Senior Staff Attorney

Overview

The ACLU Foundation of Southern California seeks a Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney for the Immigrants' Rights project. The Attorney will develop and litigate immigration, state and federal cases and engage in legislative and policy advocacy on issues relating to immigrants' rights. The Attorney will provide technical assistance to community groups, support movement building, and develop advocacy campaigns to protect the rights of people impacted by the immigration system.

Location : Bakersfield preferred, but Los Angeles, Riverside, or Orange County are possible. This position requires the Attorney to spend significant time physically present in Kern County, and experience in / connections with the Kern community are preferred. Travel throughout the Southern California region and occasional trips to Sacramento may be required.

Department : Advocacy

Deadline : Open until filled.

Responsibilities

The Staff Attorney will be part of ACLU SoCal's Kern office and a member of the Immigrants' Rights Team, as well as the statewide Immigrants' Rights teams. Key responsibilities include :

• Conduct legal advocacy and investigate, develop and litigate high-impact cases at the trial and appellate level in federal, state, and immigration courts.
• Be part of litigation teams, serve as co-counsel, and collaborate with other staff within ACLU SoCal, other California affiliates, and partner organizations.
• Supervise the work of interns and more junior lawyers.
• Serve as a policy expert and advocate on state and local immigrants' rights issues in support of legislation and other campaigns.
• Develop advocacy content and devise engaging presentations; public speaking.
• Build, facilitate, and participate in coalitions; provide logistical support for meetings.
• Establish and cultivate collaborative relationships with community partners, coalitions, stakeholders, and ACLU members; provide technical support to community groups, advocates, and organizers in the region.
• Organize, lead, and participate in community education events and meetings; foster people-powered, collaborative projects with impacted communities.
• Organize and attend lobbying visits with state and local officials; provide testimony to administrative agencies and governing bodies; develop and cultivate relationships with lawmakers to advance organizing and policy advocacy objectives.
• Collaborate with other ACLU affiliates in California and the Sacramento legislative office, as well as nationwide ACLU colleagues.
• Occasional work evenings and weekends.

Racial Equity Competencies

Understanding and Applying Racial Equity; Working for Racial Equity. Includes commitment to understanding structural racism, implicit bias, and the impact of race on organizational culture; adherence to racial equity policies; and addressing racially disproportionate impacts in policies and decisions.

Qualifications

The ACLU SoCal anticipates hiring an attorney with approximately 8–15 years of experience and will consider applicants with demonstrated commitment to civil and human rights, immigrants' rights, and racial justice. The ideal candidate will have a track record working with legally-system-involved individuals, marginalized populations, and community-based organizations.

Required

Desired

Benefits

Salary starts at $106,352 annually, based on year of law school graduation; higher compensation may be available for attorneys with more than 10 years of litigation experience. Benefits include medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff and dependents; life and disability insurance; 401(k) with employer match; ample vacation and sick leave and twenty-two paid holidays.

To Apply

Upload your resume, cover letter, and writing sample to the ACLU SoCal Application Portal. The organization is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants of diverse backgrounds. Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities.

Contact : hrsuppport@aclusocal.org for accommodation requests during the application process.

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