ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel in the Immigrants' Rights Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or San Francisco, CA. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The Immigrants’ Rights Project is a national project of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation with offices in New York and California. Using targeted impact litigation, advocacy and public outreach, the Project carries on the ACLU’s historic commitment to protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of immigrants. In state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, the Project conducts the nation’s largest impact litigation program dedicated to defending and expanding the rights of immigrants, enforcing the guarantees of the Constitution, and achieving equal justice under the law. It works with the English and non-English language media, immigrant advocacy organizations, and ACLU affiliates around the country to empower immigrant communities through presentations about their rights and about current and proposed immigration laws.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU). 

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Deputy Project Director, the Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel will conduct impact litigation and advocacy to advance and enforce immigrants' rights.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

  • Identify and develop new litigation and other advocacy projects by conducting factual, legal and strategic analysis, and devising relevant theories and materials
  • Litigate immigrants’ rights cases, including legal research; fact development; working with clients; drafting pleadings, briefs and legal memoranda; engaging in discovery and motion practice; and conducting evidentiary hearings and oral arguments in the trial and appellate courts
  • Work with colleagues in the ACLU’s Communications and National Political Advocacy Departments to develop public education and other advocacy materials on immigrants’ rights
  • Articulate ACLU views to a variety of audiences, through public speaking, traditional and social media, and other means
  • Work with ACLU legislative and policy advocates and campaigners to advance the ACLU’s goals on immigration
  • Support legislative advocacy with legal and policy analysis
  • Work with and advise ACLU state affiliates and partner organizations on immigrants’ rights issues
  • Help manage legal internship program and supervise student interns
  • Travel as required for litigation, conferences, and other advocacy opportunities
  • Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned by IRP leadership

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
  • Three to eight years of relevant litigation experience preferred
  • Admission to practice in New York or California (depending on office placement); if not currently admitted, agreement to become admitted within one year of hire
  • Commitment to and familiarity with immigrants’ rights, racial and social justice, and civil liberties issues
  • Superior analytic, research, and writing skills
  • Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team
  • Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills
  • Fluency in Spanish and/or other relevant foreign languages (written and spoken) is preferred, but not required

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: $89,250-$111,491
  • 3-5 years since law school graduation: $124,873-$147,324
  • 6-10 years since law school graduation: $154,069- $173,808
  • 11-15 years since law school graduation: $177,058-$187,108
  • 16-20 years since law school graduation: $188,874-$193,738
  • 21-25 years since law school graduation: $194,719-$198,708
  • 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $199,666- $203,553

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.  

For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

  • Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
  • Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
  • Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
  • We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

 

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