Practice Area: Litigation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description:
Overview:
Based in Jackson, MS, the Staff Attorney reports directly to the Legal Director and ultimately to the Executive Director, and plays a key role in bolstering the ACLU-MS’s visibility across the state of Mississippi.
The Staff Attorney will assist in the development and execution of an assertive legal program that includes litigation, public education, and some legislative activity, reinforces the ACLU brand, and positions the organization as the premier constitutional rights and civil liberties organization in Mississippi. The Staff Attorney will work closely with peers within the organization and will serve as a legal team member on a variety of strategic initiatives to increase public awareness and appreciation of civil liberties, advocate for positive changes in the civil liberties landscape, and engage supporters in achieving our mission.
Our legal staff, consisting of a legal director, one staff attorney, and paralegal is expected to litigate complex federal and state cases raising civil liberties and civil rights issues, and engages in advocacy on a broad range of issues, including legislative work, the publication of reports, public speaking and media interviews. The office is collegial; the work is challenging, varied, and rewarding.
Responsibilities Include:
Creating multi-pronged strategies using litigation, public education, and legislative and policy advocacy to further the organization’s priority issues;
Conducting complex federal and state court civil liberties litigation, including all aspects of discovery, motion practice, briefs, trials, appellate work and amicus briefs;
Presenting cases to the Legal Director and the Executive Director for evaluation and authorization of further legal activity;
Participating directly in litigation of selected cases; either as co-counsel with cooperating attorneys or, when necessary, as lead counsel;
Expanding the pool of cooperating attorneys for litigation the ACLU undertakes;
Monitoring cooperating attorneys and providing back-up assistance as needed;
Assist in coordinating legal intake with the Legal Director and Paralegal and ensuring that intake is properly evaluated and processed;
Obtaining and supervising the assistance of legal interns, law students, and other legal volunteers;
Researching civil liberties questions, and preparing legal memoranda and demand letters;
Preparing necessary dockets and reports for the Legal Director and Executive Director;
Developing and maintaining relationships with the legal staff at the national ACLU, its projects and other affiliates;
Participating in national ACLU legal conferences and maintaining the requisite CLE requirements (at the ACLU of Mississippi’s expense).
At the direction of the Executive Director, the Staff Attorney will occasionally be required to:
Engage in public speaking and articulate ACLU views to the public and the media on a broad range of issues;
Write press releases, op-ed pieces, newsletter articles and appear and speak at press conferences;
Act as the organization’s counsel or co-counsel on corporate matters relevant to a not-for-profit organization;
Travel to attend local, statewide, or national meetings, and travel for litigation purposes. The position of staff Attorney requires a willingness to work beyond the 9-5 hours of the normal work day, including evening and weekend meetings and events. Work weeks in excess of 40 hours are anticipated to be common.
Requirements:
Qualifications:
A strong and demonstrated commitment to civil liberties and civil rights, particularly issues related to education, and support for the goals of the American Civil Liberties Union;
Two or more years of litigation experience and/or experience as a legislative lawyer or in crafting or implementing civil rights policy. Ability to analyze and articulate legal concepts and other complex issues and communicate them to a variety of audiences;
Ability to develop and implement non-litigation strategies;
Ability to litigate independently and under pressure;
Excellent writing and analytical skills;
Skills as an articulate public advocate (bilingual ability preferred);
Personal enthusiasm, optimism, and a sense of humor;
Flexibility for travel, including regular travel to assigned communities;
Ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers, other staff members, and with diverse community organizations and coalitions; and
Membership in the Mississippi State Bar (or must pass the next Mississippi Bar Examination).
How to Apply:
E-mail a letter of interest, resume, both a traditional writing and an online content sample to office@aclu-ms.org with a subject line of "Staff Attorney." Application materials may also be mailed to P.O. Box 2242, Jackson, MS 39225.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Details
American Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org
office@aclu-ms.org
P.O. Box 2242
Jackson, MS 39225
____________________________________________________________________Based in Jackson, MS, the Staff Attorney reports directly to the Legal Director and ultimately to the Executive Director, and plays a key role in bolstering the ACLU-MS’s visibility across the state of Mississippi.
