Senior Staff Attorney

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION•Indianapolis, IN

6d•$99,200 - $119,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU of Indiana is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and expanding civil liberties and civil rights across Indiana. Its integrated advocacy model brings legal, policy, communications, organizing, and community engagement staff together to set priorities and pursue lasting structural change, centering communities most impacted by injustice. The Senior Staff Attorney is an experienced constitutional litigator who develops and leads impact litigation in state and federal courts as part of an integrated advocacy team. Under the direction of the Legal Director, the attorney serves as lead or co-counsel on complex civil rights and civil liberties cases, contributes constitutional expertise to policy, communications, and community-based advocacy, and mentors junior legal staff. The position calls for a seasoned practitioner prepared to handle high-stakes cases with significant independence and collaborate across disciplines and with the communities the organization serves. The position is based in Indianapolis and is hybrid, with regular in-office presence expected. Occasional evening and weekend work and travel across Indiana are expected. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the application and interview process. This is a full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary depending on experience.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school.
Admission to the Indiana bar or the ability to obtain Indiana admission promptly.
Seven or more years of litigation experience, including substantial experience in constitutional and civil rights litigation in federal court.
Demonstrated experience as lead counsel on complex matters, including motion practice, injunctive relief, discovery, and trial or evidentiary hearings.
Deep knowledge of federal constitutional law and civil rights statutes, including 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and related doctrines of immunity, standing, and remedies.
Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, with a record of persuasive briefing and courtroom advocacy.
Experience supervising, mentoring, or developing attorneys or legal staff.
Commitment to civil rights and civil liberties and to an advocacy model combining litigation with policy and community engagement.
Understanding of how race, poverty, and other systems of inequity shape the legal issues addressed, and commitment to deepening that understanding.
Ability to independently manage a demanding docket, exercise sound strategic judgment, and collaborate across disciplines with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Nice To Haves

Appellate experience in a federal court of appeals or a state supreme court.
Experience with class actions or other systemic litigation.
Substantive experience in one or more organizational priority areas, such as the First Amendment, voting rights, reproductive freedom, the criminal legal system, immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ rights, or disability rights.
Fluency in Spanish or another language spoken in Indiana communities.
Experience working with community organizations or in movement lawyering.
Familiarity with Indiana courts, law, or communities.

Responsibilities

Participate as a full member of the integrated intake process, collaborating with advocacy, communications, and community engagement staff to assess requests for legal assistance against shared priorities and community impact, and determine whether litigation, policy or legislative advocacy, organizing support, public education, or referral is the best response.
Serve as lead and co-counsel on constitutional and civil rights litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts, including case development, pleadings, motion practice, discovery, injunctive proceedings, trial, and appeal.
Identify emerging constitutional issues and develop affirmative litigation proposals consistent with priorities set by the Legal Director and integrated advocacy team.
Mentor Staff Attorneys and share litigation expertise across the legal team.
Provide constitutional and legal analysis supporting legislative and administrative advocacy, including testimony, bill analysis, and comments on proposed rules.
Represent the organization’s legal work publicly through media engagement, public education, community presentations, and partnerships related to litigation.