Pro Bono and Intake Senior Attorney

Global Pro Bono Hub; New York (NY); On-site; USD 83,000 - 124,000; Part time

Job summary

The NYCLU seeks a senior staff attorney to manage pro bono relationships and intake in the NYCLU’s legal department, developing partnerships to assist NYCLU clients and take on matters alongside the NYCLU.

The role coordinates with staff to staff specific projects, oversees the intake team, and contributes to public education on civil liberties and civil rights. Six or more years of legal experience and admission to the New York Bar are required; fluency in Spanish is a plus.

Qualifications

• At least six years of legal experience, preferably in public-interest litigation.
• Ability to write clearly and persuasively and to analyze complex civil rights issues.
• Strong collaboration skills with diverse teams and partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with pro-bono partners and networks.
• Coordinate intake and assist with referrals and resource requests from the public.
• Draft and prepare pitches for pro-bono projects and monitor engagements to completion.
• Supervise intake volunteers and non-litigators in evaluating requests, maintaining service quality.
• Collaborate across NYCLU departments to align anti-racism and civil liberties advocacy.

Skills

Public-interest litigation

Legal writing

Policy analysis

Job description

Share The NYCLU seeks a senior staff attorney (6 or more years of legal experience) to manage pro bono relationships and intake in the NYCLU’s legal department developing relationships with pro bono partners .

At a glance

Organisation: NYCLU (New York Civil Liberties Union)

Type: Part-time

Location: New York, US

Job posted: 7 September 2026

The NYCLU seeks a senior staff attorney (6 or more years of legal experience) to manage pro bono relationships and intake in the NYCLU’s legal department developing relationships with pro bono partners to assist NYCLU clients and take on matters in conjunction with the NYCLU; coordinating with NYCLU staff to identify firms to staff specific projects; and identifying pathways to expand the program. The senior staff attorney will also be responsible for coordinating the intake program, including by managing the team that responds to members of the public seeking assistance, referrals, and/or resources. Pro bono and intake matters will involve the full range of NYCLU work, including challenging institutional and systemic racism that undermines civil rights and civil liberties, immigrants’ rights, government transparency, free expression, equal protection, reproductive justice, criminal legal system, detention, the rights of LGBTQ communities and gender equity, police misconduct, student rights, and privacy.

This position is a part-time position of approximately 20-25 hours per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop relationships with pro-bono partners and networks.
• Consult with attorneys and staff across the NYCLU on pro-bono matters.
• Draft and prepare pitches for pro bono projects; follow up on engagements to ensure successful completion.
• Manage intake team of volunteers and non-litigators evaluating and following up on requests from the public for assistance, resources, or referrals.
• Prepare demand letters and/or Freedom of Information Law and Freedom of Information Act requests where appropriate.
• Consult with attorneys and staff on intake matters and referrals.
• Participate in public education on civil liberties and civil rights issues in the form of speaking engagements and published writings.
• Collaborate with leaders and staff across the NYCLU— including the Education Policy Center, Racial Justice Center, Policy, Communications, and Field Departments —to ensure that the NYCLU has an integrated approach to address injustice.
• Supervise and mentor law students as part of the NYCLU summer-intern program and contribute to the professional development of other members of the legal department.

The Successful Candidate

• Excellent writing, research, analytical, and communication skills.
• Six or more years of legal experience, with a preference for significant public-interest litigation experience.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and advocate effectively, including an ability to coordinate with teams working on public-interest litigation or advocacy.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a diverse public-interest setting and to foster and support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Demonstrated commitment to the goals and priorities of the NYCLU.
• Prior experience with civil rights or constitutional law is a significant plus.
• Admission to the New York Bar.
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus.