Senior Staff Attorney

Summary of the position

The team member in this position is:

• A seasoned, experienced civil litigator with strong litigation management, coordination, and implementation abilities;
• Proficient in a wide range of legal-related research and writing to support the work of the ACLU of Oregon’s legal, policy, and communications teams;
• Capable of representing the ACLU of Oregon in a wide array of settings, including interviews with journalists and the press, legislative work groups and public hearings, and educational forums.

This position manages our legal cases and related work, including amicus briefs and research, the day-to-day of which is often done by our volunteer cooperating attorneys. As needed, this position will also engage in day-to-day work with our legal cases, amicus briefs, research, and related matters.

This position will also support our ballot measure work, policy work at the local and state levels, and communications and education work as needed. Oftentimes, this work consists of legal-related research and writing, as well as other types of technical support.

This position does not supervise any staff positions, although the position may have lead-type responsibilities. This position works closely, collaboratively, and supportively with all of the ACLU of Oregon’s departmental teams.

Core Duties

As a member of the legal team, the team member in this position:

• Supports the incorporation of the organization’s values and strategic priorities into the initiatives, efforts, and work of the legal team.
• Helps develop and implement the legal team’s internal and external strategic plans, initiatives, and projects.
• Supports the Legal Director in managing and executing the day-to-day operations and activities of the legal program, which include without limitation: coordinating, leading, and engaging in our litigation and related activities, whether done in-house or with our cooperating attorneys.
• Works collaboratively with the legal team, lawyers committee, cooperating attorneys, volunteers, and partner organizations to make the legal program effective.
• Adheres to all applicable professional standards and ensures that the legal program is compliant with all applicable standards and requirements.
• Provides technical guidance and assistance internally and externally.
• Stays informed on current local and nationwide civil rights and civil liberties priorities and issues.

As an inclusive collaborator, internally and externally:

• Develops effective, respectful, and collaborative relationships internal to the ACLU of Oregon (including, but not limited to, the organization’s leadership, staff, board, volunteers, donors, contractors, vendors, and others) and external to the organization (including, but not limited to, coalition and community partners, community leaders, grantors, and others).
• Participates in, creates, and sustains respectful, inclusive, and engaging spaces for all people by demonstrating a commitment to racial equity, dismantling white supremacy, and operating with knowledge and understanding of identity, power, and oppression related to areas such as, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, language, immigration status, national origin, and socioeconomic circumstance.
• Builds, sustains, and participates in diverse and inclusive coalitions in furtherance of and consistent with the ACLU of Oregon’s identity document with our mission, vision, and values.
• As assigned, represents the ACLU by engaging in research, speaking, meetings, public forums, events, trainings, writings, projects, and needs related to the organization’s communications, education, policy, and development areas. This position will likely represent the ACLU of Oregon at hearings and meetings, public forums, task forces, coalition or policy/government-related workgroups, and conferences, and represent the ACLU of Oregon by speaking with the media. Supports other staff as needed in doing the same.

This position may be assigned other duties by the supervisor or supervisor’s designee. Please note that the above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s purview and responsibility.

Where to get more information: Please review this job description for more information about this position.

Important information: For this recruitment, we will prioritize candidates at the Senior Staff Attorney level. The required education and legal experience is a J.D., a minimum of 5 years of civil litigation experience, and membership in the Oregon State Bar.

We are looking for individuals with the following experience, abilities, and values:

• Required education, legal, and licensure experience: Juris Doctor degree, a minimum of 5 years of civil litigation experience, and member of the Oregon State Bar.
• Required equity & inclusion values and experience: proven significant and continuous prior commitment to and experience with the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, anti-racism, anti-misogyny, anti-transphobia, anti-homophobia, anti-ableism, and other forms of anti-oppression.
• Strongly preferred – prior experience in ACLU of Oregon issue areas: prior litigation experience in several of the following areas — First Amendment, racial justice, criminal system reform, law enforcement accountability, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant and refugee rights, and systems change or impact litigation.
• Required values: a demonstrated ability to support the goals, priorities, and values of the ACLU of Oregon, including the following values related to building work-related relationships and trust:
  • Sincerity: the assessment that you are honest, that you say what you mean and mean what you say. The idea that you can be believed and taken seriously and that your actions are aligned with your words.
  • Reliability: the assessment that you meet the commitments you make, and that you keep your promises.
  • Competence: the assessment you have the ability to do what you’re doing or propose to do. Note that being competent does not mean being perfect. Part of doing something well is knowing what you don’t know how to do, being willing to learn, and asking for help when you need it.
  • Care: the assessment you have the other person’s interest in mind as well as your own when you make decisions and take actions.
• Equivalent education and/or experience: We will consider applicants who can demonstrate non-traditional work-related experiences comparable to more direct forms of work experience or education.
• Candidates who meet the qualifications of other positions: Sometimes, candidates may not meet the qualifications of this position but may have qualifications to meet another position at the ACLU of Oregon; we may offer candidates the opportunity to consider another position with the ACLU of Oregon, and we reserve this organizational right within our sole discretion.

Our current excellent benefits package includes:

• paid vacation time
• paid sick time
• paid personal time
• 14.5 paid holidays per year
• office rest (shutdown) periods during summer and winter as consistent with the organization’s values and work needs
• flexible Friday hours, consistent with operational needs and supervisor approval
• remote work stipend and commute-related benefits
• health insurance (medical/vision and dental)
• life insurance
• long-term disability insurance
• employer contributions to a wellness FSA account
• 401(k) retirement plan with matching and other contributions of up to 5.5% of salary, subject to the organization’s 401(k) plan requirements, which include a vesting schedule
• support for work-related coaching
• parental leave
• funds to support professional development related to work
• funds to support relationship and connection building related to work

Please note that all employment-related pay and benefits provided to ACLU of Oregon’s employees are subject to all applicable policies, practices, processes, and legal requirements, including changes to them that may occur from time to time.