Staff Attorney - Senior Staff Attorney

American Civil Liberties Union - Wisconsin•Milwaukee, WI

1d•$80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin (ACLU-WI) is seeking an experienced, passionate, and innovative Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney to investigate and litigate civil liberties and civil rights cases in Wisconsin state and federal courts. The ACLU-WI is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan organization with 23,000 members, dedicated to protecting, defending, and expanding civil rights and liberties through advocacy, education, litigation, and organizing. The organization has a combined operating budget of approximately $4.5 million and a diverse staff of up to 30 individuals, with headquarters in Milwaukee.

Requirements

Law (J.D.) degree from an accredited institution.
Licensed to practice law in Wisconsin or ability to waive into the Wisconsin Bar or sit for the next available bar exam.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging as core values.
Strong commitment to the ACLU’s mission and goals toward the advancement of social justice, racial equity, dismantling white supremacy, and incorporating a structural power analysis into work.
Substantive knowledge and understanding of constitutional law and civil liberties issues.
Ability to litigate independently and collaboratively, juggle multiple projects, and exercise good judgment under stressful situations.
Ability and willingness to research and quickly learn new, complex legal issues and build lawsuits on short notice.
Ability to think creatively about non-litigation solutions to promote ACLU of Wisconsin objectives.
Proficiency with Westlaw and electronic case filing (state and federal).
Willingness to manage a fast-paced and occasionally demanding schedule to meet litigation or other programmatic deadlines.
Experience taking initiative, being proactive, and anticipating litigation needs.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, along with a willingness to be patient, collegial, and supportive.
Comfort with challenging conversations and situations leveraging strong and engaging interpersonal skills.
Willingness to receive and respond to feedback, communicate directly regarding issues that arise in cases, and work as a cohesive and collaborative member of a multi-person and multi-firm litigation team.
A personal approach that values the individual, respects diversity, acknowledges the intersectionality of identities, and approaches work with an anti-racist lens and commitment.
Other duties as assigned.

Nice To Haves

Individuals with more significant litigation experience are preferred and are strongly encouraged to apply.
Familiarity with legal case management and timekeeping software and other programs used in complex litigation, including discovery and document management software.
Three or more years of experience in practice as a licensed attorney.
State or federal court clerkship.
Experience litigating class actions.
Experience litigating Section 1983 cases.
Experience litigating emergency motions, including preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders, in state or federal court.
Experience managing and/or mentoring other attorneys.

Responsibilities

Investigate and litigate a range of civil liberties and civil rights cases in state and federal courts, including conducting factual and legal research, interviewing clients and witnesses, preparing legal memoranda and Open Records Act requests, drafting pleadings and briefs, managing discovery, participating in trials and appeals, negotiating settlements, and identifying and drafting amicus briefs.
Center the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all work, embedding these values in legal program development and organizational practices.
Work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts.
Demonstrate cultural and social humility with colleagues, clients, and community partners.
Provide supervision and mentorship to junior legal staff, including fellows and interns.
Help assess requests for legal assistance and identify appropriate cases for legal challenges.
Develop and deliver trainings, CLEs, and other presentations to the Wisconsin legal community on ACLU issues.
Develop and maintain relationships with pro bono co-counsel, local officials, and others who can help accomplish campaign objectives.
Engage in legal advocacy work through non-litigation means, such as writing public comments, participating in public education events, and assisting with analyzing or drafting public comment on proposed legislation.
Provide legal analysis to other ACLU staff as directed by the Legal Director.
Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU of Wisconsin on assigned legal issues.
Work with other program staff to implement campaign objectives and identify opportunities for reform through litigation.
Ability to work in office and remotely based on a hybrid office model, and appear at hearings and trials remotely and in person throughout the State of Wisconsin.
Demonstrate strong writing, research, and verbal skills for presenting to both lawyers and non-lawyers.
Exhibit leadership and organizational skills to encourage volunteer lawyers and work cooperatively in coalitions.
Take initiative, think strategically, and share responsibility and credit across the organization and with partners.