American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Georgia – Staff Attorney

[Kia Dolby]

12/18/2019 Staff Attorney | ACLU of Georgia
https://www.acluga.org/en/jobs/staff-attorney 1/5
ACLU of Georgia
DECEMBER 18, 2019
Position Overview
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Georgia (ACLUFGA)
seeks to hire a full-time, experienced Staff Attorney to work out
of our office in Atlanta. ACLUF-GA is the state affiliate of the national
American Civil Liberties Union. Our mission is to preserve and
expand the individual rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, the
Georgia Constitution, and related federal and state civil rights
laws. The Georgia affiliate has approximately 20,000 members
statewide.
The Staff Attorney works under the Legal Director’s supervision and
in close collaboration with the legal department, law student interns,
volunteer attorneys who are co-counsel on ACLU of Georgia cases,
and attorneys from the National ACLU office. Just as important, the
Staff Attorney works closely with staff from the communications
department in a fast-paced environment that addresses headlinemaking
issues through litigation, advocacy and community education.
The Staff Attorney must be prepared to litigate a variety of civil
rights and civil liberties issues, potentially with a predominant focus
on voter rights. The Staff Attorney must be able and willing—with
minimal guidance and supervision—to research and learn complex
legal issues and quickly put together lawsuits oftentimes on short
notice in response to late-breaking events. The successful Staff
Attorney will move fluidly from the courtroom to the community and
will be able to work with diverse allies and coalitions to achieve our
ambitious goals.
STAFF ATTORNEY
12/18/2019 Staff Attorney | ACLU of Georgia
https://www.acluga.org/en/jobs/staff-attorney 2/5
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1. Investigate, develop, and litigate civil rights and civil liberties
cases in federal and state courts. This includes conducting factual
and legal research, leading litigation teams with multiple cocounsel,
interviewing clients and potential witnesses, writing
demand letters, drafting pleadings and briefs, conducting
discovery, arguing motions, trying cases in court, handling appeals
and amicus briefs, and negotiating settlements.
2. Communicate with government attorneys or other government
officials in attempts to resolve civil rights and civil liberties issues
in an amicable and practical manner without resorting to
litigation.
3. Occasionally provide legal research and analysis on legislative
proposals and public education materials.
4. Work with the ACLU of Georgia communications department to
give media interviews explaining the ACLU of Georgia’s positions
and legal actions.
5. Give panel and other presentations to the community explaining
the ACLU of Georgia’s positions and legal actions.
6. Recruit and supervise legal interns (together with other Staff
Attorneys).
7. Perform paralegal and administrative duties or ensure that cocounsel
can perform paralegal and administrative duties, to
support the Staff Attorney’s own cases.
Qualifications
1. J.D. degree and at least five years of civil litigation experience
including experience in filing lawsuits, overseeing or participating
in the discovery process, taking depositions, and drafting multiple
12/18/2019 Staff Attorney | ACLU of Georgia
https://www.acluga.org/en/jobs/staff-attorney 3/5
briefs including at the motion to dismiss and/or motion for
summary judgment stage(s).
2. Ability to respond quickly to late-breaking events, master new
areas of law in a short amount of time, and otherwise work in a
fast-paced environment.
3. Membership in good standing with the Georgia Bar or eligibility
for admission on motion to the Georgia Bar. We will not accept
applicants who must take the bar exam to be admitted to the
Georgia Bar.
4. Ability to take risks and develop creative approaches to litigation
or legal arguments regardless of whether they have been
previously attempted.
5. Ability to work efficiently and be self-sufficient.
6. Meticulous attention to factual and legal detail.
7. Experience in working with historically marginalized or oppressed
communities of different cultures and backgrounds.
8. Willingness to receive and respond to constructive criticism.
9. Ability to work effectively, sensitively, and collaboratively with
diverse staff, coalitions, and community groups. Must have a
mature understanding of how structural racism, sexism, and
prejudice against all kinds of marginalized communities pervade
our society, sometimes among the very communities that fight for
social justice.
10. Commitment to publicly support and advocate for the civil rights
and civil liberties positions adopted by the ACLUF-GA, regardless
of any personal beliefs to the contrary.
11. Willingness to occasionally travel, work evenings, weekends, and
holidays.
12. Preferred but not required:
12/18/2019 Staff Attorney | ACLU of Georgia
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Clerkship experience
Experience with drafting, filing, and arguing motions for
preliminary injunction / temporary restraining order with minimal
to no supervision
Oral argument experience
Fluency in Spanish
13. Other duties may be assigned as needed.
Compensation
The ACLU Foundation of Georgia offers a comprehensive
compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience
and within parameters of the ACLUF-GA’s compensation scale.
Excellent benefits include paid vacation, sick time and holidays;
medical, vision and dental insurance; life and long-term disability
insurance; and 401(k) Defined Contribution Retirement
To Apply
Applications should include a cover letter, resume, relevant legal
writing sample (no more than 10 pages), and list of at least three
professional references to jobs@acluga.org (mailto:jobs@acluga.org). To
facilitate our review, your emails should have the subject line: “[Your
last name] Staff Attorney Application.” We will review applications on
a rolling basis until the position is filled.
This job announcement provides a general but not comprehensive list
of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not
represent a contract of employment. The ACLUF-GA reserves the
right to change the description and/or posting without advance notice.
The ACLU Foundation of Georgia is an equal opportunity / fair
chance employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive
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culture. The ACLUF-GA encourages applications from all qualified
individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual
orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital
status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or record of arrest or
conviction. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need
accommodations in the application process to contact us at
info@acluga.org (mailto:info@acluga.org).

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