Staff Attorney

JOB SUMMARY

This position is funded for an initial two-year term with the potential for future funding. The Staff Attorney is responsible for proactively developing and executing litigation and other legal advocacy strategies to achieve the ACLU-VA’s strategic priorities and to advance civil liberties and civil rights in Virginia. The Staff Attorney will litigate on a variety of issues, including criminal legal reform, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants’ rights, reproductive rights, and freedom of speech and religion. The Staff Attorney will also participate in non-litigation advocacy to advance the ACLU-VA’s strategic priorities, including supporting legislative and policy work, participating in public speaking engagements, and working with our communications team to draft press or public education materials. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop and execute litigation and legal advocacy strategies.

• In collaboration with the legal team, develop and execute a wide range of federal, state, and administrative litigation, including impact litigation, complex class-action litigation, appeals, and amicus briefs;
• Participate in case selection and development, including conducting factual and legal research, evaluating legal theory and strategy, identifying and analyzing potential claims, determining possible plaintiffs and defendants, interviewing clients and potential witnesses, working with experts, preparing internal memoranda, and drafting demand letters and litigation-related pleadings and briefs;
• Participate in all phases of litigation, including drafting pleadings, motions, briefs and correspondence; conducting discovery; taking and defending depositions; arguing motions; trying cases; handling appeals; working with experts; negotiating and monitoring settlement agreements; and pursuing attorneys’ fee awards;
• Appear and argue cases in federal court, state court, and before administrative agencies;
• Seek out and cultivate relationships with the national ACLU, with other advocacy organizations, and with cooperating attorneys to partner in potential litigation;
• Monitor litigation being handled by partner organizations and cooperating attorneys and provide assistance as needed.

Assist with the overall administration of the legal program.

• In collaboration with the legal team, provide input on litigation priorities and potential legal advocacy strategies to advance those priorities;
• Assist in the implementation of legal program policies, procedures, and systems – such as the intake and case selection process; case management process; paper and electronic filing systems; and legal docket;
• Participate in the review and consideration of intakes and other requests for assistance received by the ACLU of Virginia; conduct research or factual follow-up as necessary, and propose and/or consider recommendations for additional action;
• Develop and conduct, as appropriate, staff training sessions, workshops, continuing legal education events, and other events on specific issues;
• Develop and maintain relationships with the legal staff at the national ACLU, its projects, and other affiliates and collaborate on litigation and investigations that arise in Virginia;
• Develop and maintain relationships with legal services agencies, law firms, and other public interest attorneys in Virginia;
• Prepare memoranda and reports as needed. 

Support the legislative, policy, organizing, and communications work of the affiliate.

• Speak at public forums, meetings, and events on various civil liberties and civil rights topics, as requested or as necessary;
• Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU of Virginia on cases and legal issues for the media, as requested or as necessary;
• Write material for the ACLU of Virginia website and other media regarding legal issues and cases, as requested or as necessary;
• Act as a resource for communications and programmatic staff, and draft memoranda, reports, public education materials, and legislative advocacy materials, as requested or as necessary;
• Identify and research issues related to legislation, local ordinances, and agency rules and regulations; working in collaboration with the policy team, draft memoranda or advocacy letters and testify, provide public comment, or lobby on such matters as necessary;
• Assist in fundraising efforts by participating in meetings with donors, as requested.

 Salary Range: The salary range for this position is $64,000 to $90,700, with a midpoint of $77,350. Recent law school graduates will be starting closer to the bottom of the range.   Compensation offers will generally be somewhere between the starting point and the midpoint of the range and are based on a candidate's specific experience and current market factors at the time of the offer. To preserve the opportunity for advancement, we do not typically hire above the midpoint of the range. The ACLU of Virginia is a unionized workplace, and this position is part of the bargaining unit. In addition, we offer excellent benefits including paid time off, generous paid holidays, a 401k plan with employer contribution, flexible spending account, paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, 50% employer-paid dependent medical coverage, life insurance, wi-fi stipend, wellness stipend, student loan assistance, annual sick leave, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and professional development allowances. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Membership in good standing with the Virginia State Bar or another state bar provided admission to the Virginia State Bar is obtained within six months.
• Experience litigating cases in federal and/or state courts.
• Willingness and availability to work beyond the normal work day, on weekends, and/or more than 40 hours a week as necessary.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout Virginia, and occasionally to other states for conferences and training.
• A commitment to the mission and values of the ACLU of Virginia, and to racial justice and civil rights and an understanding that these issues are central to overall protection of civil liberties.
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, to refrain from unlawful discrimination and to comply fully with all applicable laws; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity and national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance, and able to work with diverse individuals within the organization and broader community.
• Familiarity with office technology and information systems, including databases, case management software, digital legal research sources, online communications, and word processing.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & ABILITIES 

• Ability to work effectively and professionally with clients, other counsel, volunteers, and staff, and a commitment to the highest ethical standards and the values of the ACLU of Virginia.
• Ability to take clear direction and meet deadlines on concurrent projects in a fast-paced, occasionally stressful environment.
• Strong self-motivation and ability to work independently, problem-solve, and take initiative.
• Excellent writing, research, analytical, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work competently and effectively under pressure.
• Ability to think critically and solve complex problems.
• Ability to communicate with and assist people undergoing legal crises. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with other staff members, cooperating attorneys, and diverse organizations and coalitions.    

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Ability to speak and/or write in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic or other language spoken by a language minority in Virginia
• Substantive knowledge and understanding of constitutional law, civil rights and civil liberties issues. 
• Knowledge of court rules (state and/or federal) and familiarity with the courts in Virginia.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage cases and legal projects.
• Experience working at an organization with an integrated advocacy model where legal, legislative, education and advocacy tactics are used collaboratively and cohesively to achieve results.

DISCLAIMER:  Nothing in this job description restricts the Executive Director's right to assign other duties or responsibilities to this job at any time.

The ACLU of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, bi- or multi-lingual (including Indigenous languages) speakers, multi-cultural individuals, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated or are currently under supervision, and other people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We seek to build a diverse team and an inclusive organizational culture. All qualified applicants who share our vision and who have a desire to contribute to our mission are encouraged to apply. 

The ACLU of Virginia is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email hr@acluva.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process. 

The ACLU of Virginia is a unionized workplace.