Senior Attorney
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLUM) seeks a Senior Attorney with significant civil litigation experience to contribute to its impact-oriented litigation and legal advocacy. This is an opportunity to join one of the nation’s premier law reform organizations.
A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, ACLUM combines litigation, legislation, and public education to protect and promote individual rights and liberties. ACLUM is an affiliate of the national ACLU, the leading defender of civil liberties guaranteed by our nation’s Constitution, Bill of Rights, and laws.
The Senior Attorney will be a strategic thinker with the passion, drive and creativity to defend and expand civil rights and liberties through impact litigation and advocacy. These liberties include, but are not limited to, freedom of speech, religious liberty and Establishment Clause matters, racial justice, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, privacy, due process, student rights, criminal justice, and police misconduct. In addition, one of ACLUM’s current priorities is to develop legal challenges to unconstitutional actions by the Trump administration.
ACLUM’s Legal Department includes several lawyers, as well as interns, fellows and volunteers. ACLUM’s attorneys litigate federal and state cases, at the trial and appellate levels, while participating in other advocacy and communications work. ACLUM maintains a fast-paced and collegial work environment with offices in downtown Boston, a vibrant city steeped in history with diverse neighborhoods, a rich arts and culture scene, and a legacy of education, innovation and ideas.
Candidates for the position of Senior Attorney should have a profound commitment to social justice, a passion for protecting civil liberties and the communication skills to effectively convey to the public and a variety of important constituencies the mission, vision and actions of the ACLU. To learn more about the ACLU of Massachusetts, please visit www.aclum.org.
Job Description
The Senior Attorney will be responsible for developing, filing and litigating high-impact cases to advance civil liberties and civil rights. Reporting to ACLUM’s legal director and often working together with ACLUM colleagues and pro bono attorneys, the Senior Attorney will engage in all stages of litigation, including research, discovery and motion practice, drafting pleadings and briefs, making court appearances, and advising intake staff and volunteers. ACLUM attorneys also engage in non-litigation advocacy, such as public speaking and education, working with community organizations, meeting with public officials, giving media interviews, and writing blogs and articles.
The Senior Attorney will work closely with ACLUM’s legal director, with other full-time staff attorneys, law student interns, and with volunteer attorneys who are co-counsel on many of ACLUM’s cases. The Senior Attorney will also share in working with interns, legal fellows and volunteers, including responding to legal intake and providing mentorship.
Qualifications
Applicants should be proven litigators with at least six years of litigation experience at state and federal levels. Extraordinary candidates with less experience will be considered. Other qualifications include:
* ability to litigate significant civil liberties and civil rights cases, including class actions, independently and under pressure;
* experience working with clients from diverse constituencies;
* excellent writing, oral advocacy, and analytical skills; demonstrated ability to communicate complex legal issues in court and to the public;
* strategic thinking about litigation and non-litigation tactics;
* ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers, other staff members, and with diverse community organizations and coalitions;
* capacity to supervise attorneys and legal work;
* ability to take initiative, think strategically, and share responsibility and credit;
* collaborative and positive manner;
* passion to support civil liberties, civil rights, and ACLUM’s mission;
* commitment to diversity and respect for differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance; and
* membership in the Massachusetts Bar (or admission within 3 months of joining ACLUM).
Compensation
Salary is based on experience and competitive with other nonprofit legal organizations. Excellent benefits include four weeks paid vacation, medical insurance for staff members and their dependents and domestic partners, paid holidays and other leave time.
Application
Please send a cover letter describing how your experience and skills meet the requirements for this position, along with salary requirements, resume, and writing sample to [email protected]. To facilitate our review, your email should have the subject line: “[Your last name] Senior Attorney Application.” We will review applications on a rolling basis until we fill this position.