Senior Staff Attorney

American Civil Liberties Union, Inc.; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

The Senior Staff Attorney at American Civil Liberties Union, Inc. in Indianapolis leads high-stakes constitutional and civil rights litigation, serving as lead or co-counsel on cases in state and federal courts.

The role partners with policy, communications, and community engagement to advance civil liberties. Reporting to the Legal Director, the attorney mentors junior staff and shapes integrated advocacy strategies, including public education and outreach, with a strong emphasis on equity and

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the Indiana bar or ability to obtain admission promptly.
• Seven or more years of litigation experience, with substantial constitutional and civil rights litigation in federal court.
• Demonstrated experience as lead counsel on complex matters, including motion practice, injunctive relief, discovery, and trial or evidentiary hearings.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead and/or co-counsel on constitutional and civil rights litigation in state and federal courts.
• Provide constitutional and legal analysis to support advocacy and policy work.
• Mentor junior staff and collaborate across disciplines within the organization.

Skills

Constitutional law

Civil rights litigation

Appellate experience

Legal leadership

Legal writing

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Senior Staff Attorney

Grade: 18

Salary Range: $99,200 - $130,000

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana (relocation assistance available)

Reports to: Legal Director

Works closely with: Legal, advocacy, communications, and community engagement staff

Organizational Overview

The ACLU of Indiana is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and expanding civil liberties and civil rights across the state. We practice an integrated advocacy model: legal, policy, communications, organizing, and community engagement staff set priorities and work together. Litigation is one of several tools, used alongside legislative and administrative advocacy, public education, coalition-building, and community partnership to dismantle systemic inequities, uphold constitutional protections, and advance lasting structural change, centering the communities most impacted by injustice.

Position Summary

The Senior Staff Attorney is an experienced constitutional litigator who develops and leads impact litigation in state and federal court as a member of an integrated advocacy team. Under the direction of the Legal Director, the attorney serves as lead or co-counsel on complex civil rights and civil liberties cases, contributes constitutional expertise to policy, communications, and community-based advocacy, and mentors junior legal staff. This is a role for a seasoned practitioner ready to take on high-stakes cases with significant independence and to work in close partnership with colleagues across disciplines and with the communities the organization serves.

Key Responsibilities

Litigation

• Serve as lead and/or co-counsel on constitutional and civil rights litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts, including case development, pleadings, motion practice, discovery, injunctive proceedings, trial, and appeal.
• Identify emerging constitutional issues and develop affirmative litigation proposals consistent with organizational priorities set by the Legal Director and the integrated advocacy team.
• Manage cooperating counsel relationships and co-counsel arrangements with private firms, national ACLU projects, and partner organizations on assigned cases.

Integrated Advocacy

• Participate as a full member of the organization’s integrated intake process, working alongside advocacy, communications, and community engagement staff to assess requests for legal assistance against shared priorities and community impact and to determine whether the best response is litigation, policy or legislative advocacy, organizing support, public education, or referral.
• Collaborate with staff across departments to set goals and implement campaign strategies in which litigation is one tool among several.
• Provide constitutional and legal analysis to support legislative and administrative advocacy, including testimony, bill analysis, and comment on proposed rules.

Public Education & Communications

• Serve as a public voice for the organization’s legal work through media engagement, community presentations, know-your-rights education, and partnerships related to litigation.
• Work with communications staff to develop materials that explain the organization’s legal work to the public, including press statements, op-eds, and digital content.

Team

• Mentor Staff Attorneys and share litigation expertise across the legal team.
• Participate in hiring teams for legal and non-legal staff as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the organization’s mission.

Working Conditions

This position is based in Indianapolis. Hybrid, with regular in-office presence expected. Occasional evening and weekend work and travel across Indiana are expected. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the application and interview process.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position at Grade 18 with a salary range of $99,200–$130,000, depending on experience. The ACLU of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid health insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match; generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays; relocation assistance; and support for continuing education and professional development.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The ACLU of Indiana is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We strongly encourage people from historically underrepresented communities, including people who have been directly impacted by the issues we work on, to apply.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the Indiana bar or the ability to obtain Indiana admission promptly.
• Seven or more years of litigation experience, with substantial experience in constitutional and civil rights litigation in federal court.
• Demonstrated experience as lead counsel on complex matters, including motion practice, injunctive relief, discovery, and trial or evidentiary hearings.
• Deep knowledge of federal constitutional law and civil rights statutes, including 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and related doctrines of immunity, standing, and remedies.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, with a record of persuasive briefing and courtroom advocacy.
• Commitment to civil rights and civil liberties and to an advocacy model that combines litigation with policy and community engagement.
• Understanding of how race, poverty, and other systems of inequity shape the legal issues we work on, and a commitment to deepening that understanding.
• Ability to manage a demanding docket independently, exercise sound strategic judgment, and collaborate across disciplines with people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Appellate experience in a federal court of appeals or a state supreme court.
• Experience with class actions or other systemic litigation.
• Substantive experience in one or more of the organization’s priority areas, such as the First Amendment, voting rights, reproductive freedom, the criminal legal system, immigrants’ rights, LGBTQ rights, or disability rights.
• Fluency in Spanish or another language spoken in Indiana communities.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or developing attorneys or legal staff.
• Experience working with community organizations or in movement lawyering.
• Familiarity with Indiana courts, law, or communities.

We recognize that outstanding attorneys have taken many paths, including public defense, legal aid, private practice, government, clerkships, academia, and movement lawyering, and we welcome applicants whose experience is equivalent to what is described here. Lived experience with the communities and systems we work on is valued. If you do not meet every qualification but believe you could excel in this role, please apply.