The Senior Supervising Attorney is a staff position within the ACLU-WI's LegalDepartment. The Senior Supervising Attorney is a highly collaborative team playerwho works in tandem with colleagues across the organization to advance the goalsof the ACLU-WI. The Senior Supervising Attorney leads and litigates cases in stateand federal court. A core priority of the work is to use systemic impact litigation andadvocacy strategies to advance the rights of persons on issues related to First Amendment rights, criminal legal reform, LGBTQ+ rights and bodily autonomy, immigrant rights, and voting rights. The Senior Supervising Attorney will developsignificant subject matter expertise in one or more of these areas of work such thatthey are considered an expert in the field and are able to independently lead ourlegal work in those areas. The Senior Supervising Attorney will also work closelywith staff across the organization on the Policy, Communications, Legal, Organizing, and Development and Engagement teams, as well as coalition partnersand the ACLU National Office. This position is a full-time exempt position. The Senior Supervising Attorneyreports to the Legal Director. The position may be based anywhere in Wisconsin in ahybrid work environment (in-person and work from home), but will require regularin-person attendance at the Milwaukee office for mandatory in-office days. Work islikely to include some nights and weekends and occasional travel at the expense ofthe organization.
Senior Supervising Attorney Primary Responsibilities:
The general job responsibilities of a Senior Supervising Attorney include, but arenot limited to, the following:
- Investigate, develop, and lead high-impact cases at the trial and appellate levelin federal and state courts and in state or federal administrative proceedings;
- Investigate, develop, and advance, in coordination with other Departments, non-litigation strategies for advancing civil rights and civil liberties;
- Conduct investigations, lead impact litigation, and/or non-legislative advocacy, either independently or in collaboration with other members of the LegalDepartment;
- Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with our cooperatingcounsel, allied organizations, community-based organizations, stakeholders, members of communities affected by our work, and ACLU-WI members;
- Serve as an ACLU-WI spokesperson with the media and external partners onidentified issues;
- Effectively supervise, manage, and mentor early-career and mid-careerattorneys, Legal Department support staff, and law clerks, including assigningand overseeing day-to-day work and evaluating their work performance andprofessional development;
- Work closely as a partner with the Legal Director to improve internalprocedures and to develop overarching departmental strategies and goals inthe context of an organization-wide strategic plan;
- Work closely with and provide policy analysis and legal expertise to non-legalprogram staff at the ACLU of Wisconsin and ACLU National;
- Fulfill the duties of the Legal Director in the Legal Director's absence, asdirected;
- Oversee the process for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and managing newjunior legal staff, fellows, and interns, and take responsibility for managing theprofessional development of these junior staff members;
- Other administrative duties as assigned.
Experience & Qualifications:
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging as core values; A strong commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU, racial justice, dismantling white supremacy and incorporating a structural power analysisinto work;
- Knowledge and understanding of how power and oppression is manifested inmatters of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ability, citizenship and socio-economiccircumstances;
- Have a J.D. and be admitted to practice in Wisconsin or be eligible to waiveinto the Wisconsin bar;
- Have a minimum of 8 years of litigation experience in both state and federalcourts;
- Have demonstrated ability in conceiving impact litigation cases and litigatingthem to conclusion. Significant experience in conducting evidentiaryproceedings and handling expert discovery and witness presentation is anasset;
- Have excellent persuasive writing skills for court filings and forcommunications in legal and non-legal settings;
- Have demonstrated ability to speak persuasively and effectively withindividuals from a diverse range of identities, interests, and backgrounds innon-legal and legal settings;
- Have strong legal aptitude, including thoughtful engagement with novel andcomplex legal questions, and demonstrated ability to respond quickly andeffectively to emergent issues;
- Have a well-developed interest in a range of civil rights and civil libertiesissues and the ability to master areas of law outside of their currentexpertise;
- Be highly collaborative with the desire to consult and share information withcolleagues, and skills to respectfully resolve differences;
- Be able to tolerate a high degree of ambiguity and have the flexibilitynecessary to readjust strategy in an always changing legal and politicalenvironment;
- Have demonstrated ability to supervise attorneys to produce high-qualityresults and help less-experienced attorneys develop their skills;
- Have demonstrated practice of integrating key equity concepts into work andinterpersonal interactions by addressing structural implications anddisproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, class, and othergroup identities;
- Have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion withinthe workplace, using an approach that values all individuals and respectsdifferences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexualorientation, religion, ability, socio-economic circumstance, and other factors. The following qualifications are preferred but not required:
- Prior experience working with community groups and coalitions either asclients or as partners on projects relevant to the Mission of ACLU-WI;
- Prior experience in recruiting and managing relationships with Pro Bonocounsel from the private bar; Prior experience working in a non-profit legal environment; Fluency in a second language other than English.
Working Conditions:
Hybrid work requirements consisting of approximately a40-hour work week with work from home permitted when work responsibilityallows, prioritizing caregiving and work-life balance needs.
- Ability to work extended hours including nights and weekends when the jobdemands it, especially related to litigation and court-imposed deadlines; Ability to travel, as required; Ability to work at a computer for multiple hours a day; Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer; Visual acuity for extensive reading, preparing, and analyzing information, and viewing a computer terminal; Physical Requirements
- Stationary positioning: Must be able to remain in a stationary, seatedposition for 50 to 75% of the working period.
- Mobility: Ability to move about as needed in the office or at offsite venues. Occasionally may be required to ascend or descend from one level to another.
- Transporting: Must be able to lift and/or carry items weighing up to 10pounds frequently and up to 25 pounds occasionally.
- Communicating: The ability to communicate information and ideas soothers will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information inthese situations. Determine/Observe: The ability to observe details at close range. Operation of Machinery: Must be able to constantly operate a computerand other office productivity machinery, such as calculators, copy machines, computer, printers and other devices.
- Temperature: Typically works in a climate controlled, indoor environment. May occasionally work in other environments at offsite venues that wouldinclude some exposure to outdoor areas with variation in hot and coldtemperatures
Compensation:
Compensation is based on relevant experience and skills, butexpected to be no less than $100,000 annually for a candidate who meets the Required Qualifications, including years of experience. The organization providesemployees $60 per month for internet and cell phone allowance. Benefits includepaid vacation and sick leave, 12 weeks paid family medical / parental leave andoptional medical (includes one plan at no cost to the employee) dental and vision coverage, life insurance, short and long term disability insurance; and an optional 401(K) retirement fund with a stepped employer match.
How to Apply:
Email a single document of the requested documents tohr@aclu-wi.org. Please use '[YOUR NAME]- Senior Supervising Attorney' in thesubject line of the email. The requested items are the following: ● Cover letter explaining how you are qualified for this position and why you're
