Staff Attorney (ACLU – MN Racial Justice Project – Mankato)
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota (ACLU-MN) is opening an additional Greater Minnesota Racial Justice Project that will be based in Mankato, Minnesota and is seeking applicants for the position of Staff Attorney. As a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to defending and expanding individual rights and personal freedom, the ACLU is the nation’s foremost guardian of liberty. The ACLU-MN fights to protect civil liberties of Minnesotans through litigation, public education, and lobbying related to legislation that impacts civil liberties and civil rights.
The Staff Attorney will work under the direct supervision of the Legal Counsel, who is responsible for
implementation of the statewide legal program, and in collaboration with the Public Education Coordinator to carry out the Racial Justice Project mission to eliminate racial bias in Mankato and its surrounding counties. The racial justice project will work in collaboration with statewide legal, legislative, public education and racial justice project departments, as well as the National ACLU’s field department to achieve its goals.
The staff attorney will be responsible for implementing the programmatic policies of the ACLU-MN in Mankato and the eight surrounding counties (Blue Earth, Nicollet, La Sueur, Waseca, Faribault, Martin, Watonwan and Brown) and will be expected to perform the following duties:
Job Description
• Review and investigate intake complaints, and referrals from agencies and attorneys; identify and recommend racial justice cases for impact litigation, to include assisting in interactions with clients and witnesses as needed.
• Research civil liberties issues, prepare legal memoranda, demand letters and other written work product including information resources for individuals seeking legal assistance.
• Participate directly in all stages of litigation in selected cases in federal and state court either as co-counsel with cooperating attorneys or as lead counsel. This includes conducting factual and legal research, preparing memorandums, writing demand letters, drafting pleadings and briefs, conducting discovery, arguing motions, trying cases, writing appellate briefs, presenting oral argument on appeal, and writing amicus briefs.
• Assist Legal Counsel in working with cooperating attorneys, to include expanding pool of attorneys, monitoring litigation, and providing back-up as needed.
• Assist in obtaining and supervising law clerks, paralegals, interns, and other legal volunteers.
• Prepare necessary dockets and reports for the Legal Counsel, and the Executive Director, ensure Legal Counsel and Executive Director are adequately informed of work.
• Coordinate with ACLU of Minnesota Racial Justice Project staff to progress the mission of the Racial Justice Project. Assist in advocacy, field organizing and educational outreach, as needed.
• Advocate for civil liberties and serve as a public speaker on civil liberties issues, as appropriate.
• Travel to attend local, statewide, or national meetings, and travel for the purposes of litigation.
• Significant experience litigating constitutional issues, (3-6 Federal civil litigation experience or judicial clerkship experience preferred);
Qualifications
• Broad substantive knowledge of constitutional law and a strong and demonstrated commitment to civil liberties and civil rights required; additionally, knowledge of civil liberties issues faced by minorities and undocumented people is preferred;
• Exceptional analytic, research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, including the capacity to research and think quickly under pressure;
• Ability to analyze and articulate legal concepts, and other complex issues and to communicate them to a variety of audiences;
• Licensed to practice law and a member of the State Bar of Minnesota; Federal Court admission desirable;
• Ability to work well with a diverse range of strong personalities and with people of races, religions and national origin other than one’s own;
• Capacity for administrative work, including assisting in the supervision of paralegals, law clerks, and interns and coordinating with others inside and outside the ACLU;
• Applicants should be self-motivated, organized, diligent, and have the proven ability to work with a diverse range of people and strong personalities;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and other basic software programs, and experience with Westlaw required;
• Spanish speaking and writing ability preferred; and,
• Knowledge of and commitment to living in the Mankato area.
Salary based on experience. Excellent benefits include paid vacation, medical and dental insurance, 401 K and paid holidays.
Salary and Benefits
Applications should include a detailed letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references. Two writing samples are also required with at least one being a legal research memo, brief, or article. Applicants who graduated from law school within the past five years should include a law school transcript.
To apply
Applications should be sent electronically in MS Word format or Adobe PDF to Teresa Nelson, Legal Counsel at tnelson@aclu-mn.org and cc to Jana Kooren, Public Education Coordinator at jkooren@aclu-mn.org. Applications may also be mailed to:
Mankato Staff Attorney Search
ACLU‐MN
2300 Myrtle Ave, Suite 180
St. Paul, MN 55114
Applications accepted until position is filled.
The ACLU-MN is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and is committed to developing a diverse pool of candidates. Women, people of color, persons with disabilities, lesbians and gay men are encouraged to apply.