ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
Advancing Justice Staff Attorney
ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties, San Diego, California, United States, 92189
Overview
The ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLUF-SDIC) seeks an Advancing Justice Staff Attorney to join the Advancing Justice Issue Team. The attorney will help design, coordinate, and implement strategic litigation and integrated advocacy addressing police practices, expanding protections against police power and other components of the criminal legal system. This role is for a self-starter who likes to develop and implement strategy and is comfortable with management responsibilities. The ACLUF-SDIC is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) civil liberties and civil rights organization. Working with the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLU-SDIC) and the 501(c)(4) affiliate, the organization collaborates with community organizations and groups across California and the binational border region to defend and advance civil rights and liberties. Deciding to apply for any position is an investment of your time and energy. To learn more about us and our work, please review the materials linked in this posting. Position Summary
The Advancing Justice Staff Attorney is responsible for investigating, analyzing, and addressing issues in the criminal legal system in San Diego & Imperial Counties that may be caused by violations of legal and policy protections and/or prevented by improvements in those protections. Working within the affiliate’s Advancing Justice Issue Team and in collaboration with the statewide ACLU Police Practices and Criminal Justice teams, the attorney will devise and implement strategies to address problems through legal advocacy and litigation, policy reform and implementation, community education, and strategic communications. The Advancing Justice Staff Attorney will be in the Advocacy and Legal Department and supervised by the Advocacy and Legal Director with the Managing Legal Director providing supervision on litigation matters. Responsibilities
The ACLU SDIC’s “integrated advocacy” model unites legal advocacy, policy advocacy, organizing, communications strategies and base building for maximum impact. In keeping with that approach, the Staff Attorney will work on cases, advocacy projects, public education, and campaigns. The attorney’s responsibilities will be the following: Work with the Advancing Justice Issue Team, Managing Legal Director, and impacted communities to identify, research, develop, and pursue legal and policy initiatives consistent with affiliate priorities developed through the Advancing Justice Issue Team. Provide legal and policy expertise on issues related to the criminal legal system, especially police practices, including by: Researching, drafting, or editing legal advocacy letters, amicus briefs, legislation, regulatory comments, reports, policy briefs, and coalition sign-on letters. Participating in legislative briefings and meetings with federal, state, and local government officials; contributing legal analysis and support to designated legal, policy, organizing, communications, or development work of the affiliate as appropriate; and Conducting legal and policy research to support the Advancing Justice Issue Team. Investigate, monitor, and advocate for local and federal compliance with existing legal and policy requirements, and identify and develop strategies and novel legal claims to challenge police practices under state and federal law, investigating practices of police departments and other law enforcement agencies for potential litigation and/or advocacy work, and identifying opportunities to leverage impact litigation to catalyze policy efforts in local communities. Research and maintain up-to-date awareness of current tactics and trends related to the criminal legal system, especially as it relates to policing, and communicate those tactics and trends as appropriate to the Advancing Justice Issue Team and appropriate affiliate staff as well as across the ACLU state and national organizational structure. Participate in strategic litigation and direct service representation as necessary, consistent with priorities developed by the Advancing Justice Issue Team and under the supervision of the Managing Legal Director. Provide technical support and strategic leadership and support to community partners, allies, stakeholders, and coalitions in the region, and build and nurture relationships by participating in regular meetings with community leaders and members and pursuing shared advocacy goals with them. Draft content for “Know Your” materials, op-eds, blog posts, and other media regarding the criminal legal system, and participate in community outreach, education, and public speaking on issues impacting the Advancing Justice issue area. Supervise investigators, interns or fellows as needed, and support summer intern hiring. Qualifications
Commitment to racial justice and civil liberties principles. Current attorney with proven litigation experience in state and/or federal court. Applicants must have excellent research, writing, analytic, interpersonal, communication, and time-management skills, as well as patience, emotional intelligence and cultural competency. Applicants must be able to occasionally work evenings and weekends, and travel as needed inside or outside the U.S. Strong candidates will have demonstrated experience using advocacy, community engagement, and litigation as part of a creative response to civil rights violations in affected communities; relevant experience working on issues related to the criminal legal system; and be a flexible team player but also comfortable working independently and taking initiative. Must be admitted to the California Bar. Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity, views about differences, and the ability to learn and build on varying cultural and community norms. A complex understanding of racial justice and the urgency of confronting institutional racism and inequity. Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. Proven track record of working across lines of race, immigration status, ethnicity, language, class, gender and other identities and experiences including record of arrest or conviction. Courage and impeccable integrity. Physical Requirements
While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to exchange accurate information, detect/identify documents and the information contained in them, move between areas in and out of the office to complete their role. The employee may need to move various equipment including computer to their work location. Working Arrangements
The ACLUF-SDIC is headquartered in San Diego, California, though employees have hybrid schedules that allow for remote work. Travel Requirements
Must be able to travel for court hearings and conferences as needed. Compensation
The salary range for this position is $79,000 to $118,000 and the anticipated hiring range is: $85,000 - $90,000. Salary will be determined by a variety of factors, including the knowledge, skills, and experience of the individual selected. Base pay range: $85,000.00/yr - $90,000.00/yr Benefits
Excellent benefits include four weeks paid vacation; 17 office holidays; 100% medical, vision and dental insurance for staff members and their families; life and long-term disability insurance; gender affirming care, flexible spending accounts, EAP support, and 401(k) plan with employer match and immediate vesting of the employer match. Application Process
