Staff Attorney

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Arkansas Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Inc. (ACLU-AR) is growing its legal department and seeks applicants for a full-time Staff Attorney to join its dedicated, collaborative, and racially diverse team in Little Rock.

Since 1969, ACLU-AR has been a leading advocate for civil liberties in the Natural State. The Staff Attorney will help us protect and advance a broad range of civil liberties, including free speech, racial justice, voting rights, immigrants’ rights, privacy, religious

Responsibilities

• Investigating, developing, and litigating impact civil liberties and civil rights cases at the trial and appellate levels.
• Identifying possible litigation and handling intake.
• Conducting factual and legal research.
• Drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs.
• Presenting oral arguments; negotiating settlements.
• Working with experts and supervising interns.

Job description

Position Description

The Arkansas Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Inc. (ACLU-AR) is growing its legal department and seeks applicants for a full-time Staff Attorney to join its dedicated, collaborative, and racially diverse team in Little Rock. Since 1969, ACLU-AR has been a leading advocate for civil liberties in the Natural State. The Staff Attorney will help us protect and advance a broad range of civil liberties, including free speech, racial justice, voting rights, immigrants’ rights, privacy, religious liberty, reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, and more.

Position Description

The Arkansas Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Inc. (ACLU-AR) is growing its legal department and seeks applicants for a full-time Staff Attorney to join its dedicated, collaborative, and racially diverse team in Little Rock. Since 1969, ACLU-AR has been a leading advocate for civil liberties in the Natural State. The Staff Attorney will help us protect and advance a broad range of civil liberties, including free speech, racial justice, voting rights, immigrants’ rights, privacy, religious liberty, reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, and more.

Reports to: Legal Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

Key Job Duties

Investigating, developing, and litigating impact civil liberties and civil rights cases at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts and administrative forums. Responsibilities include:

• Identifying possible litigation and handling intake;


• Conducting factual and legal research;


• Evaluating legal theory and strategy;


• Interviewing and counseling clients and witnesses;


• Writing demand letters;


• Drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs;


• Conducting discovery;


• Working with experts;


• Presenting oral arguments; and


• Negotiating settlements.

The staff attorney can expect to step into existing cases with other ACLU staff. They will work with the legal director to gradually develop their own docket of new cases and areas of expertise, aligned with ACLU-AR’s strategic priorities.

Additional Responsibilities

Participating in the legal department's advocacy work and the organization’s broader integrated advocacy campaigns, including:

• Serving as a subject-matter expert and advocating on priority issues.


• Drafting and editing public education and non-litigation advocacy materials, such as Know Your Rights materials, in collaboration with the Policy and Communications Departments.


• Providing technical and other support for legislative and policy work, including analyzing bills and occasionally drafting and delivering testimony.


• Engaging with coalition partners, law and policy makers, community representatives, and colleagues from other ACLU offices working on similar issues.


• Coordinating and working with ACLU volunteer cooperating attorneys.


• Assisting in the development of more junior staff, including the direct supervision of interns.


• Speaking publicly, including to the media, to convey ACLU-AR’s positions.

Compensation And Benefits

Starting salary is $90,000 to $100,000, depending on experience. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employee and family (100% employer-paid premiums); life insurance (100% employer-paid premiums); short-term and long-term disability insurance (100% employer-paid premiums); 401k with employer match (up to 5.5% based on employee contribution); and generous paid time off and paid holidays. This position will be supervised by the Legal Director and will be based in Little Rock. This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The ACLU of Arkansas is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive and equitable office culture of belonging. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified people without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or prior involvement in the criminal legal system.