilitate staff meetings in your local office;
Communicate and coordinate with the Legal-Policy Department management team, ACLU of Northern California management team and ACLU national office, as needed, to ensure implementation of organizational priorities, policies, procedures, and protocols in your office;
Work in collaboration and coordination with the ACLU of California and its statewide issue teams; and
Work closely with non-legal program staff, particularly legislative, communications, organizing, advocacy, and fundraising professionals on ACLU-NC campaigns and activities.
Leading and supervising litigation
Lead multi-pronged strategies using litigation, public education, and legislative and policy advocacy to further the ACLU-NC’s strategic plans;
Supervise the investigation, development, and litigation of high-impact cases, including conducting discovery and motion practice, handling hearings and trials, and arguing appeals;
Review and respond to requests for legal assistance, in accordance with the organization’s intake procedures;
Respond to community needs as they arise, potentially on an emergency basis; and
Develop strong co-counsel relationships with other public interest lawyers and ACLU volunteer lawyers.
Supporting policy advocacy and community outreach
Support and deepen existing and new relationships with community partners, coalitions, and stakeholders;
Ensure appropriate communication and coordination between ACLU-NC and ACLU of California staff engaged in policy advocacy and community outreach in your office’s region.
Coach staff on developing and sustaining community partnerships, outreach and policy advocacy;
Engage in community outreach and public speaking, including representing the ACLU-NC’s positions to the media and public generally; and
Use cultural sensitivity and awareness to develop appropriate and effective strategies to address the needs and advance the rights of vulnerable communities.
J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and 10 or more years of litigation experience in state and federal court;
Experience supervising and mentoring attorneys, law fellows, and support staff;
Strong legal research and writing abilities, and ability to gather facts, identify cases and engage communities in litigation and non-litigation advocacy;
Ability to analyze and articulate legal concepts and communicate them to a variety of audiences, including to community residents and policymakers;
Commitment to community-oriented lawyering that is responsive to community needs, culturally competent, and enhances community participation within the scope of ACLU issues and strategies, as well as an ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers, organizers, other staff members, and with diverse community organizations and coalitions;
Solution-oriented approach, with a willingness to take initiative and excellent verbal communication skills;
Ability to both work independently and as a team member in a busy, small, remote office with personal enthusiasm, optimism, and a sense of humor;
Ability to work collaboratively and with flexibility in a complex organizational ecosystem;
Flexibility for travel within the Central Valley and to the Bay Area and Sacramento, and ability to work long hours when needed; and
Membership in the California State Bar (or must pass the next California Bar Examination if currently member of another state bar).
Desired qualifications
Previous experience in or familiarity with the Central Valley region; and
Spanish fluency preferred but not required.
Applications must include (1) a cover letter explaining why you are interested in this position and the ways in which you satisfy the qualifications specified above, (2) resume, (3) writing sample (no more than 10 pages) and (4) a list of four references. Applicants concurrently applying to any other position with the ACLU should state what other position they are applying for in the cover letter.
Please submit your application in PDF format to the attention of Senior Staff Attorney Search to: https://aclunc.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk0fdp4