Description:

About the Job:
The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney or Senior Counsel for the Supreme Court Docket in the Legal Department of the ACLU's National office in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, or Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received by March 13, 2026.

The ACLU runs one of the country's most active Supreme Court practices. The ACLU's National Legal Director is responsible for all ACLU filings in the Supreme Court of the United States, by both the National ACLU and its 54 state affiliates. The ACLU frequently represents parties in matters on the Supreme Court's certiorari, merits, and emergency dockets, and also frequently files friend-of-the-Court briefs. In recent years, the ACLU's Supreme Court docket has grown substantially. For example, the ACLU has been counsel for a party in about three to five merits cases and filed approximately ten to fifteen amicus briefs, and has filed or opposed between ten and twenty certiorari petitions each year. Additionally, the ACLU has had 10 matters on the Court's emergency docket since the end of the Supreme Court's 2024-25 term.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

What You'll Do:
Reporting to the National Legal Director, the Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney or Senior Counsel will work with the National Legal Director, another Supreme Court docket attorney, the ACLU's Supreme Court paralegal, other national and affiliate ACLU colleagues, and co-counsel on cases before the Supreme Court. This includes legal research, drafting briefs, coordinating with amici and other partners, overseeing the printing and filing briefs in the Court, helping to prepare for oral arguments, and tracking and strategizing about the ACLU's Supreme Court work. In addition, the Staff Attorney will be a generalist in the National Legal Department and will assist with other litigation as directed and as time permits.

Your Day to Day:

Participate in ACLU cases and amicus briefs before the Supreme Court in collaboration with the National Legal Director and other ACLU attorneys and co-counsel
Draft, edit, and file briefs in U.S. Supreme Court on cutting-edge civil rights and civil liberties issues, either as amicus or as counsel for a party
Participate in moot courts for Supreme Court and other appellate arguments
Participate in the development and execution of strategies for the ACLU's engagement in the Supreme Court
Help coordinate and manage the Supreme Court docket
Identify cases of constitutional importance in the federal courts of appeals and state high courts
Engage in public education about the ACLU's Supreme Court work, including though the ACLU's website, public speaking, media interviews, and other channels
Hire and supervise law student interns
Collaborate with staff across the ACLU, including colleagues in the ACLU's Legal Department and other departments including the Communications Department, the National Political Advocacy Department, and state affiliates
Assist other ACLU projects with litigation outside of the Supreme Court docket as time permits

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 required; with extensive legal experience strongly preferred
Appellate experience is required; an appellate clerkship is strongly preferred
Experience and an interest in constitutional law and civil rights and civil liberties  
Excellent research, writing and oral advocacy skills
Strong strategic and organizational skills
Interest in working collaboratively, ability to work with a wide range of people
Excellent communicator with strong diplomatic acumen and a commitment to fostering a team environment with both internal and external partners
Interest and commitment to mentoring interns
Commitment to the mission of the ACLU
Willingness to travel 
Admission to the bar of the state in which one will work is required

Compensation:
The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on year of law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details, based on individual circumstances)

0-2 years since law school graduation: $92,374-$115,393
3-5 years since law school graduation: $129,244-$152,480
6-10 years since law school graduation: $159,461- $179,891
11-15 years since law school graduation: $183,255-$193,657
16-20 years since law school graduation: $195,485-$200,519
21-25 years since law school graduation: $201,534-$205,663
26-30+ years since law school graduation: $206,654- $210,677
The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY where are National Offices are headquartered. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf