Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Program

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney in the Disability Rights Program of the ACLU’s National office in San Francisco, CA, or Washington, D.C. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by May 1, 2024. 

The Disability Rights Program’s mission is to achieve an America free of discrimination against people with disabilities; where people with disabilities are valued, integrated members of society who have full access to education, homes, health care, jobs, families, voting and civic engagement. We fight to ensure that people with disabilities are no longer segregated into, and over-represented in, civil and criminal institutions such as nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, jails, and prisons.

The ACLU has fought for decades for the rights of people with disabilities - achieving key wins to stop coerced mental health treatment and unnecessary institutionalization, as well as playing a role in the drafting of the ADA. In 2012, the ACLU established the Disability Rights Project. DRP litigates and advocates to use disability rights laws to end the overrepresentation of people with disabilities in the criminal legal system, including pursuing first of its kind litigation to ensure that municipalities provide trained, non-police responders to people experiencing mental health crises. We also litigate and advocate to promote alternatives to guardianship and to secure equal access to the ballot. We also provide support to affiliates and the National office on disability rights issues that intersect with core civil liberties. While the ACLU’s Legal Department is headquartered in New York, the Disability Rights Program is housed in the San Francisco and Washington, D.C. offices. 

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Director of the Disability Rights Program, we seek an experienced litigator with experience in disability rights to be a core member of a small, collaborative and strong team working to advance disability rights issues that intersect with key civil liberties.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Create and implement multi-pronged strategies using litigation, public education, and legislative and policy advocacy to further the ACLU’s disability rights strategic plan
• Lead litigation, including: writing pleadings and briefs, conducting discovery and motion practice, handling hearings and trials, arguing appeals in both federal and state courts, and managing litigation teams
• Work with ACLU political advocacy and affiliate staff on bills in state legislatures and in Congress
• Draft policy analysis designed to effect change in state and federal administrative agencies
• Engage in community outreach and public speaking, including representing ACLU positions to the media and the public generally
• Work closely with legal and non-legal program staff, particularly legislative, communications, advocacy, and fundraising professionals
• Develop strong co-counsel relationships with other public interest lawyers and pro bono attorneys
• Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys.
• Coach and mentor junior staff members and interns
• Travel as required for litigation, legislative and policy advocacy, conferences, and public speaking.

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, bar admission in one state (admission to the bar in California or D.C. will eventually be necessary)
• Significant litigation experience
• A demonstrated commitment to public interest law, constitutional law and/or civil rights
• Ability to engage in complex legal analysis and fact investigation in impact litigation, policy and legislative advocacy settings, sometimes under tight deadlines
• Superior analytic skills and excellent research skills
• Demonstrated ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively
• Self-motivated, diligent, and able to meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently, as well as with a wide range of people, and to foster a collaborative environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS