Title: Staff Attorney – Criminal Legal System and Policing
Office: Affiliate Offices
Location: Chicago, IL
The Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU, Inc. (“ACLU of Illinois”) seeks a Staff Attorney to engage in litigation and, in collaboration with other Departments, non-litigation advocacy to promote transformational changes in the criminal legal system and policing in Illinois.
ABOUT THE JOB
The Legal Department of the ACLU of Illinois works with colleagues across the organization to advance civil rights and civil liberties throughout Illinois using strategic litigation, legislative and other advocacy with governmental officials, and public education. Our work focuses on fighting institutional and structural racism that undermines civil rights and civil liberties, including in the criminal and civil legal systems and immigration; protecting democracy by advancing First Amendment rights, government transparency, and voting rights; promoting access to reproductive health care, the rights of LGBTQ+ communities, and gender equity; and addressing and preventing the harm experienced by people in government care, including in the foster system, prisons, jails, and juvenile detention facilities.
A core priority of our work is to combat criminal legal system practices that are unlawful, harmful, and disproportionately impact communities of color. We challenge policing that wrongfully criminalizes poverty, mental health challenges, and addiction; and that harms marginalized communities, including Black and Brown people, people with disabilities, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ communities. We advocate for policing that is transparent, accountable, and equitable, and promote non-police responses that foster health and human dignity. We work in partnership with impacted communities and seek to promote transformational criminal legal system changes, dramatically reduce interactions between police and members of the public, and hold police and other legal system entities accountable when they cause harm. We also protect the rights of protesters and those who record police because of the importance of defending dissent, including dissent against racial injustice in the criminal legal system. We recognize that litigation is only one tool in a broader social movement to promote community safety and racial justice.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Staff Attorney for Criminal Legal System and Policing is a highly collaborative team player who will work with colleagues to litigate cases in state and federal court; create, implement, and participate—in collaboration with staff throughout the ACLU of Illinois and community partners—in non-litigation efforts to combat harmful policing and criminal legal system practices that disproportionately impact communities of color; engage in public education; and advance the mission and goals the ACLU of Illinois’ legal work as a whole.
The Staff Attorney may advocate on a range of issues on which the ACLU-IL engages locally and statewide including: serving as counsel to a coalition enforcing a consent decree against the Chicago Police Department; developing litigation to combat policing that disproportionately harms Black and Brown communities, such as excessive force, unlawful police stops, and abuse of protesters’ rights; and developing creative litigation and non-legislative advocacy approaches to combat mass incarceration, reduce police encounters with members of the public, advance government transparency over harmful criminal legal system and policing practices, combat surveillance and the violation of privacy rights, and promote non-police responses to community needs. As a member of the Legal Department, the Staff Attorney will serve as a team player and may contribute to litigation in other areas as needed to advance the ACLU-IL’s legal docket.
CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The salary will be in accordance with the ACLU of Illinois salary scale and commensurate with experience:
Excellent benefits include 100% employer-paid medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff and eligible dependents; four weeks paid vacation; a 403(b) retirement benefits plan with employer match; life insurance; and long-term disability insurance.
ACLU of Illinois staff are based in Chicago, IL, but are currently working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When conditions are safe to return to the office space, staff members will be expected to work out of our Chicago office.
HOW TO APPLY
Visit our website: https://action.aclu.org/legal-intake/staff-attorney-criminal-legal-system-and-policing
The ACLU of Illinois is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, criminal record, or veteran status.
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