Senior Staff Attorney, Criminal Justice and Police Practices

ACLU FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN CALIF • Los Angeles, CA

2d • $116,651 - $161,932 • Onsite

About The Position

The ACLU Foundation of Southern California’s Advocacy Department seeks a Senior Staff Attorney for its Criminal Justice and Police Practices project. The attorney will develop and litigate state and federal cases and participate in legislative and policy advocacy concerning criminal legal reform and policing. The work promotes decarceration, law-enforcement transparency and officer accountability, supports alternatives to policing and incarceration, and challenges bias, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

The Senior Staff Attorney will help lead and implement campaigns advancing community-based, holistic, and transformative approaches to community safety and care. The role also includes public education and providing technical assistance to coalitions, community partners, government officials, and government bodies. The attorney reports to the Director of Criminal Justice and Police Practices or their designee, works with project and statewide teams, and collaborates with other attorneys, policy advocates, organizers, and the Communications Department. Travel throughout Southern California and occasional travel to Sacramento may be required. Occasional evening and weekend work may be needed.

This is a full-time, exempt bargaining-unit position in the National Organization of Legal Services Workers union. ACLU SoCal anticipates hiring an attorney with 9–20 years of experience and will consider applicants with approximately that level of experience who demonstrate commitment to civil and human rights, racial justice, and strong advocacy and litigation skills. The role may involve supervising interns, policy advocates, fellows, and junior attorneys.

Requirements

• Admitted to practice law in California, or willing to promptly take the California bar exam.
• Approximately 9–20 years of experience is anticipated; applicants with approximately that level of experience will be considered.
• Demonstrated commitment to civil and human rights and racial justice, particularly concerning criminal legal system and policing issues.
• Excellent research, writing, analytical, and speaking skills.
• Ability to lead, develop, and litigate impact cases.
• Ability to work in diverse coalitions and develop and implement advocacy campaigns.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in, create, and sustain inclusive and engaging spaces for all.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, build strong relationships, and collaborate effectively.
• Extremely strong project and time-management skills, including organization, attention to detail, follow-through, and the ability to balance and prioritize multiple activities and responsibilities.
• Willingness to work occasional weekend and evening hours as needed.
• Ability to supervise interns, policy advocates, fellows, and junior attorneys (1–8 years from law school).
• Commitment to building or deepening understanding of racial equity, including structural racism, white privilege, anti-Blackness, the continuing effects of racial inequity, race-related effects on supervision and organizational culture, and implicit bias.
• Ability to assess structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions; adhere to racial equity policies and procedures; and identify and disrupt bias in work and team settings.
• Travel within Southern California and occasionally to other parts of the state.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity working in the criminal legal system, especially with policing, civil rights, and/or social justice issues in Southern California.
• Personal experience with the criminal legal system, including former incarceration or personal experience with incarceration; people with such experience are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated commitment to and track record of intersectional advocacy.
• Experience working effectively with coalitions and building coalitions.
• Experience planning and facilitating workshops, trainings, meetings, and other community events.
• Spanish language fluency.

Responsibilities

• Develop and litigate state and federal cases on criminal legal reform and policing issues.
• Help lead and create, implement, and participate in advocacy campaigns promoting community-based, holistic, and transformative approaches to community safety and care.
• Engage in legislative and policy advocacy, including advocacy promoting decarceration, law-enforcement transparency, officer accountability, alternatives to policing and incarceration, and efforts to challenge bias, discrimination, and systemic injustice.
• Conduct public education, including report writing and issue-based trainings as part of the organization’s integrated advocacy approach.
• Provide technical assistance on criminal legal system and policing issues to coalitions, community partners, government officials, and government bodies.
• Represent ACLU SoCal in statewide and local advocacy on criminal legal system and policing issues.
• Collaborate with project and statewide teams, other attorneys, policy advocates, organizers, and the Communications Department.
• Supervise interns, policy advocates, fellows, and junior attorneys.
• Travel throughout Southern California and occasionally elsewhere in the state, including Sacramento.
• Work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

Benefits

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff members and eligible dependents.
• Life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Ample vacation and sick leave.
• Twenty-two paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree