Managing Attorney

ACLU; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Four weeks paid vacation

Paid sick and personal time

Employer-paid medical, dental, and eye

401(k) with employer contribution

Employee assistance program

13 paid holidays

Job summary

The ACLU of Connecticut is seeking a Managing Attorney to lead our legal team and supervise staff attorneys, legal fellows, and paralegal. You will ensure deadlines are met, guide litigation strategy, and support department operations across advocacy efforts.

You will mentor junior staff, conduct performance reviews, and collaborate with other departments to advance civil liberties litigation and advocacy across Connecticut. A background in civil rights law and Connecticut admission is required.

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 and provide guidance on litigation strategy and questions.
• Experience supervising people to plan goals, navigate change, and grow professionally.
• Ability to help less-experienced attorneys develop skills with writing, discovery, witness examinations, and oral arguments.
• Willingness to master areas of law outside current expertise or past practice.
• Commitment to ACLU of CT values and to working with a diverse team.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, manage, and mentor the affiliate’s staff attorneys, legal fellows, and paralegal, including day-to-day work assignment.
• Oversee the affiliate’s pending litigation to meet deadlines and assist staff with drafting and revising work.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide feedback to staff.
• Lead regular team and individual meetings to discuss progress and goals.
• Collaborate with the Legal Director to ensure smooth department operations.
• Support other departments in understanding legal work and litigation developments.
• Assist with recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new legal staff.
• Perform occasional other duties as assigned.

Skills

Staff supervision

Litigation supervision

Mentoring

Performance reviews

Team leadership

Communication

Education

Admitted to practice in Connecticut or eligible within six months

Job description

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. (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.

Application Procedure:

The ACLU of CT does not use any form of algorithmic or generative artificial intelligence at any stage of our hiring processes. We appreciate applicants refraining from using the technology in their materials or interviews.

The ACLU of Connecticut is proud to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages immigrants, people of color, indigenous people, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, women, and formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted people to apply. We accept all applicants regardless of race, sex, gender identity, age, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction.

We also undertake affirmative action strategies in our recruitment and employment efforts to assure that all persons – including but not limited to persons with disabilities – have full opportunities for employment in all positions. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to include this information in your cover letter, or to call 860-471-8465 to discuss your needs.

Hiring Process:

• Application Review
• 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.