Advancing Justice Staff Attorney

Position Summary:

The Advancing Justice Staff Attorney is responsible for investigating, analyzing, and addressing issues in the criminal legal system in San Diego & Imperial Counties that may be caused by violations of legal and policy protections and/or prevented by improvements in those protections. Working within the affiliate’s Advancing Justice Issue Team and in collaboration with the statewide ACLU of California Police Practices and Criminal Justice Issue Teams, the attorney will work to devise and implement strategies to address problems through legal advocacy and litigation, policy reform and implementation, community education, and strategic communications.

The Advancing Justice Staff Attorney will be in the Advocacy and Legal Department and supervised by the Advocacy and Legal Director with the Managing Legal Director providing supervision on litigation matters.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The ACLU SDIC’s “integrated advocacy” model unites legal advocacy, policy advocacy, organizing, communication strategies and base building for maximum impact. In keeping with that approach, the Staff Attorney will work on cases, advocacy projects, public education, and campaigns. The attorney’s responsibilities will be the following:

• Working with the Advancing Justice Issue Team, Managing Legal Director and impacted communities identify, research, develop, and pursue legal and policy initiatives consistent with affiliate priorities developed through the Advancing Justice Issue Team;
• Provide legal and policy expertise on issues related to the criminal legal system, especially police practices, including by:
  • researching, drafting, or editing legal advocacy letters, amicus briefs, legislation, regulatory comments, reports, policy briefs and coalition sign-on letters;
  • participating in legislative briefings and meetings with federal, state, and local government officials; contributing legal analysis and support to designated legal, policy, organizing, communications, or development work of the affiliate as appropriate; and
  • conducting legal and policy research to support the Advancing Justice Issue Team;
• Investigate, monitor, and advocate for local and federal compliance with existing legal and policy requirements, and identify and develop strategies and novel legal claims to challenge police practices under state and federal law, investigating practices of police departments and other law enforcement agencies for potential litigation and/or advocacy work, and identifying opportunities to leverage impact litigation to catalyze policy efforts in local communities;
• Research and maintain up-to-date awareness of current tactics and trends related to the criminal legal system, especially as it relates to policing, and communicate those tactics and trends as appropriate to the Advancing Justice Issue Team and appropriate affiliate staff as well as across the ACLU state and national organizational structure;
• Participate in strategic litigation and direct service representation as necessary or appropriate, consistent with priorities developed by the Advancing Justice Issue Team and under the supervision of the Managing Legal Director;
• Provide technical support and strategic leadership and support to community partners, allies, stakeholders, and coalitions in the region, and build and nurture relationships by participating in regular meetings with community leaders and members and pursuing shared advocacy goals with them;
• Draft content for “Know Your” materials, op-eds, blog posts, and other media regarding the criminal legal system, and participate in community outreach, education, and public speaking on issues impacting the Advancing Justice issue area;
• Supervise investigators, interns or fellows as needed, and support summer intern hiring.