Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney or Senior Counsel

ACLU•Newark, NJ

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) legal department seeks applicants for a full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel. This attorney will be responsible for developing and executing civil rights litigation and legal advocacy strategies with a focus on protecting and expanding voting rights and democratic processes. In recent years, the ACLU-NJ has driven powerful legal and policy advocacy to protect and expand voting rights, civic participation, government transparency, and free expression. With the enactment of the John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey (NJVEA), this attorney will have the opportunity to be at the forefront of using new statutory tools to safeguard and strengthen voting rights and ensure that all voters have equitable access to the ballot. While this role will be focused on the ACLU-NJ’s voting and democracy work, candidates can expect to work on other civil rights and civil liberties issues as needed. This attorney will work from our office in Newark with a hybrid work schedule where all staff work in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more than 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities. We are committed to repairing and transforming spaces where constitutional promises have not been delivered. As part of an organization that uses an integrated, inter-departmental approach to advocacy, the staff attorney will join a 14+ person legal team that uses litigation and a wide range of advocacy tools to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and that collaborates with colleagues across the organization to maximize the ACLU-NJ’s impact.

Requirements

At least four years of litigation experience (including clerkships)
Strong litigation, advocacy, and writing skills
Excellent legal research and writing skills
Experience with complex legal analytical work, creative problem-solving, taking initiative, and identifying opportunities to advance the law
Comfort working both independently and collaboratively, and experience with building strong relationships with lawyers, other staff members, and coalition partners
Ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them effectively to diverse audiences, including elected officials, attorneys, judges, community partners, supporters, the media, and the public
Strong project and time management skills, including the ability to prioritize multiple projects, a high level of organization, the ability to meet deadlines, and attention to detail
Demonstrated commitment to the ACLU-NJ’s mission and experience incorporating racial justice principles into legal work
Admitted to practice law in New Jersey and a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards. If currently a member of another state bar, must be able to obtain New Jersey license within 12 months of joining the organization.
Ability and willingness to travel throughout the state of New Jersey, and occasionally to other states for conferences and training.

Nice To Haves

Litigation experience defending voting rights and democracy
Experience engaging in strategic communications or with the media
Knowledge of Spanish or other languages likely to be spoken by clients with limited English proficiency in New Jersey

Responsibilities

Identify opportunities to expand voting rights through the statutory tools available in the NJVEA, evaluating litigation strategies to protect the rights of voters, and driving those litigation efforts.
In collaboration with other departments, engage in integrated advocacy campaigns on voting rights and democracy issues, including: serving as a subject matter expert and advocate, and providing technical and other support for policy work; drafting and editing public education and non-litigation advocacy materials; and conducting outreach and advocacy with, and providing technical assistance to, public officials and government bodies.
Attorneys are responsible for identifying possible litigation and advocacy; conducting factual and legal research; evaluating legal theory and strategy; identifying, interviewing, and counseling clients and witnesses; writing demand letters; drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs; conducting discovery; working with experts; presenting oral arguments; negotiating settlements; handling appeals; and writing amicus briefs.
Investigate, develop, and litigate impact cases across a range of civil rights and civil liberties issue areas.
Engage in public speaking and represent ACLU-NJ positions and litigation to diverse audiences, including to the media, with community groups, and at conferences and programs.
Provide oversight and support for litigation or advocacy being handled by law firms or law students.
Evaluate how cases, investigations, and projects are inclusive and responsive to community needs and in alignment with organizational priorities.
Establish and cultivate collaborative relationships with community partners, coalitions, stakeholders, ACLU-NJ staff and colleagues from other ACLU offices.
Assist in the development, mentoring, and supervision of more junior staff, fellows, and interns.
Cultivate opportunities to increase subject matter expertise.
Contribute to a work culture that centers racial justice, inclusion, participation, and collaboration.
Assist with staff, internship, and fellowship recruitment and hiring and in developing and managing cocounsel relationships with pro bono law firms.
Provide administrative and organizational support as needed and adhere to internal systems for recordkeeping and information sharing.
Engage in special projects and other duties assigned.