ACLU SoCal
Overview
Join to apply for the
Staff Attorney
role at
ACLU SoCal
Base pay range
$106,352.00/yr - $136,990.00/yr
Location and travel requirements are described below.
Location Bakersfield preferred, but Los Angeles, Riverside, or Orange County 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.
About ACLU SoCal Founded in 1923, ACLU SoCal has been at the forefront of many major efforts to protect civil liberties, civil rights, and equal justice in California. Principled and nonpartisan, ACLU SoCal has offices in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire (Riverside), and Kern County (Bakersfield). ACLU SoCal tackles a vast array of issues, including police practices, criminal justice, First Amendment rights, voting rights, gender equity, reproductive justice, LGBTQ rights, immigrants’ rights, education equity, and economic justice.
Position overview The ACLU Foundation of Southern California (“ACLU SoCal”) 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 also provide technical assistance to community groups, support movement building, and develop advocacy campaigns to protect the rights of people impacted by the immigration system. The Attorney will help to develop and litigate (or, if Senior, build and lead) state and federal cases; create, implement, and participate in innovative advocacy and campaigns; engage in public education; provide technical assistance on immigration-related issues to coalitions, community partners, government officials, and government bodies.
The Attorney will advocate on the full range of immigrants’ rights issues on which the ACLU SoCal engages in Kern County. Litigation, advocacy, and public education campaigns might include: addressing unlawful ICE and local law enforcement practices; reducing immigration detention and addressing detention conditions; improving indigent criminal defense of noncitizens; working to build a strong social safety net and protections for low-wage immigrant workers; and enhancing transparency, accountability, and responsiveness from elected officials’ offices.
The Staff Attorney will be part of the dedicated staff of the ACLU SoCal’s Kern office and a member of the ACLU SoCal’s Immigrants’ Rights Team, as well as the California statewide Immigrants’ Rights teams. The Staff Attorney will also work with other attorneys, policy advocates and organizers from other ACLU SoCal Projects as needed. When intersectional issues arise, the Staff Attorney will work collaboratively with the Activist Engagement and Development team and Communications team on campaigns.
The Attorney will be supervised by a Senior Staff Attorney with the Immigrants’ Rights Team within the ACLU SoCal Advocacy Department.
Travel throughout the Southern California region and occasional trips to Sacramento may be required.
RACIAL EQUITY COMPETENCIES Understanding and Applying Racial Equity
Demonstrate commitment to building or deepening understanding of racial equity
Core terms and concepts such as structural racism, white privilege, and anti-Blackness
The role that racial inequity has played and continues to play in our society
How race impacts supervisory relationships, team dynamics, and organizational culture
Working for Racial Equity
Assess structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions within the context of their job responsibilities; race/ethnicity, intersection of race/ethnicity, gender, identity, and/or sexual orientation
Adhere to organization’s racial equity policies and procedures, including those that relate to hiring, retention, and promotion
Identify and disrupt ways in which bias plays out in work and/or team.
QUALIFICATIONS The ACLU SoCal anticipates hiring an attorney with approxima tely
8-15 years of experience for this position and will consider all applicants with approximately that level of experience with a demonstrated commitment to civil and human rights, immigrants’ rights, racial justice, and strong advocacy and litigation skills. The ideal candidate will be a hard-working leader with a proven record of accomplishments working with, advocating with, and/or organizing with legal-system-involved and legal-system-impacted individuals and other marginalized populations.
Required
Excellent research, writing, analytic, and speaking skills
Ability to develop and litigate impact cases
Ability to work in diverse coalitions and develop and implement advocacy campaigns
Demonstrated ability to participate in, create, and sustain inclusive and engaging spaces for all
Demonstrated ability to lead projects, build strong relationships and work well in collaboration with others
A deep commitment to the cause of civil liberties and civil rights, including policing issues
Travel within Southern California, as well as occasionally to other parts of the state
Extremely strong project and time management skills, including a high level of organization, attention to detail and follow-through, while balancing and prioritizing multiple activities and responsibilities
Willingness to work occasional weekend and evening hours, as needed
Ability to supervise interns, or, if Senior, other attorneys
Admitted to practice law in the state of California or willingness to promptly take and pass the California bar exam
Familiarity working in the area of immigrants’ rights, civil rights, and/or social justice issues in Southern California. People with personal experience with the criminal legal system, including people who are formerly incarcerated or have a close family experience with incarceration, are encouraged to apply for this position
A demonstrated commitment and track record of doing intersectional advocacy
Experience working effectively with and building coalitions
Experience planning and facilitating workshops, trainings, meetings, and community events
Familiarity with Kern County, the Central Valley, or similar communities
Spanish language fluency
The salary range for this position starts at $106,352 annually and is based on year of law school graduation. Attorneys with more than 10 years of litigation experience may be eligible for higher compensation based on year of law school graduation.
Benefits include medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff members and their eligible dependents; life and long-term, short-term disability insurance; 401(k) plan with employer match; ample vacation and sick leave and twenty-two paid holidays.
The ACLU of Southern California is committed to developing a culture of diversity, equity, respect, and inclusion and to strive to maintain a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve. The ACLU SoCal is an equal opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable law.
The ACLU SoCal is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail hrsuppport@aclusocal.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Legal
Industries
Non-profit Organization Management
Legal Services
Civic and Social Organizations
The ACLU SoCal is an equal opportunity employer. Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at ACLU SoCal by 2x.
