Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney

Position Overview

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Georgia (ACLUF-GA) seeks to hire a full-time, Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney (title dependent on experience of the hired applicant) to work out of our office in Atlanta. ACLUF-GA is the state affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union.Our mission is to preserve and expand the individual rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, the Georgia Constitution, and related federal and state civil rights laws.

The Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney works under the Legal Directors supervision and in close collaboration with the legal department, law student interns, attorneys who are co-counsel on ACLU of Georgia cases, and attorneys from the National ACLU office. The Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney also works closely with staff from other departments, including the communications department and the political and advocacy department.

The Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney must be prepared to litigate a variety of civil rights and civil liberties issues, with a likely focus on voting rights. They will be able and willingwith minimal guidance and supervisionto research and learn complex legal issues and quickly put together high-quality legal filings, sometimes on short notice in response to late-breaking events. The successful candidate will move fluidly from the courtroom to the community and will be able to work with diverse allies and coalitions to achieve our ambitious goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Investigate and develop civil rights and civil liberties litigation and non-litigation advocacy, potentially with limited supervision. This includes conducting factual and legal research; drafting pleadings and briefs; leading or helping to lead large litigation teams; interfacing and building relationships with clients, witnesses, and experts; writing demand letters; conducting discovery; advocating and arguing in court; and negotiating settlements.
2. Respond quickly to late-breaking events, master new areas of law in a short amount of time, and otherwise work in a fast-paced environment.
3. Take risks and develop creative approaches to litigation or legal arguments regardless of whether they have been previously attempted.
4. Communicate with government attorneys or other government officials in attempts to resolve civil rights and civil liberties issues in an amicable and practical manner without resorting to litigation.
5. Provide legal research and analysis on legislative proposals and public education materials.
6. Collaborate with staff across the organization, including within the ACLU of Georgias legal department, communications department, political advocacy department, and with staff from the National ACLU office.
7. Engage in public speaking, including media interviews and panel presentations, and articulate ACLU of Georgias views and legal actions to a variety of audiences.
8. Recruit and supervise legal interns (together with other Staff Attorneys).
9. Other duties as needed.

Qualifications

1. J.D. degree.
2. Membership in good standing with the Georgia Bar or eligibility for admission on motion to the Georgia Bar. We are also open to considering applicants who must take the Georgia Bar exam.
3. Minimum of two years of litigation and/or clerkship experience.
4. Familiarity with voting rights, racial justice, and other civil liberties and civil rights issues is preferred; commitment to those issues is essential.

1. Demonstrated ability to write and to speak clearly and persuasively.
2. Diligent and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure.
3. Ability to both work independently and to work with a wide range of people and foster a team environment.
4. Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts.

1. Demonstrated commitment to diversity using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regard to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance. This includes having a mature understanding of how structural racism, sexism, and prejudice against all kinds of marginalized communities pervade our society.
2. Willingness to occasionally travel and to, when needed, work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Compensation

The ACLU Foundation of Georgia offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLUF-GAs compensation scale. The anticipated salary range for this position is $75,000-$110,000, depending on experience. Excellent benefits include paid vacation, sick time, and holidays; medical, vision, and dental insurance; Flexible Spending Account; life and long-term disability insurance; and 401(k) Defined Contribution Retirement.

To Apply:

Applications should include a cover letter, resume, and a relevant legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages) to [email protected]. To facilitate our review, your emails should have the subject line: [Your last name] Staff Attorney Application. We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

This job announcement provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLUF-GA reserves the right to change the description and/or posting without advance notice.

The ACLU Foundation of Georgia is an equal opportunity / fair chance employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLUF-GA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status or record of arrest or conviction. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact: [email protected].

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