Description:

About the Job:
The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney in the Racial Justice Program (RJP) of the ACLU's National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The Racial Justice Program (RJP) is part of the ACLU's Trone Center for Justice and Equality. The Trone Center works to combat racial discrimination; to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair, and free of racial bias; to advocate for humane and constitutional conditions of confinement; and to abolish the death penalty as a legitimate form of punishment. The Trone Center for Justice and Equality also includes the Criminal Law Reform Project, Capital Punishment Project, and the National Prison Project.

Often working with the ACLU's 53 affiliates and chapters nationwide, RJP uses litigation, legislative advocacy and public education to challenge government and private sector attacks on educational, public health, housing, and employment equity initiatives. We also challenge a range of discriminatory police and criminal legal system practices that unfairly disadvantage communities of color, and work to ensure robust civil rights enforcement in the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

What You'll Do:
Reporting to the Director, Racial Justice Program, the Staff Attorney will be responsible for developing and litigating racial justice cases in state and federal courts.

Your Day to Day:

Litigate complex and sometimes fast-paced civil rights cases in federal and state courts and at trial and appellate levels
Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs
Participate in discovery and trial practice
Develop new cases; identify and work with potential plaintiffs and expert and fact witnesses
Analyze legislation to assist advocacy staff including to identify legal concerns
Develop collaborative partnerships with other colleagues, advocates, community groups, relevant coalitions, and other partners
Engage in public speaking, including to the media, at conferences and other speaking engagements
Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials
Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys
Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

Future Aclu'ers Will

Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

What You'll Bring

J.D. degree
If not currently admitted to the New York Bar, candidate must be admitted to the bar of another state and agree to become admitted to the New York Bar within one year of hire
Experience drafting complaints and briefs and taking depositions
Engaged in complex discovery, negotiations, courtroom advocacy
Experience with client-centered advocacy
Demonstrated commitment to racial justice
Experience developing advocacy and education materials including white papers, fact sheets, reports