Senior Staff Attorney

The Mississippi affiliate of the ACLU was founded in 1969 in the thick of the Civil Rights Movement. In Mississippi at that time, Civil Rights workers were being beaten, arrested and killed for demonstrating against unjust laws and institutionalized discrimination. Basic Constitutional rights were being violated daily, from the right to vote, to the right to speak out against one's government without arrest, to the right of equal treatment under the law.

The ACLU-MS is undertaking a new strategic plan and growing to meet the critical needs of individuals and communities across the state. In addition to adding new staff, the ACLU-MS is taking on key campaigns through an integrated advocacy model that combines community engagement, policy advocacy, and litigation to bolster existing freedoms and to bring about new wins in the face of ongoing racism and injustice.                       

The ACLU-MS works to defend and advance constitutionally guaranteed rights to people who have historically been denied those rights on the basis of race, gender, immigrant status, religion, and sexual orientation. In particular, although generations of civil rights activism in Mississippi have made significant strides toward racial equality, the fight for equality is far from won. The ACLU-MS challenges the systemic racism that continues to manifest itself in laws and policies throughout the state. With a storied past of working on groundbreaking and controversial issues, ACLU-MS strives to live its values of courage, integrity, justice, people, and progress.

Position Overview

The Senior Staff Attorney will litigate cases and engage in non-litigation advocacy to advance civil liberties and civil rights throughout Mississippi. Responsibilities include developing and litigating cutting-edge impact cases on a wide range of issues, primarily in federal courts and often in partnership with cooperating counsel and/or National ACLU lawyers. The Senior Staff Attorney will represent the ACLU publicly through media interviews and speaking engagements and will collaborate extensively with our Advocacy, Policy and Communications departments to set goals and implement strategies that advance ACLU of Mississippi priorities.

Specific Responsibilities

• Legal
  • Investigate, develop and litigate impact civil liberties and civil rights cases in federal and state court.
  • Identify and recruit plaintiffs, conduct factual and legal research, prepare memorandums, write demand letters, draft pleadings and briefs, conduct discovery, argue motions, try cases, write appellate briefs and amicus briefs.
  • Supervise, lead, or participate in a team of associated attorneys; co-counsel cases with other public …