Managing Attorney

New Haven County Bar Association; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Four weeks paid vacation

Health insurance (employer premium)

Dental and vision insurance (employer)

Wellness benefit

401(k) with employer contribution

Employee assistance program

13 paid holidays

Job summary

ACLU of Connecticut seeks a Managing Attorney to lead our litigation team and supervise our staff attorneys, legal fellows, and paralegal. This full-time role offers hybrid work with in-person Tuesdays at the Hartford office and travel across the state, requiring residency in Connecticut.

The position reports to the Legal Director and focuses on defending civil liberties and civil rights while coordinating with other departments for integrated advocacy.

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice in Connecticut, or eligible to be licensed here within six months of start date.
• Minimum of five years of civil litigation experience from pre-suit investigation to appeal.
• Experience supervising attorneys to produce high-quality results, including providing guidance on litigation strategy and practice questions.
• Experience supervising people to plan and achieve goals, navigate change and conflict, and grow professionally.
• Ability to help less-experienced attorneys develop skills in writing, discovery, witness examinations, and oral arguments.
• Willingness to master areas of law outside current expertise and past practice.
• Commitment to values of the ACLU and to working with a diverse team.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, manage, and mentor the affiliate’s staff attorneys, legal fellows, and paralegal, including assigning and overseeing day-to-day work.
• Oversee pending litigation to meet deadlines, draft and revise work, and prepare staff for major stages of a case.
• Conduct performance reviews and set annual goals, with regular progress meetings.
• Collaborate with the Legal Director to ensure smooth operation of the Legal Department.
• Assist other departments in understanding legal work, concepts, and litigation developments.
• Support recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new legal staff.
• Occasional other duties as assigned.

Skills

Civil litigation

Team supervision

Leadership

Effective communication

Job description

Summary:

The ACLU of Connecticut Foundation (ACLU of CT) seeks a Managing Attorney to support our ongoing litigation and manage our team of passionate attorneys. This position is full-time and will pay a starting salary between $110,000 - $120,000. This position allows for hybrid work, but it requires in-person work every Tuesday at our Hartford office, occasional travel across the state, and residency in Connecticut.

Role Summary:

Reporting to the Legal Director and supervising our Staff Attorney and Legal Fellow, the Managing Attorney will join a team committed to fighting the toughest civil liberties and civil rights cases to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. The Legal Department is part of a multi-pronged approach to integrated advocacy alongside our Communications, Community Engagement & Education, and Public Policy & Advocacy Departments.

Core Responsibilities:

• Supervise, manage, and mentor the affiliate’s staff attorneys, legal fellows, and paralegal, including by assigning and overseeing day-to-day work
• Supervise the execution of the affiliate’s pending litigation by ensuring that deadlines are met, working closely with legal staff on drafting and revising work, and helping staff prepare for each major stage of a case
• Supervise and support staff attorneys, legal fellows, and paralegals in formulating annual goals, monitoring their progress, giving feedback on their progress, and conducting performance reviews
• Conduct regular team and individual meetings to discuss progress, goals, and feedback, including yearly performance reviews
• Work with the legal director to ensure that the operations and administration of the Legal Department run smoothly
• Assist other departments in the organization to understand legal work, legal concepts, and litigation developments
• Collaborate with other departments in support of affiliate’s integrated advocacy
• Support the Operations team in the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new legal staff
• Occasional other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Admitted to practice in Connecticut, or eligible to be licensed here within six months of start date
• Minimum of five years of civil litigation experience from pre-suit investigation to appeal
• Experiencing supervising attorneys to produce high-quality results, including by providing advice and guidance on litigation strategy and legal practice questions
• Experiencing supervising people to plan and achieve goals, navigate change and conflict, and grow professionally
• Ability to help less-experienced attorneys develop their skills, including by ensuring that attorneys have opportunities for writing, discovery, witness examinations, and oral arguments
• Ability to master areas of law outside of current expertise or past practice
• Excitement to join an organization made up of employees with diverse skillsets, backgrounds, and expertise including organizing, communications, and advocacy
• Possess a deep commitment to ACLU of CT values
• Access to reliable transportation for client visits across the state of Connecticut
• Preferred experience: knowledge of and experience with law relating to civil rights and liberties

Compensation and Benefits:

The Managing Attorney will receive a salary of between $110,000 - $120,000 annually.

The ACLU of Connecticut also offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package starting with four weeks paid vacation, plus paid sick and personal time; 100%-employer premium paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; a supplemental wellness benefit; 401(k) Plan including employer contribution; a robust employee assistance program, and 13 paid holidays.

• four weeks paid vacation
• plus paid sick and personal time
• 100%-employer premium paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• a supplemental wellness benefit
• 401(k) Plan including employer contribution
• a robust employee assistance program
• 13 paid holidays

(The ACLU of CT reserves the right to alter or eliminate its current employee benefit plans and programs). This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable Connecticut law.

Hiring Process:

• Application Review
• Written Hiring Exercise
• Phone Screen
• Second Interview
• Final Interview
• Reference Checks

About the ACLU of Connecticut:

The ACLU of Connecticut defends, promotes, and expands the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Connecticut through litigation, community organizing and legislative advocacy, and civic education and engagement. We are an inclusive, non-partisan, and statewide organization within the nationwide American Civil Liberties Union network, powered by our supporters, partners, staff, interns, cooperating attorneys, and our board of directors.
We comprise three nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations: the ACLU of Connecticut, a 501(c)(4) organization which does legislative and organizing advocacy work; the ACLU Foundation of Connecticut, a 501(c)(3) which does litigation and public education work; and the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC, a non-partisan 527 organization which builds the necessary relationships, public awareness, public narratives, and pressure felt by politicians in order to build the political power of people directly impacted by civil rights and liberties issues.

To learn more about the work of the ACLU of CT pleasevisit www.acluct.org and www.aclu.org.