Deputy Legal Director
About the Company
For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people. We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.
The ACLU’s Center for Democracy, one of three component centers in the ACLU’s National Legal Department, encompasses the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, Voting Rights Project, Immigrants’ Rights Project, National Security Project, and Human Rights Project. With a staff of approximately 80, the Center for Democracy works to build an inclusive and participatory democracy, advance and defend civil liberties and civil rights, and ensure government accountability.
About the Job
Reporting to the National Legal Director, the Deputy Legal Director/ Director of the Center for Democracy (Center Director) oversees the work of the Center for Democracy and directly supervises the five Project Directors within the Center.
Responsibilities
Supervise the Project Directors of the Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, Voting Rights Project, Immigrants’ Rights Project, National Security Project, and Human Rights Program. Provide high-level advice and guidance on litigation strategy and legal practice issues
Oversee and provide input into the development and implementation of the projects’ strategic plans and budgets
Supervise the staff attorney assigned to the Center for Democracy
Serve as a member of the National Legal Department’s leadership and administrative team, consisting of the National Legal Director, three Center Directors, and the Associate Director of Legal Operations. Ensure that the operations and administration of the National Legal Department run smoothly to facilitate its programmatic work
Serve as a nationally recognized spokesperson and subject-matter expert on issues within the Center for Democracy (freedom of expression, privacy, voting rights, immigration, national security, and human rights), along with other experts within the Center and its component projects
Work with the Project Directors to ensure that the programmatic work of the Center for Democracy is well-coordinated with colleagues in the Strategy Office, National Political Advocacy Department, Communications Department, Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiative Departments, and the ACLU’s state affiliates
Work with the Development Department on fundraising and maintaining relationships with the ACLU’s funders and members
Work with business operations units of the ACLU including Human Resources, Finance, and IT to facilitate the work of the Center for Democracy
Work in partnership with the Legal Department leadership team and ACLU in-house counsel on legal practice and ethics issues
Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned
Qualifications
J.D. degree and significant impact litigation experience in civil rights and civil liberties are required
Demonstrated experience in and commitment to Center for Democracy priorities and issues. In light of the Center’s current priorities, subject-matter expertise in immigration, freedom of speech, and the intersection of national security and individual liberty is strongly preferred
Strong management skills in a public interest law setting are required. Management experience in a federated nonprofit organization is strongly preferred
Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate teams to set and meet long-term and short-term goals
Superior analytical and problem-solving skills are a must
Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with a wide range of audiences
Demonstrated ability to engage in complex legal analysis and fact-finding
Demonstrated ability to work with a wide range of people and foster strong workplace morale and focus on mission. Ability to serve as a mentor and provide guidance and support to staff
Experience in an organization that develops and implements multi-faceted strategies for change that include litigation, lobbying and advocacy, communications, public education, and community organizing
