Senior Staff Attorney

Senior Supervising Attorney - Job Description Organization and Opportunity Overview

The ACLU-WI is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan, private organization with 23,000 members. The ACLU-WI is widely recognized as a cutting-edge and leading advocate for civil rights and civil liberties in the state, and works closely with other state organizations that share compatible goals. Our mission:
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin fights to protect, defend, and expand civil rights and liberties – particularly for communities historically denied their rights – through nonpartisan advocacy, community education, litigation, and organizing in order to create a more just future. The ACLU of Wisconsin’s combined operating budget is approximately $4.5 million with headquarters in the City of Milwaukee.

The organization has a diverse staff of up to 30 individuals.

The Senior Supervising Attorney is a staff position within the ACLU-WI’s Legal Department. The Senior Supervising Attorney is a highly collaborative team player who works in tandem with colleagues across the organization to advance the goals of the ACLU-WI. The Senior Supervising Attorney leads and litigates cases in state and federal court. A core priority of the work is to use systemic impact litigation and advocacy strategies to advance the rights of persons on issues related to First Amendment rights, criminal legal reform, LGBTQ+ rights and bodily autonomy, immigrant rights, and voting rights.

The Senior Supervising Attorney will develop significant subject matter expertise in one or more of these areas of work such that they are considered an expert in the field and are able to independently lead our legal work in those areas. The Senior Supervising Attorney will also work closely with staff across the organization on the Policy, Communications, Legal, Organizing, and Development and Engagement teams, as well as coalition partners and the ACLU National Office.

This position is a full-time exempt position. The Senior Supervising Attorney reports to the Legal Director. The position may be based anywhere in Wisconsin in a hybrid work environment (in-person and work from home), but will require regular in-person attendance at the Milwaukee office for mandatory in-office days. Work is likely to include some nights and weekends and occasional travel at the expense of the organization.

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

• Investigate, develop, and lead high-impact cases at the trial and appellate level in federal and state courts and in state or federal administrative proceedings;
• Investigate, develop, and advance, in coordination with other Departments, non-litigation strategies for advancing civil rights and civil liberties;
• Conduct investigations, lead impact litigation, and/or non-legislative advocacy, either independently or in collaboration with other members of the Legal Department;
• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with our cooperating counsel, allied organizations, community-based organizations, stakeholders, members of communities affected by our work, and ACLU-WI members;
• Serve as an ACLU-WI spokesperson with the media and external partners on identified issues;
• Effectively supervise, manage, and mentor early-career and mid-career attorneys, Legal Department support staff, and law clerks, including assigning and overseeing day-to-day work and evaluating their work performance and professional development;
• Work closely as a partner with the Legal Director to improve internal procedures and to develop overarching departmental strategies and goals…