Immigrants’ Rights Staff or Senior Staff Attorney

3-8 yrs required

Full-time

No

# Immigrants’ Rights Staff or Senior Staff Attorney

## Job Overview
The ACLU of Arizona is seeking an experienced, passionate, and innovative Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney to investigate and litigate selected civil liberties and civil rights cases in Arizona state and federal courts. This position will be expected to spend 50% of their time on immigrants' rights and border justice litigation and legal advocacy, and Spanish language proficiency is required. The Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney will push forward our affirmative litigation agenda as well as engage in fast-moving, defensive battles against threats to civil rights and liberties in Arizona.

## Responsibilities
The Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney is responsible for maintaining an active docket of cases (typically in co-counsel teams including outside cooperating attorneys). Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- Investigating, developing, and litigating high-impact cases at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts
- Serving as co-counsel and working with ACLU of Arizona and other ACLU staff and partner organizations to bring pro-active litigation around strategic priority issues
- Following-up with individuals who file complaints with the ACLU of Arizona, including interviewing them, drafting affidavits or testimonies on their behalf, and conducting research to determine whether further action by the ACLU of Arizona is warranted
- Serving as a legal resource on civil rights and civil liberties issues in support of legislation and other ACLU of Arizona campaigns
- Engaging in public speaking, media interviews, outreach and "know your rights" presentations, as well as writing op-eds, newsletter articles, and reports as needed or assigned
- Providing technical support to community stakeholders and partners on civil rights and civil liberties issues
- Developing legal strategies with the ACLU of Arizona legal team to advance our litigation and advocacy efforts around strategic priority issues
- Participating in intra-organizational work, including strategic planning, internal meetings, and collaboration with other ACLU affiliates and the National

## Qualifications

This position is for a Staff Attorney or Senior Staff Attorney, commensurate with experience. Minimum qualifications for each position level are noted below. Individuals with more significant litigation experience are preferred and are strongly encouraged to apply.

- Staff Attorney: At least three years of civil or criminal litigation experience, including experience taking/defending depositions, participating in evidentiary hearings and trials, and experience managing complex discovery. Experience in federal courts strongly preferred.
- Senior Staff Attorney: At least eight years of civil or criminal litigation experience, including experience managing complex litigation and significant experience in all facets of litigation, including taking/defending depositions, participating in evidentiary hearings and trials, brief writing, and managing litigation teams. Experience in federal courts required.

Additional qualifications include:

- Spanish language proficiency required.
- Preference will be given to applicants who have civil litigation experience.
- This position will have a focus on litigation involving immigrants' rights and border justice. Background in immigration law and/or policy preferred but not required.
- . from an ABA accredited law school.
- Membership in the Arizona Bar or eligibility for admission on motion.
- Excellent research, writing, analytic and speaking skills.
- Demonstrated ability to independently develop and litigate impact cases.
- Demonstrated commitment to centering the voices and leadership of directly impacted people. Persons who have been formerly incarcerated or otherwise impacted by legal systems are encouraged to apply.
- A collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively with organizing, policy, and communications staff to achieve shared goals.
- Ability to analyze and articulate complex issues and concisely communicate them to a variety of audiences.
- Ability to keep organized in a fast-paced environment, to manage several projects simultaneously, and to adjust to frequently changing demands.
- Spanish language fluency is a plus but not required.
- Commitment to civil rights and civil liberties consistent with the mission and goals of the ACLU.
- 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.

## Salary and Benefits

Location: Arizona; Phoenix or Tucson preferred – Hybrid Work Environment
Starting Salary Range: $75,000-$100,000 DOE
Time off: Staff get 15 vacation days their first three years; 20 days after four years. We offer an additional 17 days off for holidays and personal days.
Benefits package: We cover 100% of health, vision, and dental insurance for employees. We provide life and disability insurance, as well as reimbursement of some out-of-pocket healthcare related expenses. Staff are reimbursed for cell phones and home internet if working from home.
401k Plan: We want you to be prepared for retirement! We match 100% of the first 1% of your salary deferred to your 401k, plus 50% of the next 5% of your salary contribution. And then, we contribute an additional 2% of your salary contribution each pay period.

## How to Apply

Email your resume, cover letter, two professional references, and a legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages to . Include “Immigration Senior Staff Attorney or Staff Attorney” in the subject line

15 vacation days their first three years; 20 days after four years, 100% of health, vision, and dental insurance for employees, life and disability insurance, reimbursement of some out-of-pocket healthcare related expenses, cell phones and home internet if working from home, 401k plan

Spanish (proficiency required)

Civil or Criminal Litigation, Legal Research, Writing, Analytic, Spanish Language Proficiency

J.D. from an ABA accredited law school

Email resume, cover letter, two professional references, and a legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages to

Qualification and Experience J.D. from an ABA accredited law school, Membership in the Arizona Bar or eligibility for admission on motion

Legal