We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Staff Attorney
role at
ACLU SoCal
Base pay range
$106,352.00/yr - $136,990.00/yr
Location and travel requirements are described below.
Location Bakersfield preferred, but Los Angeles, Riverside, or Orange County 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.
About ACLU SoCal Founded in 1923, ACLU SoCal has been at the forefront of many major efforts to protect civil liberties, civil rights, and equal justice in California. Principled and nonpartisan, ACLU SoCal has offices in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire (Riverside), and Kern County (Bakersfield). ACLU SoCal tackles a vast array of issues, including police practices, criminal justice, First Amendment rights, voting rights, gender equity, reproductive justice, LGBTQ rights, immigrants’ rights, education equity, and economic justice.
Position overview The ACLU Foundation of Southern California (“ACLU SoCal”) 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 also provide technical assistance to community groups, support movement building, and develop advocacy campaigns to protect the rights of people impacted by the immigration system. The Attorney will help to develop and litigate (or, if Senior, build and lead) state and federal cases; create, implement, and participate in innovative advocacy and campaigns; engage in public education; provide technical assistance on immigration-related issues to coalitions, community partners, government officials, and government bodies.
The Attorney will advocate on the full range of immigrants’ rights issues on which the ACLU SoCal engages in Kern County. Litigation, advocacy, and public education campaigns might include: addressing unlawful ICE and local law enforcement practices; reducing immigration detention and addressing detention conditions; improving indigent criminal defense of noncitizens; working to build a strong social safety net and protections for low-wage immigrant workers; and enhancing transparency, accountability, and responsiveness from elected officials’ offices.
The Staff Attorney will be part of the dedicated staff of the ACLU SoCal’s Kern office and a member of the ACLU SoCal’s Immigrants’ Rights Team, as well as the California statewide Immigrants’ Rights teams. The Staff Attorney will also work with other attorneys, policy advocates and organizers from other ACLU SoCal Projects as needed. When intersectional issues arise, the Staff Attorney will work collaboratively with the Activist Engagement and Development team and Communications team on campaigns.
The Attorney will be supervised by a Senior Staff Attorney with the Immigrants’ Rights Team within the ACLU SoCal Advocacy Department.
Travel throughout the Southern California region and occasional trips to Sacramento may be required.
RACIAL EQUITY COMPETENCIES Understanding and Applying Racial Equity
Demonstrate commitment to building or deepening understanding of racial equity
Core terms and concepts such as structural racism, white privilege, and anti-Blackness
The role that racial inequity has played and continues to play in our society
How race impacts supervisory relationships, team dynamics, and organizational culture
Working for Racial Equity
Assess structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions within the context of their job responsibilities; race/ethnicity, intersection of race/ethnicity, gender, identity, and/or sexual orientation
Adhere to organization’s racial equity policies and procedures, including those that relate to hiring, retention, and promotion
Identify and disrupt ways in which bias plays out in work and/or team.
QUALIFICATIONS The ACLU SoCal anticipates hiring an attorney with approxima tely
8-15 years of experience for this position and will consider all applicants with approximately that level of experience with a demonstrated commitment to civil and human rights, immigrants’ rights, racial justice, and strong advocacy and litigation skills. The ideal candidate will be a hard-working leader with a proven record of accomplishments working with, advocating with, and/or organizing with legal-system-involved and legal-system-impacted individuals and other marginalized populations.
Required
Excellent research, writing, analytic, and speaking skills
Ability to develop and litigate impact cases
Ability to work in diverse coalitions and develop and implement advocacy campaigns
Demonstrated ability to participate in, create, and sustain inclusive and engaging spaces for all
Demonstrated ability to lead projects, build strong relationships and work well in collaboration with others
A deep commitment to the cause of civil liberties and civil rights, including policing issues
Travel within Southern California, as well as occasionally to other parts of the state
Extremely strong project and time management skills, including a high level of organization, attention to detail and follow-through, while balancing and prioritizing multiple activities and responsibilities
Willingness to work occasional weekend and evening hours, as needed
Ability to supervise interns, or, if Senior, other attorneys
Admitted to practice law in the state of California or willingness to promptly take and pass the California bar exam
Familiarity working in the area of immigrants’ rights, civil rights, and/or social justice issues in Southern California. People with personal experience with the criminal legal system, including people who are formerly incarcerated or have a close family experience with incarceration, are encouraged to apply for this position
A demonstrated commitment and track record of doing intersectional advocacy
Experience working effectively with and building coalitions
Experience planning and facilitating workshops, trainings, meetings, and community events
Familiarity with Kern County, the Central Valley, or similar communities
Spanish language fluency
The salary range for this position starts at $106,352 annually and is based on year of law school graduation. Attorneys with more than 10 years of litigation experience may be eligible for higher compensation based on year of law school graduation.
Benefits include medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff members and their eligible dependents; life and long-term, short-term disability insurance; 401(k) plan with employer match; ample vacation and sick leave and twenty-two paid holidays.
The ACLU of Southern California is committed to developing a culture of diversity, equity, respect, and inclusion and to strive to maintain a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve. The ACLU SoCal is an equal opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable law.
The ACLU SoCal is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail hrsuppport@aclusocal.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Legal
Industries
Non-profit Organization Management
Legal Services
Civic and Social Organizations
The ACLU SoCal is an equal opportunity employer. Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at ACLU SoCal by 2x.
We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr