Staff Attorney

The Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois (ACLU-IL) seeks a Staff Attorney to engage in litigation and, in collaboration with other Departments, non-litigation advocacy to promote transformational change across our substantive program areas as described below.

About the Job

The ACLU of Illinois works to advance civil liberties throughout Illinois. Our work includes fighting institutional and structural racism that undermines civil rights and civil liberties, including in the criminal and civil legal systems and immigration; protecting democracy by advancing First Amendment rights, government transparency, and voting rights; promoting the rights of women and people in the LGBTQIA community, including the right to reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, and gender-affirming care; and fighting to enforce the rights of people in government care, including children in foster care and people in prisons, jails, and juvenile detention facilities.

Job Description

The Staff Attorney is a highly collaborative team player who works in tandem with colleagues across our organization to advance our goals. The Staff Attorney litigates cases in state and federal courts. In addition, they work closely with colleagues in our Advocacy, Communications, and Philanthropy & Engagement Departments to promote change through legislative initiatives, advocacy with government officials, and public education.

A core priority of our work is to use systemic impact litigation and advocacy strategies to advance civil rights and civil liberties. The person hired for this position will be assigned cases on a broad range of issues to meet the needs of the ACLU-IL and its clients.  

Responsibilities

The job responsibilities of a Staff Attorney include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Conduct effective and efficient legal research and prepare sound written analysis on novel and/or complex legal issues in emergency and non-emergency situations.

• Produce polished and near-final quality written work (e.g., discovery, pleadings, briefs, and correspondence in litigation and non-litigation settings) with minimal supervision.

• Handle appearances at administrative proceedings and in court at the trial and appellate level in federal and state courts.

• Assist in the development of high-impact cases, including researching systemic practices, obtaining and analyzing public records, working with coalition partners, and learning from directly impacted people.

• Investigate, develop, and advance, in coordination with other Departments, non-litigation strategies for advancing civil rights and civil liberties such as policy reform and legislative campaigns, public education, and fundraising initiatives. 

• Develop and maintain trusting, respectful, and collaborative relationships with clients, impacted individuals, issue experts, community-based and allied organizations, stakeholders, coalitions, communities affected by our work, and ACLU-IL members.

• Serve as an ACLU-IL spokesperson with the media and external partners on identified issues.

• Assist with other organizational responsibilities, such as by serving as a member of the team that recruits and supervises legal interns.

• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned to advance the work of the Legal Department and the ACLU-IL.

Qualifications

This is a full-time position. All applicants must:

• Have a J.D. and be admitted to practice in Illinois, be eligible to waive into the Illinois bar, or be willing to take the Illinois bar exam no later than February 2026.

• Have at least 3-5 years of litigation experience in state court, federal court, and/or in state or federal administrative proceedings. Experience should include a broad range of responsibilities, such as drafting pleadings, motions, and related memoranda of law; preparing and responding to discovery; and expert discovery and development of expert opinions. Experience in appellate briefing and conducting evidentiary proceedings is highly valued but not essential.

• Have demonstrated the ability to speak, persuasively, and effectively with individuals and organizations from a broad and diverse range of identities, interests, and backgrounds in non-legal and legal settings.

• Have demonstrated ability to take initiative, multi-task, identify priorities amidst competing demands, and complete projects with strong problem-solving skills.

• Have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to recognizing and valuing all individuals in the workplace and respecting differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, socio-economic circumstances, and other factors.

• Be willing and available to travel throughout Illinois and to work beyond the normal workday and /or on weekends when needed.

Salary and Benefits

Salary for a full-time hire will be in accordance with the ACLU-IL salary scale and commensurate with experience. As an example, the minimum annual salary for a full-time 2022 law school graduate with 3 years of legal experience is $71,000. For more experienced attorneys, the salary is higher depending on additional years of legal experience.

Benefits include 15 days of paid vacation (pro-rated for the first year). After the first year, staff will receive 20 vacation days on April 1st each year, which can be used until March 31st of the following year. 100% employer-paid medical, vision, and dental insurance for employees and eligible dependents, a 403(b)-retirement plan, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance.

The Staff Attorney is an exempt union position that is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers / United Auto Workers Local 2320. ACLU-IL staff are based in Chicago, IL, and are currently working on a hybrid in-office / remote work schedule. Staff members will be expected to work in our Chicago office on in-office days.

Job Application Statement

The ACLU-IL is an equal-opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, criminal record, or veteran status.

The ACLU-IL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance applying online, please email jobs@aclu-il.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

How to Apply

Please apply directly at our website:

Applicants should provide:

• A resume.

• A cover letter summarizing why you are interested in working with the ACLU-IL on efforts to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties.

• A legal writing sample that has not been substantially edited by others, such as a legal memorandum or a draft section of a legal brief.

Please submit your application at:

Applications are due by May 1, 2025, and will be considered on a rolling basis.