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Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Reform Project

ACLU · New York, NY · 1 mo ago
Legal$96k–$1200k/yrFull-time

About the role

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel in the Criminal Law Reform Project 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 Criminal Law Reform Project’s (CLRP) mission is to advocate for the constitutional and civil rights of those impacted by criminal legal systems. We use litigation and advocacy to confront systemic government conduct that fuels the carceral state and police abuse, and oppresses people based on race, class, and other characteristics. CLRP does this work because everyone suspected, accused, or convicted of a crime deserves dignity, fairness, and an opportunity to thrive. Ultimately, we seek to shift power to under-resourced communities and to elevate approaches to justice and safety that advance fundamental rights for all.

CLRP partners closely with our affiliates across the country and with other ACLU departments to build a movement for social change, promote racial justice, and win reforms needed to significantly reduce our nation’s incarcerated population. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

Responsibilities

Litigation and Advocacy

  • Litigate in state and federal courts across the country, including researching and drafting pleadings and briefs, engaging in discovery and motion practice, and conducting evidentiary hearings, oral arguments, trials and appeals
  • Provide legal and strategic advice to local ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys, and other partners on litigation
  • Serve as a resource for ACLU legislative and policy work as well as advance ACLU policy goals through public education, advocacy and participating in coalitions
  • Collaborate with staff across the organization, including in other projects within the ACLU’s Legal Department, Communications, Affiliate Support and Advocacy, the National Political Advocacy Department, Data Analytics, and state affiliates
  • Engage in communications and media expressing CLRP views to a variety of audiences

Staffing and Management

  • Participate in processes for hiring and onboarding staff
  • Assist in the development and mentoring of more junior staff, fellows, and interns

Requirements

  • J.D. degree
  • If not currently admitted to the New York Bar, you must be admitted to the bar of another state and agree to become admitted to the New York Bar within one year of hire
  • Demonstrated civil litigation experience and aptitude, including drafting complaints and briefs and conducting discovery
  • Demonstrated ability to conduct thorough and goal-oriented fact-finding and investigation
  • Skilled in working with litigation and/or project teams, including development of clear goals, strategy, team processes and communication, and accountability
  • Value and excel at working with a wide range of people while fostering a collaborative, respectful team environment
  • Thrive in a complex, cross-departmental structure, particularly with respect to identifying and leveraging organizational resources
  • Deep familiarity with and commitment to criminal and racial justice (e.g., as a criminal defense lawyer, formerly incarcerated person, civil rights litigator, etc.)
  • Excellent legal analytical, research, and writing skills
  • Willing to travel as needed

Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated leadership skills, such as serving as lead counsel on a litigation or project team
  • Experience litigating police misconduct claims
  • Ability to develop novel litigation theories to challenge criminal legal abuses
  • Experience with data analysis as an advocacy or litigation tool
  • Experience with complex litigation, such as civil rights class actions or other forms of impact litigation
  • Skill working with or representing vulnerable clients, particularly those involved in the criminal legal system
  • Deposition, trial, or hearing experience, or experience at oral argument or appellate litigation
  • Experience with press strategies for advocacy, such as drafting press releases, op-eds, or conducting television appearances

Pay

The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on years since law school graduation:

  • 0-2 years: $96,069 - $120,090
  • 3-5 years: $134,414 - $158,579
  • 6-10 years: $165,839 - $187,087
  • 11-15 years: $190,585 - $201,403
  • 16-20 years: $203,304 - $208,540
  • 21-25 years: $209,595 - $213,890
  • 26-30+ years: $214,920 - $219,104

These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

Benefits

  • Generous paid time-off policy
  • Comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental, and vision coverage)
  • Parental leave, gender affirming care, and fertility treatment
  • 401k plan with employer match
  • Annual professional development funds
  • Internal professional development programs and workshops

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