Staff Attorney at ACLU - Affiliate Offices

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri Foundation, Inc. (ACLU-MO), seeks a passionate, dedicated, and creative lawyer with three or more years of civil litigation experience to fill a full-time Staff Attorney position.

Founded in 1920, the ACLU-MO is one of Missouri’s premier public advocacy organizations. The ACLU-MO, with offices in St. Louis and Kansas City, is committed to defending and expanding the constitutional rights and civil liberties guaranteed to all Missourians under the United States and Missouri Constitutions through an integrated advocacy approach, using strategic litigation, campaign and legislative advocacy, community engagement, and communications programs on a broad range of issues. We are in the midst of planned growth and increasing prominence in policy issues including racial equity, education equity, voting rights, equitable policing, reducing mass incarceration, threats to reproductive rights, prosecutorial accountability, LGBTQ+ equality, free speech, and protecting privacy in the digital age. The ACLU-MO is an IRS 501(c)(3) organization and works closely with the ACLU of Missouri, 501(c)(4) organization.

To learn more about our work as an affiliate and nationally, visit www.aclu-mo.org and www.aclu.org.

Position Description:

Under the leadership of the Deputy Director for Litigation, the Staff Attorney will further the ACLU-MO’s strategic litigation program. Duties will include legal research and developing and litigating a variety of impact civil liberties cases at the trial and appellate level in state and federal court. In addition, the Staff Attorney will support integrated advocacy work combining litigation, legislative advocacy, media advocacy, and public education on ACLU-MO priority campaigns.

Duties Include:

• Work in all stages of litigation, including research; discovery; drafting memoranda and briefs; law and motion practice; and court appearances.
• Identify constitutional rights and civil liberties issues subject to legal challenge and identify and work with potential plaintiffs and witnesses.
• Identify areas of interest for and draft amicus briefs.
• Work with outside attorneys, including attorneys from other organizations and volunteer cooperating counsel, and supervise student interns.
• Serve as a resource for ACLU-MO policy and campaigns work, advance priority campaign goals through public education, advocacy and media.
• Work on a small legal team with a large, varied caseload.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• J.D. required.
• Admission to Missouri Bar, or admission to another Bar with ability to obtain admission to the Missouri Bar by waiver or Bar examination within six months.
• Demonstrated commitment to constitutional, civil rights, and the ACLU’s mission.
• Substantive knowledge and understanding of constitutional law and civil liberties issues.
• Minimum three years’ civil litigation experience, including experience taking and defending depositions, participating in evidentiary and motion hearings, or oral argument and/or trial experience, with strong preference for judicial clerkship or significant federal court experience.
• Demonstrated skill at litigating independently, collaboratively, and under pressure.
• Excellent research, writing, oral advocacy, and analytical skills.
• Ability to engage in complex legal analysis and fact investigation in context of impact litigation.
• Excellent communication skills as to both legal and non-legal audiences.
• Self-motivated, able, and willing to manage an aggressive schedule, work beyond a typical 9-to-5 schedule when needed to meet case demands, and travel within the state as needed.
• Capacity to work on multiple time-sensitive projects effectively and efficiently with close attention to detail.
• A team player who inspires collaboration and functions decisively; flexible and well-organized.
• Experience working with diverse and often underserved communities, clients, and coalition and community partners.
• A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity and national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstance; and
• Ability to work in office and remotely based on a hybrid office model. Attorneys must be able to appear at hearings and trials remotely and in person throughout the State of Missouri.

Must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 as recommended by the CDC and must stay current with protections against COVID-19 recommended by the CDC. Proof of current vaccination status upon hire.

This job announcement provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment, and the description and/or posting may be changed at any time without advance notice.

Compensation and Terms:

ACLU-MO offers a generous benefits package which includes paid vacation and holidays; medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, and a 401(K)-retirement plan. Employees in this job classification are represented by the United Media Guild-CWA (UMG). The base salary for this position is $67,465 in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement. This is a full-time, exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

To Apply:

Please Submit:

2. A copy of your resume that lists relevant experience.
4. Three professional References.
6. A cover letter describing your qualifications, interest in the role with the ACLU of Missouri and answering the following question:
• What is your understanding of how you will apply diversity and inclusion principles in your work as an ACLU-MO staff attorney?
8. Two legal writing samples.

to: [email protected]. Please indicate “Staff Attorney” in the subject line of your email. Please, no phone calls.

Deadline:

Application materials will be reviewed as received and will be accepted until the position is filled. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by January 10, 2023.

ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction.

The ACLU undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to ensure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact: [email protected].

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