Organizational Overview
For more than 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities. We are committed to repairing and transforming spaces where constitutional promises have not been delivered.
In every facet of our work, we strive to be anti-racist and are actively committed to advancing racial justice in the institutions of New Jersey, for the people of New Jersey. We aim to center the voices and lived experiences of those who historically have not been fully protected by government systems or laws.
Founded in 1960 and based in Newark, we are a non-partisan organization that operates on several fronts – political, legal, cultural – to bring about systemic change and build a more equitable society.
Position Overview
The ACLU of New Jersey has an exciting opportunity for an experienced appellate attorney and oral advocate to lead and advance the legal department’s robust practice before the New Jersey Supreme Court and state and federal intermediate appellate courts. For decades, the ACLU-NJ has appeared in appellate courts both as direct counsel and as amicus to advocate for protecting and expanding constitutional and civil rights. Because the New Jersey state constitution has more expansive protections for individual and civil rights, for decades the ACLU-NJ has turned to state courts to vindicate rights. As part of that work, we have been an innovator in developing a robust amicus practice before the New Jersey Supreme Court to take the opportunity in existing cases to protect and expand rights. Reporting to the Legal Director, and using a collaborative, cross-departmental approach, the Director of Appellate Advocacy will lead the legal team’s amicus practice, serve as a strategic appellate advisor on direct litigation, and supervise staff attorneys. We operate on a hybrid schedule, working in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and attending any in-person court appearances or external meetings throughout the week.
Responsibilities
- Develop a legal strategy for furthering ACLU-NJ issues and priorities in appellate courts, in partnership with the Legal Director.
- Evaluate cases on appeal for possible amicus participation, including exploring opportunities via publicly available information and requests by litigants.
- This includes monitoring cases accepted for review by the New Jersey Supreme Court, assessing whether ACLU-NJ participation would contribute to the development of the law, and making recommendations to Legal Director.
- Draft briefs and participate in oral arguments and supervise briefing and oral argument preparation for all attorneys handling appellate matters.
- Provide opportunities for, recruit, and manage pro bono cooperating appellate attorneys.
- Consult with staff attorneys on potential appellate strategy for all litigation in development.
- When appropriate, consider representing community partners or other potential clients with aligned interests.
- Supervise staff attorneys as assigned and provide detailed feedback to all attorneys engaged in appellate advocacy.
- In collaboration with the communications department, engage in public education and strategic communications regarding cases, issues, and appellate advocacy.
- Participate in the development of the legal department’s vision, plans, and priorities.
- Provide leadership for the legal department including sharing legal expertise within and across departments; taking on other tasks to ensure the success of the legal department; contributing to a collaborative, inclusive culture; and developing and strengthening relationships with community partners and colleagues at the national ACLU and other ACLU affiliates.
Preferred Qualifications & Skills
- New Jersey licensed attorney. If you are currently a member of another state bar, you must be able to obtain your New Jersey license within 12 months of joining the organization.
- Eight years or more of litigation experience, at least four years of which should include appellate experience, including in New Jersey appellate courts.
- At least two years of experience supervising lawyers.
- Experience investigating, developing, and/or litigating cases in New Jersey state courts.
- Experience drafting and arguing appeals, crafting novel and successful legal strategies, and engaging in advocacy addressing systemic inequities.
- Experience with creative problem-solving, taking initiative, and identifying opportunities to advance the law.
- Strong legal research, analysis, and writing abilities with the ability to use them to advance civil liberties, civil rights, and racial justice.
- A commitment to implementing the ACLU-NJ’s Strategic Framework, including incorporating racial justice principles into legal work.Excellent communication skills, including ability to interact effectively with people from different racial, social and economic backgrounds, and the ability to negotiate, compromise, and respectfully navigate and resolve conflicts.
- Demonstrated ability to provide support, supervision, and strategic guidance to others.
- Proficient with Microsoft 365 applications and experience with project management software.
Compensation
The salary range for this position starts at $140,000. The ACLU-NJ supports and plans for staff member professional growth and skill development through internal and external opportunities. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which currently includes 30 days paid time off, 12 office holidays and 16 health care leave days; medical, vision, and dental insurance; 20 weeks (100 days) paid family leave; life and long-term disability insurance; pre-tax transit benefits; and a 401(k) plan with employer match. This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
About Our Culture
We are a diverse workforce and take pride in our ability to attract and retain employees with a huge array of backgrounds and experiences. We work hard, but also like to celebrate our successes. We strive to bring humility, empathy, kindness, and generosity to our work, internally within the organization and externally with our partners and those whom we are serving. We seek to build a work culture with a sense of respect and collegiality, and a willingness to be generous with our expertise and resources.
To Apply
To complete the application please upload a cover letter, resume, and two appellate writing samples. We invite applicants to include in their cover letter information about how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.
Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled; at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website.
The ACLU-NJ makes every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions.
The ACLU-NJ is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email careers@aclu-nj.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process.
The ACLU-NJ is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture of belonging. It is our policy to employ qualified people without regard to race; color; religion; sex; national origin; age; ancestry; disability; sexual orientation; veteran’s status; marital status; civil union status; arrest or court record; citizenship; credit history; genetic information; gender identity or expression; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or any other characteristic protected under federal or state law. The more inclusive we are, the better we are.