The ACLU of Alabama is one of the nation’s foremost defenders of civil liberties and civil rights. We are a part of the American Civil Liberties Union, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with 54 local affiliates across the country. Our mission is to protect and advance the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution by working through public education, legislative advocacy, and litigation.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Foundation of Alabama seeks a Staff Attorney to assist in developing and leading litigation and, in collaboration with other Departments, non-litigation advocacy to promote transformational changes across our core issue areas: voting rights, criminal legal reform and gender justice. The ACLU of Alabama uses an “integrated advocacy” model that unites legal advocacy, policy advocacy, organizing, and base building for maximum impact. The Staff Attorney will develop and maintain a robust docket concentrating on civil rights and liberties, emphasizing immigrants’ rights. The Staff Attorney will work on traditional litigation, administrative advocacy, and legislative and community education in keeping with that approach

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include:

• Contribute to the Legal Department’s ongoing docket focusing on civil rights and liberties and develop and maintain a docket emphasizing immigrants’ rights.
• Review, investigate, and select for legal representation complaints received through the ACLU-AL intake system and referrals from other organizations, agencies, and attorneys.
• Develop and litigate select civil liberties and civil rights cases, including completing and coordinating legal research and drafting memoranda, pleadings, briefs, discovery requests, motions practice, leading and/or participating in mediation, trials, settlement negotiations, post-judgment litigation, and appeals, in both state and federal court.
• Develop and contribute to non-litigation legal advocacy, such as preparing and filing administrative complaints, amicus briefs and providing limited representation in administrative proceedings.
• Provide legal support to community partners and advocates advancing ACLU-AL’s goals in non-legal spaces.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with the legal community and other community partners throughout Alabama including bar associations, legal organizations and programs, consular offices, and private law firms.
• Participate as a legal expert in local and statewide legislative processes, analyzing bills and policies, developing talking points, engaging in public education, and authoring and delivering testimony.
• Litigate select cases as lead, collaborating, or co-counsel, as appropriate including with private or public interest attorneys and national organizations/affiliates.
• Advocate for civil liberties and serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU at public events and in the media.
• Support the advocacy and legal needs of cross departmental advocacy work.
• Collaborate and work with ACLU National, ACLU affiliate colleagues and other organizations on joint projects, cases, or on working groups.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The Staff Attorney must demonstrate a commitment to civil rights and civil liberties consistent with the mission and goals of the ACLU with the following qualifications:

• JD with at least three years of litigation experience, preferably with a background in constitutional law, civil rights, and civil liberties, and an emphasis on immigrants’ rights.
• Experience with public interest advocacy and working with community-based groups is preferred.
• Experience working directly with migrant communities and individuals is preferred.
• Licensed to practice law in Alabama and a member of the State Bar of Alabama or eligible to waive in.
• Substantive knowledge and understanding of constitutional law and civil liberties issues.
• Demonstrated ability to litigate independently, jointly, or in a team, and under pressure.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage a docket requiring frequent requests for immediate relief.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple cases and advocacy projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills to both legal and non-legal audiences.
• Demonstrated skills in legal analysis, research, writing and strategic thinking.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively, respectfully, courteously, and professionally with lawyers, clients, staff members, community organizations, leaders, partners, and coalitions.
• A commitment to the rules of professional conduct and ethical practice of law.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; a personal approach that values the individual holistically and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances.
• Proficiency with computers and software: Windows, Microsoft Office, and Westlaw in particular.
• Willing and able to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this job description restricts the Legal Director’s or Executive Director right to assign other duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. If you believe that you qualify for at least 70% of this job description, we encourage you to apply. We know that imposter syndrome and the confidence gap can prevent strong candidates from applying for a job unless they see themselves as a 100% fit. We would love to hear from you.

Compensation and Benefits: The starting salary is $85,000. The benefits package includes insurance coverage (medical/dental/vision) and an HSA account with employer contributions, an annual professional development stipend, paid time off, paid holidays, and a retirement plan with an employer-matching contribution.

How to Apply: Please submit a letter of interest, current resume and salary requirements via email to: [email protected] with “Staff Attorney-Immigrants’ Rights” in the subject field. The ACLU of Alabama is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, non-binary and transgender individuals.

Any candidates requesting accommodations may either contact us at [email protected], or through an independent 3rd Party at [email protected]. The ACLU of Alabama is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status and commits to comply with all applicable equal opportunity and nondiscrimination laws and to refrain from unlawful discrimination.