Senior Staff Attorney

The Mississippi affiliate of the ACLU was founded in 1969 in the thick of the Civil Rights Movement. In Mississippi at that time, Civil Rights workers were being beaten, arrested and killed for demonstrating against unjust laws and institutionalized discrimination. Basic Constitutional rights were being violated daily, from the right to vote, to the right to speak out against one's government without arrest, to the right of equal treatment under the law.

The ACLU-MS is undertaking a new strategic plan and growing to meet the critical needs of individuals and communities across the state. In addition to adding new staff, the ACLU-MS is taking on key campaigns through an integrated advocacy model that combines community engagement, policy advocacy, and litigation to bolster existing freedoms and to bring about new wins in the face of ongoing racism and injustice.                       

The ACLU-MS works to defend and advance constitutionally guaranteed rights to people who have historically been denied those rights on the basis of race, gender, immigrant status, religion, and sexual orientation. In particular, although generations of civil rights activism in Mississippi have made significant strides toward racial equality, the fight for equality is far from won. The ACLU-MS challenges the systemic racism that continues to manifest itself in laws and policies throughout the state. With a storied past of working on groundbreaking and controversial issues, ACLU-MS strives to live its values of courage, integrity, justice, people, and progress.

Position Overview

The Senior Staff Attorney will litigate cases and engage in non-litigation advocacy to advance civil liberties and civil rights throughout Mississippi. Responsibilities include developing and litigating cutting-edge impact cases on a wide range of issues, primarily in federal courts and often in partnership with cooperating counsel and/or National ACLU lawyers.  The Senior Staff Attorney will represent the ACLU publicly through media interviews and speaking engagements and will collaborate extensively with our Advocacy, Policy and Communications departments to set goals and implement strategies that advance ACLU of Mississippi priorities.

Specific Responsibilities

• Legal
  • Investigate, develop and litigate impact civil liberties and civil rights cases in federal and state court.
  • Identify and recruit plaintiffs, conduct factual and legal research, prepare memorandums, write demand letters, draft pleadings and briefs, conduct discovery, argue motions, try cases, write appellate briefs and amicus briefs.
  • Supervise, lead, or participate in a team of associated attorneys; co-counsel cases with other public interest groups and the national staff.
  • Recruit and work successfully with ACLU volunteer attorneys. Comment on and edit letters and briefs of co-counsel and other ACLU staff. 
  • Work with partners to screen and develop promising cases.

• Leadership, Public Advocacy and Teamwork
  • Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU with the press and as a public speaker and educator.
  • Work with ACLU staff to implement integrated advocacy campaigns and high-impact strategies utilizing the ACLU’s legislative, policy, and communications programs.
  • Engage with partners working in legal and advocacy capacities to build and mobilize issue networks statewide as appropriate.
  • Support the work of the Advocacy and Communications Departments by collaborating on policy and legislative materials, as well as by writing editorials, blogs and public education documents.

• Administration, Supervision and Support
  • Recruit and supervise law students and interns.
  • Proactively communicate with all staff so they are well-informed of upcoming hearings, judicial decisions, and important developments in the legal arena.
  • Ensure that the Legal and Executive Directors are adequately informed of work and solicit direction and input appropriately and consistent with professional standards.
  • Prepare administrative and grant reports, provide administrative and organizational support as needed, and adhere to internal systems for attorney recordkeeping and information sharing.

• Supervision: The Senior Staff Attorney will report to the Legal Director, who is responsible for implementation of the statewide legal program.

Qualifications

• J.D. with at least four years of experience, including federal court litigation experience, preferably with experience litigating federal civil rights and civil liberties cases.
• If not already barred in Mississippi, candidate must pass or waive into the Mississippi bar.