The Staff Attorney will assist in the development and execution of an assertive legal program that includes litigation, public education, and some legislative activity, reinforces the ACLU brand, and positions the organization as the premier constitutional rights and civil liberties organization in Mississippi. The Staff Attorney will work closely with peers within the organization and will serve as a legal team member on a variety of strategic initiatives to increase public awareness and appreciation of civil liberties, advocate for positive changes in the civil liberties landscape, and engage supporters in achieving our mission.
Our legal staff, consisting of a legal director, one staff attorney, and paralegal is expected to litigate complex federal and state cases raising civil liberties and civil rights issues, and engages in advocacy on a broad range of issues, including legislative work, the publication of reports, public speaking and media interviews. The office is collegial; the work is challenging, varied, and rewarding.
Responsibilities Include:
Creating multi-pronged strategies using litigation, public education, and legislative and policy advocacy to further the organization’s priority issues;
Conducting complex federal and state court civil liberties litigation, including all aspects of discovery, motion practice, briefs, trials, appellate work and amicus briefs;
Presenting cases to the Legal Director and the Executive Director for evaluation and authorization of further legal activity;
Participating directly in litigation of selected cases; either as co-counsel with cooperating attorneys or, when necessary, as lead counsel;
Expanding the pool of cooperating attorneys for litigation the ACLU undertakes;
Monitoring cooperating attorneys and providing back-up assistance as needed;
Assist in coordinating legal intake with the Legal Director and Paralegal and ensuring that intake is properly evaluated and processed;
Obtaining and supervising the assistance of legal interns, law students, and other legal volunteers;
Researching civil liberties questions, and preparing legal memoranda and demand letters;
Preparing necessary dockets and reports for the Legal Director and Executive Director;
Developing and maintaining relationships with the legal staff at the national ACLU, its projects and other affiliates;
Participating in national ACLU legal conferences and maintaining the requisite CLE requirements (at the ACLU of Mississippi’s expense).
At the direction of the Executive Director, the Staff Attorney will occasionally be required to:
Engage in public speaking and articulate ACLU views to the public and the media on a broad range of issues;
Write press releases, op-ed pieces, newsletter articles and appear and speak at press conferences;
Act as the organization’s counsel or co-counsel on corporate matters relevant to a not-for-profit organization;
Travel to attend local, statewide, or national meetings, and travel for litigation purposes. The position of staff Attorney requires a willingness to work beyond the 9-5 hours of the normal work day, including evening and weekend meetings and events. Work weeks in excess of 40 hours are anticipated to be common.
Requirements:
Qualifications:
A strong and demonstrated commitment to civil liberties and civil rights, particularly issues related to education, and support for the goals of the American Civil Liberties Union;
Two or more years of litigation experience and/or experience as a legislative lawyer or in crafting or implementing civil rights policy. Ability to analyze and articulate legal concepts and other complex issues and communicate them to a variety of audiences;
Ability to develop and implement non-litigation strategies;
Ability to litigate independently and under pressure;
Excellent writing and analytical skills;
Skills as an articulate public advocate (bilingual ability preferred);
Personal enthusiasm, optimism, and a sense of humor;
Flexibility for travel, including regular travel to assigned communities;
Ability to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers, other staff members, and with diverse community organizations and coalitions; and
Membership in the Mississippi State Bar (or must pass the next Mississippi Bar Examination).
How to Apply:
E-mail a letter of interest, resume, both a traditional writing and an online content sample to office@aclu-ms.org with a subject line of "Staff Attorney." Application materials may also be mailed to P.O. Box 2242, Jackson, MS 39225.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Details
American Civil Liberties Union
http://www.aclu.org
office@aclu-ms.org
P.O. Box 2242
Jackson, MS 39225
Source: Firm Web Site
Recent Jobs of American Civil Liberties Union
Recent Jobs of Jackson
