Pro Bono and Intake Senior Attorney

Part-time permanent position (20–25 hours per week) in the NYCLU Legal Department. Staff currently work in a hybrid model with required in-person days. Located at 125 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004.

About the role

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) seeks a senior staff attorney (6+ years of legal experience) to manage pro bono relationships and intake in the Legal Department. The attorney will develop and maintain partnerships with pro bono firms, coordinate staffing for specific projects, and expand the program. They will also oversee the intake team that evaluates and responds to public requests for assistance, referrals, or resources. Matters span the full range of NYCLU’s work, including racial and economic justice, immigrants’ rights, government transparency, free expression, reproductive justice, criminal legal system reform, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equity, police misconduct, student rights, and privacy.

The Legal Department includes seventeen attorneys, a director of legal operations, an investigator, two paralegals, a data research analyst, and a legal assistant. The team handles civil rights and civil liberties cases in federal and state courts and administrative tribunals, and supports the NYCLU’s legislative, advocacy, communications, and field work.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with pro bono partners and networks.
• Consult with NYCLU attorneys and staff on pro bono matters.
• Draft and prepare pitches for pro bono projects; follow up to ensure successful completion.
• Manage the intake team of volunteers and non-litigators evaluating and responding to public requests for assistance, resources, or referrals.
• Prepare demand letters and/or Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests as appropriate.
• Consult with attorneys and staff on intake matters and referrals.
• Participate in public education on civil liberties and civil rights through speaking engagements and published writings.
• Collaborate with leaders and staff across the NYCLU—including the Education Policy Center, Racial Justice Center, Policy, Communications, and Field Departments—to ensure an integrated approach to addressing injustice.
• Supervise and mentor law students in the NYCLU summer-intern program and contribute to the professional development of other Legal Department members.

Qualifications

• Excellent writing, research, analytical, and communication skills.
• Six or more years of legal experience, with a preference for significant public-interest litigation experience.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and advocate effectively, including coordinating with teams on public-interest litigation or advocacy.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a diverse public-interest setting and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated commitment to the goals and priorities of the NYCLU.
• Prior experience with civil rights or constitutional law is a significant plus.
• Admission to the New York Bar.
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus.

Benefits

• Salary is subject to the NYCLU’s attorney salary scale, based on years of legal experience (current full-time starting salary for a lawyer with 6 years of experience is $118,000, prorated according to hours worked).
• This position may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Application deadline: September 7, 2026. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and considered until hiring is complete.