**APPLICATIONS CLOSED**
Overview of the ACLU of Connecticut:
The ACLU of Connecticut (ACLU-CT) defends, promotes, and expands the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Connecticut through litigation; community organizing and legislative advocacy; and civic education and engagement. We are an inclusive, nonpartisan, and statewide organization within the nationwide American Civil Liberties Union network, powered by our supporters, partners, staff, interns, cooperating attorneys, and our board of directors.
This is a critical time to join the ACLU. With enormous threats to civil rights arising in nearly every area of the ACLU’s work, we’ve seen a phenomenal outpouring of support from new members, donors, and volunteers who view the ACLU as the nation’s principal defender of fundamental freedoms and liberties. The ACLU of Connecticut is doing its part in the nationwide struggle to defend the Constitution while working to protect and advance civil rights and liberties here in Connecticut.
To learn more about the work of the ACLU, please visit www.acluct.org and www.aclu.org.
Position Overview:
The ACLU of Connecticut seeks a Staff Attorney to help litigate our cases, beginning on or about September 2, 2024. We are searching now so that candidates currently finishing law school or serving as law clerks may be considered.
As Staff Attorney with the ACLU of Connecticut, you will join a legal team committed to fighting the toughest civil liberties and civil rights cases to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. We envision a world in which the Constitution’s promises of liberty, justice, and equality are fully realized for all people from all walks of life. We fight for a more perfect union in which America protects the rights of vulnerable people who have not typically held the reins of political power. We seek to end mass incarceration, create police accountability, stop police brutality, achieve freedom for LGBTQ people, establish privacy protections in the digital age, ensure reproductive freedom, fights to dismantle institutional white supremacy and racism, and more. In our seven decades of existence, our legal team has ended the state’s ban on abortion coverage for women enrolled in the state Medicaid program, defended the rights of people illegally searched by police, protected the free speech rights of conscientious objectors, struck down discriminatory jury selection practices, and consistently fought for incarcerated people’s rights.
Primary Responsibilities/Essential Duties:
The Staff Attorney will:
- handle legal intake
- evaluate and investigate potential claims
- identify potential plaintiffs and defendants
- devise legal theory and strategy
- perform all aspects of legal research
- draft filings
- conduct depositions and engage in written discovery
- participate in and present oral arguments
- engage in non-litigation advocacy like public speaking and education
- work with community organizations
- meet with public officials
- give media interviews
- write blogs and articles
- work closely with the ACLU of Connecticut’s staff and volunteers
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will:
- possess a foundational commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and the ACLU’s mission
- be committed to fighting racism, and have a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance
- have demonstrated experience engaging and working with and/or on behalf of underrepresented communities.
- be licensed to practice law in Connecticut, or able to be so within six months of hire
- be able to work cooperatively on a variety of projects, with colleagues and diverse community organizations and coalitions
- have superior writing and analytical skills
- have the demonstrated ability to think strategically
- be able to work out of our Hartford office at least one, and sometimes more, days per week
Compensation and Benefits:
The position is full-time and will pay an annual salary of $72,500 - $77,500 depending on experience. The ACLU of Connecticut also offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package starting with four weeks paid vacation; 100%-employer premium paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, a supplemental wellness benefit; 401(k) Plan including up to 5.5% employer contribution; and 13 paid holidays. (The ACLU of Connecticut reserves the right to alter or eliminate its current employee benefit plans and programs). This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable Connecticut law.
Application Procedure:
We will accept applications until 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on March 1st, 2024, and begin considering them thereafter. For consideration, email the phrase “I’m in” with your resume attached in PDF format to search@acluct.org. To interrupt perpetuation of the existing power structure within the legal profession, our initial reviews of candidates will be anonymous: candidates’ identifying information (including schools attended) will be redacted and reviewers will not know who is in the applicant pool. At a later stage, candidates may be asked for additional information that will also be considered anonymously. At the final, interview stage of the search, candidates’ identities will be revealed to evaluators, and performance samples and references may be sought.
The ACLU of Connecticut is proud to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages immigrants, people of color, indigenous people, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, women, and formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted people to apply. We accept all applicants regardless of race, sex, gender identity, age, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction.
The ACLU of Connecticut undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that all persons – including but not limited to persons with disabilities – have full opportunities for employment in all positions. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to include this information in your cover letter, or to call 860-523-9146 to discuss your needs.
About the ACLU:
With affiliate offices in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam, the ACLU fights tirelessly in the courts, legislatures, and through community engagement to ensure that all individuals’ rights are protected.
The ACLU of Connecticut comprises three nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations: the ACLU of Connecticut, a 501(c)(4) organization which does legislative and organizing advocacy work; the ACLU Foundation of Connecticut, a 501(c)(3) which does litigation and public education work; and the ACLU of Connecticut Rise PAC, a 527 organization which builds the necessary relationships, public awareness, public narratives, and pressure felt by politicians in order to build the political power of people directly impacted by civil rights and liberties issues.
To learn more about the work of the ACLU, both in Connecticut and nationally, please visit www.acluct.org and www.aclu.org.
