Staff Attorney

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney in the Racial Justice Program (RJP) of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The Racial Justice Program (RJP) is part of the ACLU’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality. The Trone Center works to combat racial discrimination; to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair, and free of racial bias; to advocate for humane and constitutional conditions of confinement; and to abolish the death penalty as a legitimate form of punishment. The Trone Center for Justice and Equality also includes the Criminal Law Reform Project, Capital Punishment Project, and the National Prison Project.

Often working with the ACLU's 53 affiliates and chapters nationwide, RJP uses litigation, legislative advocacy and public education to challenge government and private sector attacks on educational, public health, housing, and employment equity initiatives. We also challenge a range of discriminatory police and criminal legal system practices that unfairly disadvantage communities of color, and work to ensure robust civil rights enforcement in the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Director, Racial Justice Program, the Staff Attorney will be responsible for developing and litigating racial justice cases in state and federal courts.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Litigate complex and sometimes fast-paced civil rights cases in federal and state courts and at trial and appellate levels
• Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs
• Participate in discovery and trial practice
• Develop new cases; identify and work with potential plaintiffs and expert and fact witnesses
• Analyze legislation to assist advocacy staff including to identify legal concerns
• Develop collaborative partnerships with other colleagues, advocates, community groups, relevant coalitions, and other partners
• Engage in public speaking, including to the media, at conferences and other speaking engagements
• Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials
• Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

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
• If not currently admitted to the New York Bar, candidate must be admitted to the bar of another state and agree to become admitted to the New York Bar within one year of hire
• Experience drafting complaints and briefs and taking depositions
• Engaged in complex discovery, negotiations, courtroom advocacy
• Experience with client-centered advocacy
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice
• Experience developing advocacy and education materials including white papers, fact sheets, reports

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.  

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