Description
The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada (ACLUNV) seeks applicants for a Staff Attorney position in Las Vegas. The Staff Attorney will work with the ACLUNV’s legal team to effectively coordinate the organization’s statewide legal program under the direction of the Legal Director, and may from time to time be involved in non-litigation advocacy and lobbying. The ACLUNV is Nevada’s largest and most active organization devoted to the protection and advancement of civil rights and civil liberties and one of the state’s most effective public interest nonprofits. The organization works on a broad range of civil rights and civil liberties issues, including but not limited to free speech, election protection, drug law reform, women’s issues, prisoners’ rights, immigrant rights, the rights of the homeless, criminal justice reform, and LGBT rights.
To learn more about the work of the ACLUNV and the civil liberties and civil rights principles we uphold, please visit www.aclunv.org.
The Staff Attorney’s responsibilities will include: (1) assisting with or working as counsel in a variety of civil liberties litigation by performing legal research, conducting discovery, and drafting pleadings, motions and briefs; (2) engaging in non-litigation legal advocacy, such as writing demand letters to governmental agencies; and (3) investigating intake, coordinating responses and helping develop possible cases, better enabling the organization to advance its agenda in Nevada. Staff Attorney duties may also include community outreach, coalition building, and writing and publishing reports. The Staff Attorney must be able to successfully interact with public officials, the news media, general public, and the staff and board of the ACLUNV in a productive, collegial, results driven approach.
Responsibilities include:
-- Review and investigate complaints received through the ACLUNV intake system as well as referrals from other agencies and attorneys;
-- Draft pre-litigation memoranda, reports and other internal documents;
-- Present cases to the Legal Committee for evaluation and authorization of litigation;
-- Research civil liberties questions, and prepare legal memoranda and demand letters;
-- Secure the services of and expand the pool of cooperating attorneys for litigation the ACLUNV undertakes;
-- Monitor litigation being handled by cooperating attorneys and provide back-up assistance as needed;
-- Participate directly in litigation in selected cases; either as co-counsel with cooperating attorneys or as lead counsel when necessary;
-- Obtain and supervise the assistance of legal interns, law students, and other legal volunteers;
-- Prepare necessary dockets and reports for the Legal Director, Legal Committee, and the Executive Director;
-- Coordinate with ACLUNV Project Directors and Legislative Team to progress our larger agenda;
-- Develop and maintain relationships with legal staff at the national ACLU, its projects and other affiliates;
-- Participate in national ACLU legal conferences and maintain the requisite CLE requirements;
-- Provide assistance and recommendations to the Legal Director; ACLUNV Project Directors; private attorneys, the Executive Director, and others who seek assistance;
-- Research and draft materials for public education, engage in public speaking, and respond to press inquiries.
At the request of the Legal Director, the Staff Attorney will also be required to:
-- Work with the Development Director and participate in fundraising efforts;
-- Work with the Communications Director to engage in public speaking and articulate ACLUNV views to the public and the media on a broad range of topics;
-- Work with the Communications Director to write press releases, op-ed pieces, newsletter articles; appearand speak at press conferences and respond to press inquiries;
-- Travel to attend local, statewide, or national meetings, and travel for the purposes of litigation.
Qualifications- Required
-- A deep and demonstrated commitment to civil liberties and civil rights, and strong support for the goals of the American Civil Liberties Union;
-- Ability to self-start and to work independently under pressure;
-- Ability to juggle workload and competing tasks;
-- Excellent writing and analytical skills;
-- Strong public speaking and advocacy skills;
-- Ability to develop and implement non-litigation strategies and tactics;
-- Ability to work professionally, cooperatively and collegially on wide-ranging projects with lawyers, otherstaff, and diverse individuals, organizations, and coalitions in the community as well as between ACLUNV offices;
-- J.D. from an ABA accredited law school;
-- Willingness to work outside of standard office hours and to travel overnight as needed.
-- Membership in the Nevada Bar, or willingness to sit for next Nevada bar
Qualifications- Preferred
-- Clerkship and/or litigation experience highly desirable;
-- Ability to speak Spanish a plus.
Compensation
Salary commensurate with experience, including health, life, disability, retirement, and other benefits. Bar dues, liability insurance and CLE expenses provided by ACLUNV.
Application
All applications are confidential. Interested candidates should submit on the following page: (1) letter describing interest in the position; (2) resume; (3) a legal writing sample, not more than 10 pages; and (4) references. Please upload both the writing sample and resume together as one PDF on the next page . If you are unable to upload the documents, please e-mail your application to aclunv@aclunv.org, with the subject: Staff Attorney Position. No phone calls please.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
The ACLU of Nevada is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
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