Staff Attorney

https://www.aclu-ky.org/en/jobs/staff-attorney

To apply, please send the following to admin@aclu-ky.org with the subject line of “Staff Attorney Position.” (All attachments should be in .doc or .pdf format): 

Letter of interest, which should include:

• How did you learn about the position? 
• What single civil rights/liberties issue do you feel is most pressing right now and why? 
• What identities, perspectives, and experiences would you bring to the ACLU of Kentucky that are important to you and/or relevant to our work? 

Resume 

Three professional references (relationship, email address, and phone numbers) 

The Staff Attorney works under the direction of the Legal Director to help develop and litigate cases at the trial and appellate level in state and federal courts on a wide variety of civil rights and civil liberties issues. While the staff attorney will be responsible for engaging in pro-active litigation around our strategic priority areas, they also will be expected to work closely with communications staff and policy advocates in support of the ACLU of Kentucky’s integrated advocacy model, which unites legal advocacy, policy advocacy, organizing, and base building for maximum impact. 

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Duties: 

• In concert with the Legal Director, strategically plan, proactively seek out, and creatively implement a strategic impact litigation program to advance key civil rights and civil liberties. 
• Work with fellow ACLU of Kentucky staff to integrate litigation with policy advocacy, communications and public education, and philanthropy. 
• Serve as co-counsel and work in conjunction with other staff within the ACLU of Kentucky, the national ACLU, other ACLU affiliates, and partner organizations to bring pro-active litigation around civil rights and other strategic priority issues. 
• Investigate, develop, and litigate collaboratively and independently —to include factual and legal research, discovery, motion practice, trials, appeals, and amicus briefs—high-impact cases at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts; maintain excellent and ethical client representation throughout. 
• Supervise and manage intake review and responses; follow-up with individuals who file complaints with the ACLU, including interviewing them, drafting affidavits or testimonies on their behalf, and conducting research to determine whether further action by the ACLU is warranted. 
• Engage in legal advocacy short of litigation, including: file Open Records Requests and litigate ORR disputes, where needed; and write demand letters. 
• Coordinate with Advocacy Team staff to implement integrated advocacy campaigns and high-impact strategies supporting ACLU priorities; provide legal analysis to advance ACLU-KY policy work; present testimony before legislative bodies and administrative agencies as requested by policy staff. 
• Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU of Kentucky, as assigned. 
• Provide technical support and strategic leadership to community groups, advocates, and organizers in Kentucky. 
• Conduct community outreach as needed, including public speaking, media interviews, outreach, and “know your rights” presentations, as well as writing op-eds, newsletter articles, and reports. 
• Develop and maintain relationships with partner organizations, public interest law firms, legal service agencies, and other members of the Kentucky legal community. 

Qualifications: 

• J.D. with at least three years of significant litigation experience; complex federal civil litigation experience is a plus. 
• Ability to develop and implement litigation strategies. 
• Basic understanding of electronic discovery preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience preparing for and/or participating in examining or defending witnesses or other oral advocacy. 
• A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values individuals and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance, and the ability to work with diverse individuals within the organization and broader community.
• A confident and professional work style and the ability to work independently as well as cooperatively, exhibiting patience, good will, and good judgment. 
• Licensed to practice law in Kentucky (or admission within one of year).