ACLU
We the people dare to create a more perfect union.
Civil rights • Freedom of speech • Immigrants' rights • Racial justice • Criminal justice system reform
201 - 500
National Legal Director
May 15
🏢 In-office - Manhattan
ACLU
We the people dare to create a more perfect union.
Civil rights • Freedom of speech • Immigrants' rights • Racial justice • Criminal justice system reform
201 - 500
Description
• The National Legal Director, reporting to the Executive Director (Anthony Romero) and serving on the ACLU’s Senior Staff as one of its executive leaders, will play a critical role contributing to the organization’s forward-looking strategy to address and protect the aforementioned issues, while directly leading its litigation efforts. Directly supervising 150 litigators in the national office and providing substantive leadership to another 400 litigators in state affiliates as well as managing co-counsel relationships with 100 cooperating law firms, the National Legal Director directly oversees the ACLU’s U.S. Supreme Court docket and provides leadership for the national office’s litigation in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. This senior leader relies on and partners with seasoned and talented Deputy Legal Directors who oversee the dockets of their respective issue areas.
Requirements
• Litigation Expertise: this individual must possess superlative legal credentials, bringing significant litigation experience, as well as the ability to issue-spot and proactively develop a litigation strategy that advances and defends individual rights and fundamental freedoms; ideally, this would include a track record at the federal level, along with insights into and experience supporting state-level issues • Supreme Court Insights: given the lead role this National Legal Director will play regarding ACLU cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Legal Director must be a respected, tested legal expert with significant experience preparing and litigating cases before the Supreme Court. In addition, given the ACLU’s investment in the State Supreme Court Initiative, the Legal Director should also have an understanding of state-level landscapes • Setting & Delivering Upon a Strategic Vision: building upon unparalleled legal acumen and interpersonal skills, the National Legal Director must demonstrate outstanding judgment and critical thinking skills, with examples of developing and executing comprehensive legal strategies that support an organization’s mission and desired outcomes; the ability to assimilate and balance many different views and interests of various constituent groups is critical • People & Departmental Leadership: a track record effectively running a diverse, high-performing team and/or organization, with an inclusive philosophy and outcomes orientation, is critical; given the ACLU’s nature, this must include being savvy in both direct and indirect people leadership, plus the ability to work effectively with political advocacy, affiliate support, communications and development teams • Mission & Values Alignment: embodying unimpeachable reputation as someone who embodies the ACLU’s ideals, including a commitment to representing “unpopular causes” and speakers with whom the ACLU disagrees when civil liberties are threatened; this individual must represent the organization well externally in all venues, leveraging a persuasive interpersonal style and compelling logic
Benefits
• 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
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