Managing Attorney ACLU-CT · Hartford, CT 10/28/2026

BlackRomance; Hartford (CT); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation time

Health insurance

Retirement plan (401k)

Paid holidays

Job summary

The ACLU of Connecticut Foundation seeks a Managing Attorney to lead our litigation team in Hartford, CT. This full-time role offers a starting salary of $110,000–$120,000 with a hybrid schedule requiring in-person work every Tuesday at our Hartford office and residency in Connecticut.

The Managing Attorney will supervise staff attorneys, legal fellows, and paralegals, drive litigation strategy, manage deadlines, and collaborate with other departments to advance civil liberties goals.

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 by providing advice and guidance on litigation strategy and legal practice questions
• Experience supervising people to plan and achieve goals, navigate change and conflict, and grow professionally
• Ability to help less-experienced attorneys develop their skills, including opportunities for writing, discovery, witness examinations, and oral arguments
• Possess a deep commitment to civil rights and civil liberties

Responsibilities

• Supervise, mentor, and manage the affiliate’s staff attorneys, legal fellows, and paralegal, assigning day-to-day work
• Oversee the affiliate’s pending litigation to ensure deadlines are met and staff are prepared for major case milestones
• Conduct regular team and individual meetings to discuss progress, goals, and feedback, including performance reviews
• Collaborate with other departments to support integrated advocacy and organizational operations
• Assist in recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new legal staff
• Perform occasional other duties as assigned

Job description

Hartford, CT Full Time Legal Posted 10/28/2026

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. (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.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by a member of our staff, and the position will remain posted until filled.
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.

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.

Qualifications & Requirements

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

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. 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. The ACLU of Connecticut envisions an equitable, democratic, and anti-racist Connecticut in which all persons are treated with dignity in a thriving society. We believe in, and aspire to incorporate into our actions, the following six core values:Anti-racism: eliminating racism and promoting racial justiceDignity: upholding the innate dignity of all human beingsDiversity: valuing the perspective of those with lived experiences different from oursEquity: understanding power dynamics and creating opportunities for all to thriveInclusivity: sharing and building power with historically excluded peoplePartners in justice: elevating the voices of directly impacted people while working in partnership with, rather than on behalf of, the communities we serveSince 1948, we have used our legal and advocacy expertise to protect freedom, justice, and equality. Some of our major achievements include:Overturning the death penaltyExpanding and defending access to abortionCreating marriage equality and gender-affirming birth certificatesChallenging government surveillance and censorshipFighting police brutality and racismSome of our early cases overturned Connecticut’s ban on the use of state funds to provide abortion access for low-income people, cleared the way for the first woman firefighter in New Haven, secured religious observance rights for incarcerated people, and sought racial equality in education.Our first full-time attorney was hired to assist the legal defense of Black Panther Party leaders in New Haven. Through early organizing and advocacy efforts, we fought back against police violence in Hartford’s North End, helped to successfully pass legislation to end the death penalty, challenged censorship of comic books and classroom textbooks, and fought for racial justice and access to shoreline beaches.