Staff Attorney Responsibilities
Participation in ACLU-WA’s race equity work. This may include utilizing ACLU-WA race equity tools, adopting ACLU-WA race equity practices, serving on the Race Equity Team or subcommittees, etc.
The staff attorney will be responsible for investigating, filing, and litigating through trial civil liberties and civil rights cases in both federal and state courts. This includes legal research, investigative work, identifying and signing up named plaintiffs, complaint drafting, discovery and motion practice, and handling trials and appeals, as well as participating in work on amicus briefs. The staff attorney will be responsible for maintaining an active docket of their own cases, typically with assistance from outside cooperating attorneys and a senior staff attorney, as well as helping to supervise interns and fellows in the department as applicable and needed.
The staff attorney will also engage in advocacy, coordinate with the various policy-focused attorneys and other staff in the office, provide legal analysis to advance other ACLU policy work, and conduct community outreach as needed. Along with other staff members, the staff attorney will represent the ACLU publicly, speaking to the media and others, as assigned. Travel, as well as some work on nights and weekends, may be necessary. Along with all employees, the staff attorney is expected to help maintain a positive, respectful, welcoming, and professional work environment for employees and volunteers. Senior Staff Attorney Responsibilities In addition to the above primary responsibilities, the senior staff attorney may also be asked to assist in the supervision and management of cases brought by other attorneys inside and outside the office, the drafting and review of internal and external department reports, and other non-litigation tasks essential for the smooth running of the Legal Department as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS Staff Attorney Qualifications At least five (5) years of strong litigation experience. Previous experience such as Plaintiffs’ side work, constitutional law litigation, previous trial experience, and experience litigating in Washington is a plus. Must have ability to build, file and litigate cases independently and collaboratively; excellent problem-solving skills; ability to juggle multiple on-going projects and exercise good judgment under stressful situations; and ability to affirmatively challenge civil rights violations. Page 4 of 5 Must also have superior writing, research and verbal skills in presenting both to lawyers and to the non-lawyer public; leadership and organizational skills in order to encourage volunteer lawyers and work cooperatively in coalitions on complicated cases; the ability to take initiative, think strategically, take responsibility and share credit. Must have an awareness of, and willingness to engage in, the difficult and transformative work of challenging systems of oppression, institutional and structural racism, and implicit bias. Must have ability to work with and have work driven or directed by communities impacted by systems of oppression; established relationships with Washington communities preferred. Must be a member of the Washington State Bar (or willing to take the next bar examination or be admitted by motion). Senior Staff Attorney Qualifications In addition to the staff attorney qualifications, the senior staff attorney position requires at least ten (10) years of significant civil litigation experience, with demonstrated ability to develop and litigate complex litigation and/or class actions through trial. Plaintiffs’ side work and/or previous experience in constitutional law litigation are strongly preferred, as is experience supervising.
WORK ENVIRONMENT The ACLU-WA’s staff of 40+ employees and numerous volunteers generally work in a standard office setting in downtown Seattle between the hours of 9am and 5pm. The physical demands and work environment described below represent those required and encountered by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • Ability to type on a keyboard for long periods of time. • Ability to sit or stand for extended periods. • Ability to travel locally/regionally/across the state as needed. • Ability to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays. • Ability to periodically work long and extended hours. • Ability to view a computer screen for long periods of time. This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice. This position is “exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS The ACLU of WA is dedicated to centering equity in all aspects of the organization and, as such, has adopted a salary scale for measuring how to best compensate its employees. The salary for the Staff Attorney position will be no less than $83,435. The Senior Staff Attorney salary will be no less than $99,000. The minimum salary indicates the intention to accommodate those with varying years of relevant experience, as determined by the salary scale. Benefits include three weeks of vacation, thirteen sick days, fifteen holidays, fully paid employee medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, a generous retirement plan, and an ORCA card, the regional transportation pass. Please note there is only one available position: a Staff Attorney or a Senior Staff Attorney.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE To apply, email a cover letter, writing sample, and resume to “Hiring Team” at Jobs@acluwa.org and include in the subject line of the email: your last name and the position for which you would like to be considered, Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney. In your cover letter, please indicate where you learned of the posting. Applications will be accepted until May 27, 2021 at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website at www.acluwa.org/careers. The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation. The two corporations share the same overall mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington”.