Please submit a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position as detailed in this announcement, a current resume, writing sample, and names and contact information of three professional references (including at least one supervisor). Electronic applications are preferred. To submit your application, please submit via the application portal or follow the instructions in this posting to apply. The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, veterans, and people with arrest records and/or convictions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLUF-SDIC) seeks an Advancing Justice Staff Attorney to join the Advancing Justice Issue Team. The attorney will help design, coordinate, and implement strategic litigation and integrated advocacy addressing police practices, expanding protections against police power and other components of the criminal legal system. This role is for a self-starter who likes to develop and implement strategy and is comfortable with management responsibilities. The ACLUF-SDIC is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) civil liberties and civil rights organization. Working with the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties (ACLU-SDIC) and the 501(c)(4) affiliate, the organization collaborates with community organizations and groups across California and the binational border region to defend and advance civil rights and liberties. Deciding to apply for any position is an investment of your time and energy. To learn more about us and our work, please review the materials linked in this posting. Position Summary
The Advancing Justice Staff Attorney is responsible for investigating, analyzing, and addressing issues in the criminal legal system in San Diego & Imperial Counties that may be caused by violations of legal and policy protections and/or prevented by improvements in those protections. Working within the affiliate’s Advancing Justice Issue Team and in collaboration with the statewide ACLU Police Practices and Criminal Justice teams, the attorney will devise and implement strategies to address problems through legal advocacy and litigation, policy reform and implementation, community education, and strategic communications. The Advancing Justice Staff Attorney will be in the Advocacy and Legal Department and supervised by the Advocacy and Legal Director with the Managing Legal Director providing supervision on litigation matters. Responsibilities
The ACLU SDIC’s “integrated advocacy” model unites legal advocacy, policy advocacy, organizing, communications strategies and base building for maximum impact. In keeping with that approach, the Staff Attorney will work on cases, advocacy projects, public education, and campaigns. The attorney’s responsibilities will be the following: Work with the Advancing Justice Issue Team, Managing Legal Director, and impacted communities to identify, research, develop, and pursue legal and policy initiatives consistent with affiliate priorities developed through the Advancing Justice Issue Team. Provide legal and policy expertise on issues related to the criminal legal system, especially police practices, including by: Researching, drafting, or editing legal advocacy letters, amicus briefs, legislation, regulatory comments, reports, policy briefs, and coalition sign-on letters. Participating in legislative briefings and meetings with federal, state, and local government officials; contributing legal analysis and support to designated legal, policy, organizing, communications, or development work of the affiliate as appropriate; and Conducting legal and policy research to support the Advancing Justice Issue Team. Investigate, monitor, and advocate for local and federal compliance with existing legal and policy requirements, and identify and develop strategies and novel legal claims to challenge police practices under state and federal law, investigating practices of police departments and other law enforcement agencies for potential litigation and/or advocacy work, and identifying opportunities to leverage impact litigation to catalyze policy efforts in local communities. Research and maintain up-to-date awareness of current tactics and trends related to the criminal legal system, especially as it relates to policing, and communicate those tactics and trends as appropriate to the Advancing Justice Issue Team and appropriate affiliate staff as well as across the ACLU state and national organizational structure. Participate in strategic litigation and direct service representation as necessary, consistent with priorities developed by the Advancing Justice Issue Team and under the supervision of the Managing Legal Director. Provide technical support and strategic leadership and support to community partners, allies, stakeholders, and coalitions in the region, and build and nurture relationships by participating in regular meetings with community leaders and members and pursuing shared advocacy goals with them. Draft content for “Know Your” materials, op-eds, blog posts, and other media regarding the criminal legal system, and participate in community outreach, education, and public speaking on issues impacting the Advancing Justice issue area. Supervise investigators, interns or fellows as needed, and support summer intern hiring. Qualifications
Commitment to racial justice and civil liberties principles. Current attorney with proven litigation experience in state and/or federal court. Applicants must have excellent research, writing, analytic, interpersonal, communication, and time-management skills, as well as patience, emotional intelligence and cultural competency. Applicants must be able to occasionally work evenings and weekends, and travel as needed inside or outside the U.S. Strong candidates will have demonstrated experience using advocacy, community engagement, and litigation as part of a creative response to civil rights violations in affected communities; relevant experience working on issues related to the criminal legal system; and be a flexible team player but also comfortable working independently and taking initiative. Must be admitted to the California Bar. Demonstrated awareness of one’s own cultural identity, views about differences, and the ability to learn and build on varying cultural and community norms. A complex understanding of racial justice and the urgency of confronting institutional racism and inequity. Commitment to equity and inclusion as organizational practice and culture. Proven track record of working across lines of race, immigration status, ethnicity, language, class, gender and other identities and experiences including record of arrest or conviction. Courage and impeccable integrity. Physical Requirements
While performing the responsibilities of the job, the employee is required to exchange accurate information, detect/identify documents and the information contained in them, move between areas in and out of the office to complete their role. The employee may need to move various equipment including computer to their work location. Working Arrangements
The ACLUF-SDIC is headquartered in San Diego, California, though employees have hybrid schedules that allow for remote work. Travel Requirements
Must be able to travel for court hearings and conferences as needed. Compensation
The salary range for this position is $79,000 to $118,000 and the anticipated hiring range is: $85,000 - $90,000. Salary will be determined by a variety of factors, including the knowledge, skills, and experience of the individual selected. Base pay range: $85,000.00/yr - $90,000.00/yr Benefits
Excellent benefits include four weeks paid vacation; 17 office holidays; 100% medical, vision and dental insurance for staff members and their families; life and long-term disability insurance; gender affirming care, flexible spending accounts, EAP support, and 401(k) plan with employer match and immediate vesting of the employer match. Application Process
Please submit a cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position as detailed in this announcement, a current resume, writing sample, and names and contact information of three professional references (including at least one supervisor). Electronic applications are preferred. To submit your application, please submit via the application portal or follow the instructions in this posting to apply. The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, veterans, and people with arrest records and/or convictions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr