Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel, National Prison Project

About this role

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney or Senior Counsel in the N ational Prison Project of the ACLU’s National office in W ashington, D.C. or San Francisco, CA . This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The National Prison Project works to ensure that conditions in prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers, and immigration detention facilities comply with the Constitution, domestic law, and international human rights principles. The Project has successfully litigated on behalf of incarcerated people in more than 25 states, and is the only organization litigating conditions of confinement cases nationwide. Our priorities include reducing overcrowding, improving health care, eliminating violence and maltreatment, and increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, and other places of detention. We also work to reverse the policies that have given the United States the highest incarceration rate in the world and led to extreme over-representation of people of color in the incarcerated population.

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

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Reporting to the Deputy Project Director , the Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney or Senior Counsel will contribute to all aspects of the Project’s litigation and non-litigation work , with a special focus on the Project’s immigration detention work .

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Litigate in federal and state courts, including appellate courts, throughout the country 

• Carry a substantial caseload in federal and state court, working closely with other staff attorneys and local counsel 

• Conduct legal research and write legal memoranda 

• Analyze legislation for potential litigation 

• Draft pleadings and briefs, engage in discovery and motion practice, and conduct evidentiary hearings and oral arguments

• Provide technical assistance and expert legal advice to local ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys, and others who seek assistance from the Project

• Conduct policy advocacy on prisoners’ rights and criminal justice issues

• Develop new cases, identify and work with potential plaintiffs and witnesses

• Engage in public speaking to a variety of audiences on a broad range of prisoners’ rights, criminal justice, and civil liberties issues

• Travel as required for litigation, case management, conferences, and client development 

• 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

E XPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school 

• Significant litigation experience, inclusive of clerkships, is preferred

• Appropriate bar membership permitting practice in the District of Columbia or California, depending on where the attorney is based

• A demonstrated ability to work independently as well as within a team.

• Ability to foster and contribute to a collaborative team environment is essential

• Excellent legal research and writing skills

• Demonstrated ability to perform complex legal analytical work

• Demonstrated ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively

• Self-motivated, diligent and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least eight (8) years of litigation experience, inclusive of clerkships, preferred

• Familiarity with issues related to conditions of confinement preferred

• Proficiency in Spanish preferred

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: $96,069 - $120,009

• 3-5 years since law school graduation: $134,414 - $158,579

• 6-10 years since law school graduation: $165,839 - $187,087

• 11-15 years since law school graduation: $190,585 - $201,403

• 16-20 years since law school graduation: $203,304 - $208,540

• 21-25 years since law school graduation: $209,595 - $213,890

• 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $214,920 - $219,104

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

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy

• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care

Similar jobs

• Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney or Senior Counsel, Immigrants' Rights Project [Term-Limited] — Aclu · New York, New York, United States; San Francisco, California, United States
• Staff Attorney / Senior Staff Attorney — Aclunc · Fresno, California, United States, Sacramento, California, United States, San Francisco, California, United States
• Senior Counsel — Linear · Remote
• Senior Counsel — Higgsfieldai · San Francisco Bay Area, California
• Senior Counsel — Metropolis · Nashville, Tennessee, United States
• Senior Counsel — Metropolis · Chicago, Illinois, United States
• Senior Counsel — Slice · Remote
• Senior Counsel — Clearwayjobs · San Francisco, California, United States