Staff Attorney

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Staff Attorney reports to the Legal Director and plays a leadership role in developing and managing litigation and related activities in support of the ACLU’s mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities include:

• Develop and maintain a robust docket concentrating on civil rights and liberties.
• Review, investigate, and select for legal representation complaints received through the ACLU-TX intake system, as well as referrals from other organizations and agencies and attorneys.
• Develop and prosecute select civil liberties and civil rights cases, including legal research and memoranda, the drafting of pleadings and briefs, discovery and motion practice, mediation, trials, settlement negotiation, post-judgment litigation, and appeals in both state and federal courts.
• Develop and execute non-litigation legal advocacy, such as preparing and filing administrative complaints, and provide limited representation in administrative proceedings.
• Provide legal support to community partners and advocates advancing ACLU- TX’s goals in non-legal spaces.
• Participate as a legal expert in local and statewide legislative processes, including by analyzing bills and policies, developing talking points, engaging in public education, and authoring and delivering testimony.
• Litigate select cases as lead counsel or as co-counsel with cooperating or other public interest and private attorneys.
• Conduct legal and factual research; prepare legal memoranda and letters; draft demand letters; review, comment or write amicus briefs.
• Advocate for civil liberties and serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU both with the press and as a public speaker, when appropriate.
• Support the advocacy and legal needs of cross departmental advocacy work.
• Collaborate and work with ACLU National colleagues on joint projects, cases, or working groups, when appropriate or as needed.
• 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 and civil rights and civil liberties issues.
• Experience with public interest advocacy and working with community-based groups is preferred.
• Licensed to practice law in Texas and a member of the State Bar of Texas 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, and with 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.