Overview

Description: Position: Senior Staff Attorney Department: LegalTerms of Employment: Full-Time/Permanent/Exempt/Local 2320 Union Position (NYCLU staff is currently working in a hybrid model; a number of in-person days will be required).Location: New York Civil Liberties Union, 125 Broad Street, NY, NY 10004Salary: Subject to the NYCLU's attorney salary scale, which is based on years of legal experience (current full-time starting salary for a lawyer with 6 years of experience is $113,500).Application Deadline: September 14, 2026 (Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position if filled).The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties. Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: . DEI VISION STATEMENT The NYCLU is committed to building an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace that centers the voices of marginalized and directly impacted communities. This commitment strengthens our mission to protect civil liberties and advance justice across New York. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others whose experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION The NYCLU seeks a senior staff attorney (6 or more years of legal experience) to conduct litigation and related advocacy in the NYCLU's legal department. The senior staff attorney will work on the full range of NYCLU work, with a particular focus on immigration and immigrants' rights, as well as challenging institutional and systemic racism that undermines civil rights and civil liberties, reproductive justice, criminal legal system, the rights of LGBTQ communities and gender equity, government transparency, free expression, equal protection, police misconduct, student rights, and surveillance and privacy.The NYCLU's Legal department is comprised of seventeen lawyers, a director of legal operations, an investigator, three paralegals, a data research analyst, and a legal assistant. Legal Department staff work on a wide range of civil rights and civil liberties cases in federal and state courts and in administrative tribunals. They also support the legislative, advocacy, communications, and field work of the NYCLU. ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES Conduct litigation in federal and state courts and in administrative forums. Senior staff attorneys are responsible for NYCLU litigation and advocacy, preparing pleadings, motions, and briefs; conducting discovery; presenting oral arguments; and handling appeals.Engage in pre-litigation analysis and advocacy, including evaluating and following up on intakes; conducting factual investigations and legal analyses; utilizing the Freedom of Information Law and the Freedom of Information Act; and preparing demand letters.Participate in public education on civil liberties and civil rights issues in the form of speaking engagements and published writings.Collaborate with leaders and staff across the NYCLU- including the Education Policy Center, Racial Justice Center, Policy, Communications, and Field Departments -to ensure that the NYCLU has an integrated approach to address injustice.Supervise and mentor law students as part of the NYCLU summer-intern program and contribute to the professional development of other members of the legal department. Mentor NYCLU staff attorneys.Develop relationships with pro-bono partners and networks. QUALIFICATIONS Excellent writing, research, ana