Junior Staff Attorney

Department: Legal
Reports to: Legal Director
Location: Hybrid (New Orleans Office); must reside in Louisiana
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Union Status: Bargaining Unit Position

About the Role

The ACLU of Louisiana seeks a mission-driven Junior Staff Attorney to play a leading role in advancing the affiliate’s civil rights and civil liberties litigation. This person will serve as a key member of the Legal Department and will work on complex impact litigation. This work will be performed collaboratively across all departments at the ACLU of Louisiana to achieve organizational goals.

Reporting to the Legal Director, the Junior Staff Attorney will litigate and co-counsel on cases in state and federal courts; supervise any interns, legal fellows or paralegals that form part of the organization; and help shape legal strategy that supports the affiliate’s integrated advocacy across issue areas. The successful candidate will bring exceptional litigation skills, sound judgment, and a demonstrated commitment to racial justice and equity, including a dedication to the core pillars of the organization (voting rights, policing, criminal legal reform, immigration, rapid response) and the current legal docket of the organization,

Key Responsibilities

Litigation and Legal Strategy

• Engage in factual and legal research, memo writing, brief writing, and motion practice as it relates to all phases of complex civil rights and civil liberties litigation in federal and state courts, including at the investigative stage, the discovery stage, trial, and appeal.
• Execute litigation strategies that advance the affiliate’s mission and respond to emerging threats to civil liberties.
• Handle status conferences, oral arguments, depositions, evidentiary hearings, and trials as requested and/or needed.
• Work collaboratively and flexibly with the ACLU of Louisiana’s legal team, cooperating counsel, co-counsel firms, and national ACLU partners on joint litigation efforts.
• Handle the preparation of amicus briefs, settlement negotiations, and appellate matters as requested and/or needed.

Program and Organizational Support

• Contribute as requested to internal strategic planning, helping to align litigation priorities with affiliate and national ACLU goals.
• Support as requested compliance and reporting obligations for grants, including contributing to reports and data tracking related to legal outcomes.
• Participate as requested in affiliate events and represent the Legal Department at meetings, conferences, and external engagements.
• Supervise and manage legal fellows, interns, and paralegals, including engaging in related interview processes as requested and/or as necessary.
• Attend multi-day monthly Know Your Rights trainings in the field at carceral facilities as requested
• Attend and staff virtual or in-person legal clinics as requested

Qualifications

Required

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Membership in good standing with the Louisiana Bar, or ability to obtain admission within one year of hire.
• Minimum of one year experience, federal clerkship experience preferred including exposure to and work on complex civil rights or constitutional litigation.
• Demonstrated excellence in legal research, analysis, writing, and oral advocacy.
• Due to the nature of litigation across Louisiana courts and in-state engagement with clients, partners, and impacted communities, this role requires residency in Louisiana.
• Strong understanding of constitutional law and civil liberties issues.
• Exceptional ability to manage multiple cases and competing deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to be flexible and pivot quickly as the needs of a legal case or the litigation docket change.
• Commitment to racial justice, equity, inclusion, and the mission of the ACLU.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups, including impacted communities, co-counsel, and coalition partners.
• High ethical standards, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Willingness to satisfy the needs of the litigation docket, which includes litigation in all courts across the state and as such, often requires evening and weekend work, and travel across the state.

Preferred

• Experience in nonprofit, civil rights, or public interest law.
• Federal court experience, including appellate practice.
• Experience working with external counsel or litigation teams.
• Familiarity with Louisiana law and local court practice.

Work Environment

• Hybrid work model based in the New Orleans office.
• Prolonged periods of sitting and computer use.
• Occasional evening or weekend work and travel within Louisiana may be required.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: Starting at $70,000; with final salary determined based on years of relevant legal experience prior to  predate hire.

The ACLU of Louisiana offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including generous paid time off, health insurance, a retirement plan with employer match, and professional development opportunities.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The ACLU of Louisiana is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, LGBTQIA individuals, people with disabilities, veterans, and individuals directly impacted by the criminal legal system.

Salary : $70,000