Staff Attorney / Senior Staff Attorney

About the job

The ACLU of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) is now hiring for Staff Attorneys and/or Senior Staff Attorneys to join our Legal Advocacy department.  These attorneys will help to develop and carry out litigation and policy advocacy to advance the department’s strategic plans and to protect and defend civil rights and civil liberties for all Californians. In particular, we are seeking attorneys who will focus on the criminal legal/immigration system and technology, privacy, and speech. In your application materials, please explain your interest and experience in these areas.  Notwithstanding, attorneys must be willing to work across a range of issues, including those outside of their focus area(s).

The attorneys will work under the supervision of one of our program directors or deputy program directors, and can be based in ACLU NorCal’s San Francisco, Sacramento, or Fresno office.  We anticipate hiring at least one attorney that will be based in the Fresno office; candidates based in that geographic region are encouraged to apply. The start date for these positions is flexible.

Attorneys who obtained their J.D. in 2018 or earlier will be hired as Senior Staff Attorneys. Those who obtained their J.D. in 2019 or later will be hired as Staff Attorneys. Applicants do not need to indicate whether they are applying as a Senior Staff Attorney or Staff Attorney in their application.

These positions are eligible for hybrid work and are represented by IFPTE Local 20.

What You Will Do

• Engage in the investigation, development, initiation, and litigation of high-impact cases, which could include: managing fact and expert discovery; conducting legal research and analysis; drafting pleadings, motions, briefs and complaints; evaluating and investigating potentials claims; identifying potential plaintiffs, issuing public records requests; coordinating amicus briefing; and responding to issues that arise through reactive litigation.
• Engage in local and state policy advocacy, which could include: performing legal and policy research; developing policy models; drafting advocacy letters; providing expertise to policymakers; and drafting reports and other public education materials to both demonstrate the need for policy change and facilitate policy implementation.
• Forge and maintain relationships with community members, coalition groups, experts, government officials, and academics to engage them in our work and implement collaborative projects.
• Participate in team, department, and other meetings.

What You Will Bring

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and 3 years’ post-law school litigation experience in federal or state court.
• Admission to California State Bar or willingness to sit for the next available Bar Examination.
• Experience engaging in the investigation, development, initiation and litigation of high-impact cases, including discovery, motion practice, hearings, trials, and appeals.
• Ability to manage fact and expert discovery in fact-intensive litigation.
• Experience with policy advocacy, including drafting, evaluating, and working to advance key legislation and administrative policies.
• Strong legal research, analysis, and writing abilities, and ability to craft novel and successful litigation and/or other advocacy strategies in response to inequitable systems.
• Ability to effectively communicate, through both writing and public speaking, to various audiences about complex legal and technical issues.
• Demonstrated initiative and creative problem-solving.
• Experience working directly or in coalition with grassroots and community-based organizations.
• Strong project and time management skills, including a high level of organization, attention to detail, and follow-through, while balancing and prioritizing multiple activities and responsibilities.
• Relationship-building skills and willingness to work as part of a team, and to be an engaged, proactive member of internal cohorts, as well as outside coalitions on which you work and interact.   
• Demonstrated ability to hold and foster difficult and necessary conversations about race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability, and other identity-based issues.
• Senior Staff Attorneys must also have demonstrated ability to lead and manage complex litigation, strategic direct representation, or legal advocacy projects. They must also build intentional relationships and understand how to navigate organizational ecosystems within and between ACLU-NorCal, California ACLU affiliates, ACLU National, and other partners to be effective leaders and accomplish substantive issue goals.

What We Will Offer You

• The salary range for this position is $130,110 - $230,404 annually with the final amount depending on the attorney’s years out of law school. We also offer:
• Generous paid time-off policies.
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits (Including fully paid medical, dental and vision coverage as well as parental leave and a fertility benefit).
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match.
• Annual professional development funds.
• A mission-driven team that values inclusion, collaboration, and growth.

How to Apply

• Applications must include (1) a resume, including a list of three references (we will contact you before reaching out to any references), (2) a cover letter, and (3) writing sample.
• Applications will be accepted until the position has been filled and evaluated on a rolling basis.
• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be considered. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• The ACLU NorCal is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail hr@aclunc.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
• If your application is a good match, our team will reach out to schedule an interview. If you're no longer under consideration, you'll receive an email update. We truly appreciate your interest, and due to the high application volume, we may not be able to personally communicate with everyone who applies.

The ACLU of Northern California advances equity and inclusion in the workplace by providing equal employment opportunity to support a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (over 40), sexual orientation, military and veteran status, and any other basis prohibited by law. The organization also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. This equal employment opportunity policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, advancement, training, problem resolution, and separation from employment. Through this policy, the ACLU NorCal strives to establish and maintain an equitable and accessible work environment that is free from discrimination and supportive of a workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our communities and the people we serve. ACLU NorCal will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).