ACLU-NC Staff Attorney

American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina•Durham, NC

5d•$80,000 - $90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation seeks a full-time Staff Attorney to join its legal team. The role focuses primarily on immigrants’ civil rights, particularly the rights of people detained by ICE at a soon-to-open facility in Winton, North Carolina, and on other cases affecting North Carolinians’ civil rights and liberties. The attorney will spend time in Winton as needed to monitor detention conditions and conduct legal outreach, and will lead efforts to identify and advocate for people unlawfully detained by local law enforcement for immigration-related reasons. Work is expected to include habeas petitions, claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Federal Tort Claims Act, and public-records requests related to immigrant detention. For the next three years, approximately 70% of the work is expected to concern immigrant civil rights and 30% other civil-rights issues within the organization’s priority areas. In collaboration with colleagues, the Staff Attorney will develop and conduct federal and state court litigation and other legal advocacy to defend and enforce North Carolinians’ constitutional rights. The attorney works under the legal director’s supervision alongside attorneys, paralegals, law student interns, co-counsel, and staff in policy and advocacy, organizing, and communications. The position combines fact-intensive investigation, complex litigation, community education, and non-litigation advocacy. It requires independent, timely responses to emerging issues, frequent solo travel throughout North Carolina, and work beyond standard office hours when needed. Compensatory time off is available for excessively demanding work schedules. The position is hybrid. The annual salary range is $80,000–$90,000, depending on experience. The role is exempt from overtime and is part of the union bargaining unit; salary and benefits are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.

Requirements

J.D. degree.
Membership in good standing with the North Carolina Bar, or admission to the North Carolina Bar within one year of hire.
Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, consistent access to a reliable car, and confidence driving long distances alone in rural areas.
At least two years of federal court litigation experience; federal court clerkships may count.
Substantial familiarity with immigrants’ rights issues.
Demonstrated commitment to the ACLU’s civil-liberties mission and social-justice principles.
Ability to develop and execute a goal-oriented workplan with minimal supervision, including delegating to and collaborating with legal outreach workers and support staff.
Ability to produce timely, thoroughly researched, self-edited written work with concise, current legal analysis.
Ability to make effective court arguments based on established law, develop creative legal theories and strategies, and write clearly and persuasively.
Ability to meet tight deadlines while managing multiple cases at different stages of active litigation.
Ability to seek and receive remote supervision, communicate as part of a team, ask for support, and delegate to ensure timely completion of work.
Sound judgment, emotional intelligence, humility, accountability, and strong listening skills to build relationships with clients, co-counsel, coalition partners, and officials.
Personal commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion, and respect for people’s lived experiences and differences.
Commitment to working collaboratively and respectfully to resolve obstacles and conflicts.
Excellent computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
Authorization to work for any employer in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual ability in English and Spanish, or another language widely spoken by immigrant North Carolinians.
Substantial federal district court experience in immigration habeas or other civil-rights matters.
Ability to participate in every stage of complex litigation, from initial investigation through trial and appeal, and readiness to take a leading role in cases.
Ability to work with community contacts, including detention-center and immigration officials, to facilitate detainee access to counsel and secure detained immigrants’ release.
Experience developing and executing non-litigation strategies, including coalition-building, public advocacy, and work under the leadership of non-lawyers and directly impacted people.
At least three years of experience as a practicing litigator.
Significant complex civil-litigation experience, especially civil-rights litigation in federal court.
Experience in another ACLU of North Carolina strategic priority area: criminal-law reform, reproductive freedom, voting rights, or LGBTQ+ equality.

Responsibilities

Develop, lead, and independently execute a workplan to ensure detained non-citizens can access legal information and advocacy, are not unlawfully detained for prolonged periods, and are held in conditions that comply with federal and state law.
Investigate, develop, and litigate high-impact civil-rights cases in federal and state court, including community outreach, investigation of potential violations, drafting and filing correspondence and court documents, written and oral discovery, settlement negotiation and enforcement, and presenting arguments and evidence at hearings and trials.
Develop and implement non-litigation advocacy campaigns with colleagues and coalition partners, including non-lawyers.
Organize and lead community education events and trainings.
Provide legal analysis of legislation and regulations, legal research, and strategy assistance for campaigns.
Work with non-lawyer staff and coalition partners to implement multifaceted advocacy campaigns.
Represent the ACLU of North Carolina in coalition spaces.
Prepare summaries and reports of legal issues and cases for the public, ACLU members, staff, and leadership.
Serve as a spokesperson at public forums, meetings, and in the media.
Support the recruitment and management of interns and legal fellows as needed, and provide occasional other administrative support.
Travel frequently within North Carolina and work outside standard office hours as needed to respond to time-sensitive matters.

Benefits

Three weeks of paid vacation at hire, increasing after the second year of employment.
Ten paid office holidays, one floating holiday, summer recess during the last full week of August, and winter recess from December 25 through January 1.
Ten paid sick days.
Generous medical, dental, and vision insurance options for staff members and their dependents and spouse or domestic partners.
Employer-funded health reimbursement account.
Flexible spending and dependent-care accounts.
Up to 12 weeks of paid medical leave.
Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
401(k) and Roth IRA defined-contribution retirement plan with employer match.
Annual professional-development allotment.
Relocation reimbursement.
Free on-site parking.
Mileage reimbursement and payment of other reasonable work-related travel costs.
Some bar-expense reimbursement may be available.
Compensatory time off for excessively demanding work schedules.