ACLU- Supervising Attorney

Supervising Attorney

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) seeks applicants with at least eight years of experience for a full time supervising attorney position to supervise and grow the legal department’s federal litigation practice with a focus on the rights of immigrants. This position is funded for three years, with the possibility for future extension. The ideal candidate will have experience leading federal civil rights litigation.

This role is a meaningful opportunity to be part of an organization making profound differences in the lives of people across New Jersey through integrated advocacy focused on immigrants’ rights, criminal law reform, democracy and voting rights, and other civil rights and civil liberties issues. The expectation is that the person hired for this position initially will spend a substantial proportion of their time supporting immigrants’ rights litigation in federal court, including supervising attorneys focused on immigrants’ rights.

The attorney will also have responsibilities for cases in other teams, and the focus of their work may shift as the changing needs of the Legal Department may require.

This position will be supervised by the Legal Director and will be based in Newark with a hybrid work schedule where we work in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

For more than 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities.

We are committed to repairing and transforming spaces where constitutional promises have not been delivered.

The supervising attorney will join a 15+ person legal team that engages in litigation and a wide range of advocacy practices to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and that works collaboratively with policy and communications colleagues to maximize the ACLU-NJ’s impact. All attorneys on the legal team are responsible for identifying possible litigation and advocacy; conducting factual and legal research;

evaluating legal theory and strategy; identifying, interviewing, and counseling clients and witnesses; writing demand letters; drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs; conducting discovery; working with experts; presenting oral arguments; negotiating settlements; handling appeals; and writing amicus briefs.

The focus of this position will be engaging in and supervising the development and execution of federal litigation and other legal advocacy projects. The supervising attorney will:

• Investigate, develop, and litigate impact cases focused on advancing and protecting civil liberties and rights at all stages in federal and state courts.

• Lead the legal team’s federal litigation strategies across issue areas, with a focus on supporting the immigrants’ rights litigation practice.

• Serve as a project manager for federal immigrants’ rights litigation and work closely with department leaders on strategic decisions regarding priorities and capacity.

• Work closely with colleagues in Policy, Communications, and Development departments to promote change through legislative initiatives, advocacy with government officials, and public education.

• Build and strengthen organizational relationships and communications with allied organizations, including representing the ACLU-NJ in bar associations and providing technical assistance to attorneys representing the communities we serve.

• Supervise legal staff members, fellows, interns, and pro bono attorneys and help develop staff’s professional development.

• Contribute to a collaborative culture that centers racial justice, inclusion, and participation.

• Ensure compliance with ACLU-NJ policies, regulations, and quality standards.

Supervising attorneys are expected to have at least eight years of litigation experience (including clerkships). While no one person will have all of the qualities listed below, successful…