The Legal Director is a thought leader who will work collaboratively to develop and manage impact litigation challenging laws and policies that impact vulnerable Idahoans. The Legal Director works with our policy, organizing, and communications staff in addition to our Executive Director, national ACLU staff, coalition partners, and others to develop a strategic, smart, and innovative docket and advance advocacy efforts. The Legal Director will work with the ACLU of Idaho Legal Panel and assist with recruiting and working successfully with cooperating attorneys.   

The Legal Director manages a full and active docket of cases with co-counsel support from the national office and outside firms. The Legal Director also maintains their own small caseload to further organizational priorities, including, but not limited to LGBTQ equality, racial justice in education and policing, criminal legal system reform, reproductive rights, free speech, and immigrants’ rights. The Legal Director must demonstrate a strong commitment to racial equity and actively participate in work to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and incorporate a DEI lens to the legal department’s internal and external work.

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Boise that reports to the Executive Director. The successful hire must reside in Idaho before employment can begin. 

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

(1) Legal & Administrative (50%)

• Manage an ambitious impact litigation docket by coordinating and directing staff attorneys, law fellows, and co-counsel. 
• Lead attorney actively litigating (drafting, arguing) 1-2 cases. 
• Conduct factual and legal research, interview clients and potential witnesses, prepare memoranda, draft pleadings, briefs and correspondence, conduct discovery, including depositions, arguing motions.  
• Try cases in federal and state courts, handling appeals and negotiating settlements.  
• Recruit attorneys to file amicus briefs in cases of constitutional significance.  
• Recruit and work with ACLU volunteer attorneys.  
• Provide technical assistance and advice to attorneys and advocates on civil liberties issues. 
• Develop legal strategy with National ACLU. 

(2) Advocacy/Public Education (15%) 

• Collaborate with ACLU staff to implement integrated advocacy campaigns and high-impact strategies that use legal, communications, public education, legislative, and field organizing simultaneously. 
• Provide or assign legal research projects on legislative proposals and public education materials to other staff and volunteers within the Legal Department. 
• Ensure that strategic plans for the ACLU of Idaho legal program, as well as specific litigation and legal advocacy projects are in line with the organization’s strategic priorities. 
• Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU both with the press and as a public speaker. 

(3) Administration, Coordination and Support (25%)

• Ensure that all pleadings are filed timely and according to court rules and maintain case files. 
• Supervise all legal department staff, law students, interns, and volunteers. 
• Work with our Legal Panel and legal department staff to screen and develop promising civil liberties cases. 
• Develop and maintain relationships with legal staff at the National ACLU, its projects and other affiliates, and pro bono attorneys. 

(4) Provide Support to the Executive Director and other staff (10%)

• Ensure the Executive Director is adequately informed of work; prepare reports and provide support as needed. 
• Be willing to meet with individual donors to discuss the Legal Program. 
• Develop and conduct staff training sessions and workshops on issues related to the ACLU’s Legal Program. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• A J.D. with at least 5 years of litigation experience; preference will be given to applicants with demonstrated experience in constitutional or public interest law and/or federal court litigation. Extraordinary candidates with less experience may be considered. 
• Experience in being lead counsel on significant pieces of litigation (ideally from pre-suit through trial or decision on the merits and appeals). 
• Skilled and experienced in managing others in litigation including lawyers, paralegals, and other members of the legal team.  
• Patience, emotional intelligence, and cultural competency, including the ability to participate in, create, and sustain inclusive and engaging spaces for people with a wide range of races, ethnicities, language proficiencies, abilities, genders, ages, backgrounds, interests, skills, concerns, personalities, and geographies. 
• Demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize many concurrent tasks at once, manage a high-volume workload, pay extremely close attention to detail, adapt quickly to changing organizational priorities, and meet moving deadlines. 
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, problem-solve, multi-task, and work independently. 
• Exceptional legal research, writing, and analytical skills. 
• Ability to think creatively and to use non-litigation strategies to promote objectives, including building coalitions with ally organizations and public advocacy. 
• Ability to promote the legal program. 
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability and willingness to function as a member of the team. 
• Clear, strong, and proven commitment to racial justice, civil liberties, public interest work, and the mission of the ACLU of Idaho. 
• Ability to attend in-person meetings, hearings, and events on behalf of the legal department and the ACLU. 
• Valid driving privileges and willingness to travel across Idaho and occasionally to other places in the United States. 
• Current admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction at time of hiring. Admission to Idaho State Bar, U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit within six months of being hired. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Broad knowledge of constitutional, civil rights, and human rights law. 
• Proficiency in Spanish preferred. 
• Experience working with state and local policymaking processes. 

TO APPLY: 

(1) Compile the following into a single PDF file:

• A résumé. 
• A one- or two-page cover letter that identifies evidence of a clear, strong, and proven commitment to civil liberties and public interest work, and explains how your experience is applicable to the job responsibilities. 
• A legal writing sample, up to ten (10) pages in length. The writing sample can be an excerpt from a longer piece, such as a brief. 
• Contact information for three references, including at least two legal references, at least one of whom can discuss your litigation skills. 

(2) Send to careers@acluidaho.org. 

Please reference “Legal Director” in the email subject line and indicate in your cover letter where you found this job listing.  

Review of applications will begin January 31, 2023. The position will remain open until filled. Absolutely no unsolicited calls, please.

If you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying, please e-mail careers@acluidaho.org. If we select you for an interview, you will receive more information about how to request accommodations for the interview process. 

About ACLU of Idaho

The ACLU is the nation’s premier guardian of liberty. A nationwide, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the ACLU is dedicated to defending and expanding civil rights and civil liberties across the country. The ACLU of Idaho and its foundation operate jointly as private nonprofit organizations devoted to furthering the ACLU’s mission in Idaho. The ACLU of Idaho combines legal, policy, organizing and communications approaches to maximize its impact. We partner with individuals and communities impacted by injustices to inform and mobilize people throughout the state. The people in the center of the struggles for justice, who feel the impact in their daily lives, are especially important allies.

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