Full-Time

Project Director or Senior Supervising Attorney

Posted on 6/27/2024

ACLU

ACLU

1,001-5,000 employees

Defends individual rights and civil liberties

Compensation Overview

$85k - $140k/yr

Senior

Chicago, IL, USA

Expected to work out of the Chicago office when conditions are safe.

Category
Legal
Risk & Compliance
Legal & Compliance
Requirements
  • Demonstrated interest in protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of LGBTQIA+ people.
  • Highly collaborative with the desire to consult and share information with colleagues and to respectfully resolve differences.
  • Strong legal aptitude, including thoughtful engagement with legal principles and precedents and facility applying law to facts.
  • Ability to synthesize multiple sources of facts and law quickly in response to emergent issues.
  • Ability and willingness to absorb and litigate new areas of law outside of one’s existing expertise.
  • Ability to produce exceptionally clear and persuasive written legal and non-legal documents.
  • Ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively in legal (court) and non-legal settings, and with a wide range of individuals and organizations.
  • Experience in federal or state court litigation and ability to develop and execute litigation and non-litigation advocacy strategies.
  • Ability to take initiative, multi-task, identify priorities amidst competing demands, and lead projects to completion with strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.
  • Ability to effectively manage attorneys to consistently produce high-quality results while developing knowledge, skills, and abilities.
  • Excellent track record of working with individuals and communities with diverse identities.
  • Consistently integrates deep understanding of key racial equity concepts into work projects and interactions by addressing structural implications and disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, class and other group identities within the context of job responsibilities and projects.
  • Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the office, using an approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, socio-economic circumstance, and other factors.
  • J.D. degree.
  • Admitted to practice in Illinois, can waive into the Illinois bar, or is willing to take the Illinois bar exam no later than summer of 2022.
  • Willingness and availability to travel throughout Illinois and, when needed, work beyond the normal workday and on weekends.
  • Highly qualified applicants will generally have at least 8 years of legal experience.
  • Subject mastery of core civil rights and civil liberties issues impacting LGBTQIA+ people.
  • Demonstrated ability to bring creative approaches to building and sustaining relationships with organizations in the field, partners, and funders.
  • Ability to build and develop an exceptional Project team, effectively conducting outreach, recruitment and hiring for diverse and excellent interns and staff.
Responsibilities
  • Investigate, develop and litigate high-impact cases at the trial and appellate level in federal and state courts.
  • Investigate, develop and advance, in coordination with other Departments, non-litigation strategies for advancing civil rights and civil liberties.
  • Conduct investigations, impact litigation, and/or non-legislative advocacy, either independently or in effective collaboration with the Legal Director or other members of the Legal Department.
  • Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with leaders and organizations in the field, community-based organizations, allies, stakeholders, communities affected by our work, and ACLU-IL members.
  • Serve as an ACLU-IL spokesperson with the media and external partners on identified issues. Assist with the development of funding proposals.
  • Assist with the development of funding proposals.
  • Effectively supervise, manage, and mentor early-career and mid-career attorneys with an eye toward their professional development.
  • Handle additional management and supervision responsibilities as assigned by the Legal Director.
  • Serve as an internal expert on LGBTQIA+ issues for the ACLU-IL and a go-to expert for partners in the field.
  • Develop strategies and priorities for the LGBTQ & HIV Project in consultation with the Legal Director and Project staff.
  • Complete tasks related to strategic planning, budgeting, and intern and staff recruitment and hiring as requested by Legal Director.
  • Represent the ACLU-IL in public, providing inspiration and building external engagement, including by speaking to community groups, donors, funders, and other audiences.
  • Develop relationships with organizations in the field, including community-based organizations.
  • Build a sense of shared purpose among team members and ensure collaboration with colleagues throughout Legal and the ACLU-IL.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) defends and preserves individual rights and liberties in the United States, focusing on issues like freedom of speech, privacy, and equality. It engages in legal advocacy, public education, and lobbying to protect civil rights, particularly for marginalized groups such as immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and racial minorities. The ACLU operates primarily on donations, grants, and membership fees, using these funds to support legal cases and advocacy campaigns. Unlike many organizations, the ACLU has a strong brand that helps attract financial support, and it also sells merchandise to further its mission. The goal of the ACLU is to ensure that everyone in the U.S. can enjoy their civil liberties without facing discrimination or government overreach.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Seed

Total Funding

$120K

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

1920

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Increased public support for privacy rights boosts ACLU's advocacy efforts.
  • Rising AI and surveillance tech challenges provide ACLU opportunities for legal leadership.
  • Growing activism in racial justice aligns with ACLU's mission, enhancing support and funding.

What critics are saying

  • Internal conflicts, like ACLU Florida settlement, may affect organizational direction.
  • High-profile lawsuits, such as against NEA, could attract political backlash.
  • New leadership under Cecillia Wang may lead to strategic shifts not aligning with stakeholders.

What makes ACLU unique

  • ACLU has a century-long history of defending civil liberties in the U.S.
  • It serves diverse clients, including marginalized groups facing discrimination and government overreach.
  • ACLU's funding model includes donations, grants, and merchandise sales to sustain operations.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Vacation

Parental Leave

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Professional Development Budget

Company News

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