Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel, National Prison Project

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel in the National Prison Project of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, CA, or 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. 

The National Prison Project works to ensure that conditions in prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers, and immigration detention facilities comply with the Constitution, domestic law, and international human rights principles. The Project has successfully litigated on behalf of incarcerated people across the country, and is the only organization litigating conditions of confinement cases nationwide. Our priorities include reducing overcrowding, improving health care, eliminating violence and maltreatment, and increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, and other places of detention. We also work to reverse the policies that have given the United States the highest incarceration rate in the world and led to extreme over-representation of people of color in the incarcerated population.  

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

Reporting to the Deputy Project Director, the Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel will contribute to all aspects of the National Prison Project’s litigation and non-litigation work.  

• Litigate in federal and state courts, including appellate courts, throughout the country   
• Carry a substantial caseload in federal and state court, leading cases and working closely with other staff attorneys and local counsel   
• Conduct legal research and write legal memoranda   
• Analyze legislation for potential litigation   
• Draft pleadings and briefs, engage in discovery and motion practice, and conduct evidentiary hearings and oral arguments  
• Provide technical assistance and expert legal advice to local ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys, and others who seek assistance from the Project  
• Conduct policy advocacy on the rights of incarcerated people and criminal justice issues  
• Develop new cases, identify and work with potential plaintiffs and witnesses  
• Engage in public speaking to a variety of audiences on a broad range of incarcerated people’s rights, criminal justice, and civil liberties issues  
• Travel as required for litigation, case management, conferences, and client development   
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned 

• 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

• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school   
• Significant complex federal litigation experience
• Appropriate bar membership permitting practice where the attorney is based, or willingness to waive into relevant state or D.C. bar 
• A demonstrated ability to work independently as well as within a team.   
• Ability to foster and contribute to a collaborative team environment is essential  
• Excellent legal research and writing skills  
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex legal analytical work  
• Demonstrated ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively  
• Self-motivated, diligent and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure  

• Familiarity with issues related to conditions of confinement  
• Previous experience working in public interest law and advocacy 

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: $96,069 - $120,009
• 3-5 years since law school graduation: $134,414 - $158,579
• 6-10 years since law school graduation: $165,839 - $187,087
• 11-15 years since law school graduation: $190,585 - $201,403
• 16-20 years since law school graduation: $203,304 - $208,540
• 21-25 years since law school graduation: $209,595 - $213,890
• 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $214,920 - $219,104

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

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

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 complete the Accommodation Request Form

If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.