Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel, Women's Rights Project (Term-Limited)

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the term-limited, full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel in the Women’s Rights Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

Since its founding by Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1972, the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project has been a trailblazer in fighting for gender equity under law. We engage in systemic legal reform to ensure that everyone has the freedom to live, work, and learn free from stereotypes, harassment, and violence based on sex. Recent WRP work includes securing emergency relief to allow families to continue to access Head Start; fighting the mass eviction crisis and other unfair housing practices that disproportionately lock out women, particularly Black women, from housing opportunities; and challenging employment rules that penalize workers for their pregnancies or push them out of the paid workforce altogether. Doing gender justice work as part of the broad civil liberties and civil rights agenda of the ACLU reflects the reality that women are part of other social change movements and that we must work together if we are to achieve a just society for all.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Project Director or Deputy Project Director, the Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel will be responsible for creating and implementing multi-pronged strategies using litigation, legislative and policy advocacy, and public education to further the ACLU’s strategic goals. This is a two-year term-limited position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received by January 31, 2026.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Litigation in federal and state courts, including writing pleadings and briefs, conducting discovery and motion practice, handling hearings and trials, and arguing appeals
• Working with ACLU political advocacy and state affiliate staff on bills in state legislatures and in Congress
• Policy advocacy to effect changes in state and federal administrative agencies
• Engaging in community outreach and public speaking, including representing ACLU positions to the media and the public generally
• Working closely with legal and non-legal program staff, particularly legislative, communications, advocacy, fundraising, and support professionals
• Developing strong relationships with other public interest lawyers and ACLU volunteer lawyers
• Traveling as required for litigation, legislative and policy advocacy, conferences, and public speaking
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. degree and admission to practice in one state is required. If the candidate is not already admitted to practice in New York, admission to the New York Bar is required within one year of hire
• Demonstrated capacity to perform complex legal analytical work
• Excellent research skills
• Demonstrated ability to write and to speak clearly and persuasively
• Applicants should be self-starters, be diligent, and have the proven ability to work with a wide range of people and to perform in a dynamic environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with constitutional issues is preferred
• Familiarity with gender equity and other civil liberties issues is preferred

COMPENSATION

The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on year of law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details, based on individual circumstances)

• 0-2 years since law school graduation: $92,374-$115,393
• 3-5 years since law school graduation: $129,244-$152,480
• 6-10 years since law school graduation: $159,461- $179,891
• 11-15 years since law school graduation: $183,255-$193,657
• 16-20 years since law school graduation: $195,485-$200,519
• 21-25 years since law school graduation: $201,534-$205,663
• 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $206,654- $210,677

The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY where are National Offices are headquartered.  Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.  

For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly 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, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.