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

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel in the National Security 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. This is a two-year term-limited position.  

The National Security Project fights for people and communities harmed by the government in the name of national security, particularly people of color and other marginalized communities who are disproportionately targeted. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, the Project strives to ensure that people are able to participate fully in civic life and are free from discrimination, unwarranted suspicion and surveillance, unlawful force and detention, and the injustices and stigma that result from these abuses of national security policy.  Recognizing the danger of expansive claims of state power, the Project advocates for a robust system of checks and balances, and policies that comply with the Constitution, civil liberties, and human rights. 

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

Reporting to the Project Director, the Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel will conduct strategic impact litigation and advocacy on priority issues of the Project. 

• Engage in litigation through: legal research; fact development; working with clients and witnesses; drafting pleadings, briefs, and legal memoranda; discovery and motion practice; and conducting oral arguments in the trial and appellate courts 
• Identify and develop new litigation and other advocacy projects by conducting factual, legal, and strategic analysis, and devising relevant theories and materials 
• Analyze legislation for potential litigation 
• Serve as a resource for ACLU legislative and policy work and advancing ACLU policy goals through public education, organizing, and participating in coalitions 
• Collaborate with staff across the organization, including in other projects within the ACLU’s Legal Department, Communications, Affiliate Support, National Political Advocacy Department, and state affiliates to advance Project priorities 
• Engage in public speaking, including at conferences and with the media 
• Work with and advise ACLU state affiliates and partner organizations 
• Develop relationships with other advocates, lawyers, academics, and potential clients to further Project priorities 
• Travel as required for litigation, conferences, and case and strategy 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

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a U.S. law school is required, as is active Bar membership in New York 
• A minimum of two years of complex civil litigation experience in federal courts  
• Familiarity with constitutional litigation and statutory matters involving national security, civil liberties, and racial justice is preferred; commitment to these issues is essential 
• Excellent legal research and writing skills  
• Demonstrated ability to engage in complex legal analysis and fact investigation in impact litigation and policy advocacy settings 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate legal concepts and arguments clearly and persuasively in written and verbal formats is essential 
• Proven track record of project management and organizational skills, ability to work independently, maintain attention to detail, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines effectively 
• Ability to foster and contribute to a collaborative team environment is essential 

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.