Senior Staff Attorney — Civil Rights Litigator & Mentor

WCLU of Indiana; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 99,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan with employer-m

Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, &

Continuing education & professional  

Job summary

The Senior Staff Attorney at ACLU of Indiana leads impact litigation in state and federal court as part of an integrated advocacy team in Indianapolis. Under the Legal Director, you will co-counsel high-stakes civil rights matters while guiding policy, communications, and community engagement efforts.

You will mentor junior attorneys, manage complex dockets, and collaborate across disciplines to advance civil liberties and equal rights for Indiana communities.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Admission to Indiana bar or ability to obtain Indiana admission promptly.
• Seven+ years of litigation experience in constitutional and civil rights in federal court.
• Lead counsel on complex matters including motion practice, injunctive relief, discovery, and trial.
• Deep knowledge of federal constitutional law and civil rights statutes.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy.
• Commitment to civil rights and to an advocacy model combining litigation with policy/community engagement.
• Understanding of how race, poverty, and inequity shape legal issues, with a commitment to deepen that understanding.
• Ability to manage a demanding docket independently with strategic judgment and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead and/or co-counsel on constitutional and civil rights litigation in state and federal courts.
• Identify emerging constitutional issues and develop litigation proposals aligned with organizational priorities.
• Manage cooperating counsel relationships and co-counsel arrangements on cases.
• Participate in integrated intake process with advocacy, communications, and community staff.
• Provide constitutional analysis to support legislative and administrative advocacy.
• Mentor Staff Attorneys and contribute to hiring processes.

Skills

Excellent legal research, writing, and

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Indiana bar admission or ability to obtain

Job description

The Senior Staff Attorney at ACLU of Indiana leads impact litigation in state and federal court as part of an integrated advocacy team in Indianapolis. Under the Legal Director, you will co-counsel high-stakes civil rights matters while guiding policy, communications, and community engagement efforts.

You will mentor junior attorneys, manage complex dockets, and collaborate across disciplines to advance civil liberties and equal rights for Indiana communities.