Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel, National Security Project

The role

The Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel will conduct strategic impact litigation and advocacy on priority issues for the National Security Project. This role involves legal research, fact development, drafting legal documents, and participating in oral arguments.

What you will do

• Engage in litigation through legal research, fact development, and working with clients and witnesses
• Draft pleadings, briefs, and legal memoranda
• Conduct discovery and motion practice
• Conduct oral arguments in trial and appellate courts
• Identify and develop new litigation and advocacy projects
• Analyze legislation for potential litigation
• Serve as a resource for ACLU legislative and policy work
• Collaborate with staff across the organization
• Engage in public speaking with media and at conferences
• Work with and advise ACLU state affiliates and partner organizations

Required qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a U.S. law school
• Active Bar membership in New York
• Minimum of two years of complex civil litigation experience in federal courts
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Ability to engage in complex legal analysis and fact investigation
• Ability to communicate legal concepts and arguments clearly and persuasively
• Project management and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
• Ability to foster and contribute to a collaborative team environment

Nice to have

• Familiarity with constitutional litigation and statutory matters involving national security, civil liberties, and racial justice

Benefits

• Generous paid time-off policy
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage
• Parental leave
• Gender affirming care & fertility treatment
• 401k plan and employer match
• Annual professional development funds
• Internal professional development programs and workshops

About the company

The ACLU has worked for over 100 years to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.