Deputy Legal Director

Alaska Horizon; Anchorage (AK); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ACLU of Alaska seeks a Deputy Legal Director to lead civil rights and liberties litigation, manage their own caseload, mentor lawyers, and develop a pipeline of Alaska talent.

Work spans state and federal courts with collaboration across legal, policy, communications, and community teams; the role emphasizes strategic impact and protecting the rights of all Alaskans in a close-knit, mission-driven community.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience litigating complex matters in state and federal court.
• Proven project management abilities.
• Supervision experience is a plus.
• Ability to work proactively and collaboratively as needed.
• Commitment to the ACLU of Alaska’s mission.
• Ability to work flexibly in a hybrid environment.

Responsibilities

• Represent the ACLU of Alaska and its clients in complex impact litigation, including research, client relations, discovery, motions, trials, appeals, and amicus work.
• Litigate in state and federal court as lead, second chair, or co-counsel.
• Evaluate legal issues for potential new cases.
• Screen and work with plaintiffs; collaborate with outside pro bono counsel.
• Mentor staff attorneys, fellows, and summer clerks in litigation.

Skills

Litigation experience

Project management

Supervision/mentoring

Collaboration

Policy advocacy

Hybrid work adaptability

Job description

ABOUT THE ACLU OF ALASKA

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alaska defends the civil rights and liberties of all Alaskans through litigation, advocacy, and community engagement. They strive to create a more equitable state by partnering with a diverse network of Alaskans dedicated to preserving the rights guaranteed by the U.S. and Alaska Constitutions.

Since their founding in 1971, the ACLU of Alaska has been the premier civil rights organization in Alaska. They address a wide range of constitutional violations and civil liberties issues. Examples include:

The nation’s first judicial decision that transgender individuals have a constitutional right to a correct gender marker on their driver’s licenses;

Challenging Alaska's failure to provide non-English ballots and voting materials to indigenous Alaska Native voters;

An Alaska Supreme Court victory that the government may not discriminatorily tax lesbian and gay couples;

Defending the right of mentally ill prisoners to apply for parole;

Resisting legislative attempts to infringe on Alaskan women’s reproductive rights.

To do everything they can to defend civil rights, the ACLU of Alaska consists of two separate non-partisan and nonprofit entities. The ACLU of Alaska fulfills its mission through legislative advocacy, coalition building, and grassroots advocacy while the ACLU of Alaska Foundation pursues the same mission through public education and legal action.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The ACLU of Alaska seeks a Deputy Legal Director to serve as the lead civil rights and liberties litigator-managing their own caseload, supporting the work of other affiliate attorneys, leading the build of a pipeline of talent for Alaska civil rights and liberties defense, and partnering with outside counsel-in the ongoing effort to protect and expand the civil liberties and civil rights of all Alaskans. They pursue work via an integrated advocacy model coordinating among the legal, policy, communications, and community engagement teams.

Alaska’s state constitution is born of the civil rights era and recognizes the state’s obligation for supporting the health and well-being of all Alaskans. That important state context and a uniquely close-knit, mission-driven community, offer a talented Deputy Legal Director an important opportunity to make a felt difference for Alaskans facing injustice and to participate in measurable systems change work.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary duty of the Deputy Legal Director will be to ensure that the ACLU of Alaska develops and delivers work of the highest quality in state and federal court, in cases chosen for the prospect of advancing the rights of all Alaskans.

Represent the ACLU of Alaska and its clients in all aspects of complex impact litigation, including factual and legal research, client relationship building, discovery, motion practice, trials, appeals, and amicus work;

Litigate in state and federal court, including acting as lead counsel, second chair, or co-counsel;

Evaluate legal issues for potential new cases;

Screen and work with plaintiffs;

Collaborate with outside pro bono co-counsel; and

Mentor other attorneys on staff, including legal fellows and summer clerks, in the art and practice of litigation.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

The ACLU of Alaska’s integrated approach to justice requires their attorneys to support the work of the entire team, so that all staff-attorneys and non-attorneys alike, work on shared strategic priorities with an accurate and informed understanding of relevant legal matters and their importance for the mission. Additionally, the Deputy Legal Director has an opportunity to build and nurture a pipeline of legal talent in service to civil rights and liberties defense in Alaska.

Support the development and implementation of a strategic impact litigation program to advance key civil liberties through state and federal courts, administrative tribunals, and regulatory agencies;

Provide subject matter support and advice to the Legal and Policy Directors on state and municipal legislative matters, including supervising the work of staff attorneys who may be assigned discrete policy issues;

Support the Legal Department’s role in affiliate strategic planning to identify current and future issue priority areas;

Participate in regular team meetings, including teams of more than legal staff, to contribute to the affiliate’s integrated advocacy approach;

Network and develop relationships with relevant community organizations and individual advocates; and

Deliver 'know your rights' presentations, continuing legal education courses, and other presentations in the community.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

While no one candidate may possess all the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will be passionate about the mission and values of ACLU of Alaska and will bring many of the following skills and experiences:

Demonstrated experience litigating complex matters in state and federal court with at least seven years of active legal practice;

Demonstrated project management abilities;

Proven supervision experience;

Demonstrated ability to work proactively, collaboratively, and independently as needed;

Passion for the ACLU of Alaska’s mission;

Ability to work flexibly in a hybrid in-person/work-from-home/remote environment, remaining attentive to the team’s needs regardless of setting

To learn more about the ACLU of Alaska, please visit: www.acluak.org.

The ACLU of Alaska encourages applicants with diverse personal and professional backgrounds, lived experiences, and under-represented communities to apply.

This search is being led by Katherine Jacobs and Jessi Davison of GDSI Leadership.