Job Description

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney in the Racial Justice Program (RJP) of the ACLUs National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The Racial Justice Program (RJP) is part of the ACLUs Trone Center for Justice and Equality. The Trone Center works to combat racial discrimination; to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair, and free of racial bias; to advocate for humane and constitutional conditions of confinement; and to abolish the death penalty as a legitimate form of punishment. The Trone Center for Justice and Equality also includes the Criminal Law Reform Project, Capital Punishment Project, and the National Prison Project.

Often working with the ACLU's 53 affiliates and chapters nationwide, RJP uses litigation, legislative advocacy and public education to challenge government and private sector attacks on educational, public health, housing, and employment equity initiatives. We also challenge a range of discriminatory police and criminal legal system practices that unfairly disadvantage communities of color, and work to ensure robust civil rights enforcement in the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Reporting to the Director, Racial Justice Program , the Staff Attorney will be responsible for developing and litigating racial justice cases in state and federal courts.

• Litigate complex and sometimes fast-paced civil rights cases in federal and state courts and at trial and appellate levels
• Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs
• Participate in discovery and trial practice
• Develop new cases; identify and work with potential plaintiffs and expert and fact witnesses
• Analyze legislation to assist advocacy staff including to identify legal concerns
• Develop collaborative partnerships with other colleagues, advocates, community groups, relevant coalitions, and other partners
• Engage in public speaking, including to the media, at conferences and other speaking engagements
• Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials
• Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

• J.D. degree
• If not currently admitted to the New York Bar, candidate must be admitted to the bar of another state and agree to become admitted to the New York Bar within one year of hire
• Experience drafting complaints and briefs and taking depositions
• Engaged in complex discovery, negotiations, courtroom advocacy
• Experience with client-centered advocacy
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice
• Experience developing advocacy and education materials including white papers, fact sheets, reports

The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on year of law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details, based on individual circumstances)

• 0-2 years since law school graduation: $92,374-$115,393
• 3-5 years since law school graduation: $129,244-$152,480
• 6-10 years since law school graduation: $159,461- $179,891
• 11-15 years since law school graduation: $183,255-$193,657
• 16-20 years since law school graduation: $195,485-$200,519
• 21-25 years since law school graduation: $201,534-$205,663
• 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $206,654- $210,677

The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY where are National Offices are headquartered. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

For details on our pay structure, please visit:

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether its ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether its ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether were in the courts or in the office, we believe We the People means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage 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, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The 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, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

The ACLU makes every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions.

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

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