Legal Director

Position Overview:

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska seeks a Legal Director who is a dynamic, mission-driven, experienced attorney committed to advancing the civil rights and liberties of the people of Alaska. The Legal Director will be responsible for directing and managing a robust and impactful legal program and will have a track record of visionary, innovative, and collaborative experience. Specifically, this position will:

Co-Direct ACLU of Alaska Integrated Justice Department

• Lead development of long-term affiliate legal strategy in coordination with Director of Integrated Justice (DiJ) and Executive Director (ED) as part of annual and strategic plans.
• Work with ACLU National and other affiliates to strengthen ACLU AK legal work, eliminate duplication of efforts, and build strong national relationships.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU AK on legal matters in public forums and media opportunities.
• Co-create and co-manage budget for Integrated Justice department with the Director of Integrated Justice.
• Assist with obtaining and maintaining funding for legal work through working with ED and DiJ on grant application development, compliance, and reporting, including tracking legal and litigation related grant performance metrics.
• Serve as member of leadership team.

Supervise ACLU of Alaska’s Legal and Litigation Work

• Lead the ACLU of Alaska’s legal program, including supervising litigation before federal and state courts and administrative tribunals.
• Directly supervise legal work of staff attorneys, legal fellows, law clerks, and paralegals to ensure high quality legal representation, including directing and monitoring individual legal caseloads and developing and tracking departmental metrics of success.
• Work with the DiJ to identify systemic legal problems and develop and implement impact litigation.
• Supervise implementation and functionality of intake and case management systems.
• Grow legal department capacity through adding additional attorneys, fellows, externs/interns, and law clerks consistent with affiliate needs and funding. 
• Supervise and oversee evaluation of legal intakes and requests for legal or policy analysis, working with DiJ to evaluate intake related matters and determine appropriate responses after considering legal, advocacy, policy, and community education approaches.
• Provide on-going mentorship and professional development for legal staff, including developing, preparing and providing regular legal skills trainings.
• Coordinate, lead, and execute annual legal staff evaluations (with input from DiJ and other relevant staff members).
• Supervise and manage all aspects of co-counsel agreements with outside counsel.
• Oversee preparation of educational and self-help legal materials for impacted communities, such as Know Your Rights and legal self-help materials, and conduct and supervise legal staff in presenting Know Your Rights and other education and outreach events and programs. 
• Lead the affiliate in maintaining partnerships with other legal services organizations, the Alaska Bar Association and committees, and community groups.
• Supervise and coordinate pro bono and emeritus attorney recruitment and retention.
• Support policy and legislative work through legal research, legislative bill analysis, development of public testimony, and other assistance with legislative and policy work as needed.
• Serve as a resource for community stakeholders on legal issues. 
• Participate in ACLU National working groups for affiliate legal directors and/or similar working groups.
• Maintain an individual litigation caseload as appropriate.

The ideal candidate will have the following professional skills and competencies:

• JD from an accredited law school with a license to practice law in Alaska or licensed in another state and willingness to sit for the Alaska bar exam within one year;
• At least 7 years of increasingly responsible legal experience, which should include substantial administrative, state, and federal constitutional law experience and supervisorial or management experience;
• Ability to plan and implement effective legal strategies, establish realistic objectives, and evaluate progress;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills to manage one’s own work as well as others to assure completion of assignments and projects;
• Proven supervisory ability, including experience creating and managing department budgets, mentoring and supporting supervising attorneys and staff, building team morale, and encouraging volunteers;
• Dedication to social justice work, cultural competency to work with a diverse team, and experience with and commitment to the transformative work of challenging systems of oppression, institutional and structural racism, and implicit bias;
• Ability to work with diverse community groups in the planning and development of litigation in both service and leadership roles;
• A track record of leadership through strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building;
• Exceptional analytical, writing, and speaking skills and demonstrated ability to write clearly and precisely and to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences;  
• A strong passion for the ACLU’s mission and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging;
• Ability to work with a team demonstrating flexibility, humor, honesty, and open-mindedness;
• Willingness to work irregular hours as needed, along with occasional travel within Alaska.

Compensation

This is an exempt, full-time, at-will position. Salary is between $110,000 – $135,000 depending on experience and includes excellent benefits, including health, dental, life, and disability insurance, Wellness Days and support, a 401(k) plan with an employer-match, Alaska Bar Association dues, and generous vacation, sick, and holiday leave.

Commitment To Equity, Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion

ACLU AK operates according to the following principles: We are equitable, knowing that the strength of Alaska’s justice ecosystem lies in reciprocity and relationship; We are generational, building strong, integrated systems that sustain organizational wellness and longevity; We are transparent, remaining accountable to our community, our staff, and our Constitutions; and We are place-based, rooting our work in the strengths of the communities and lands we serve.

ACLU AK is an equitable opportunity employer. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission by creating an environment where all community members can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified persons, including people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented groups.

ACLU AK does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. We are committed to providing a work environment that practices equitable and inclusive treatment. We work diligently to prevent and address harassment or discrimination of any kind.

Applications

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will accepted until the position is filled. Please email PDFs of your letter of interest, résumé, a professional writing sample that has not been substantially edited by others, and the names and contact information of three professional references to [email protected] with the subject “Legal Director.”