Description:
Position: Legal Director
Department: Legal Department
Terms of Employment: Regular Full-Time/Exempt. NYCLU staff is currently working in a Hybrid model. A number of in-person days will be required.
Location: New York Civil Liberties Union, 125 Broad Street, NY, NY 10004
Salary: $180,000 - $206,000
Application Deadline: Until the position is filled.
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties. Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org.
DEI VISION STATEMENT
The NYCLU affirmatively values the humanity and contributions of those we work with, inside and outside of the organization; and will take action to build and sustain an equitable, anti-racist culture that centers the voices and experiences of marginalized and directly impacted people and communities, and an organizational environment where all people feel valued, trusted, and respected. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the population that we serve and actively recruit people of color, women, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and LGBTQ and gender non-conforming people.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The Legal Director is a member of the NYCLU's senior leadership team and provides vision and direction for the NYCLU's legal program. The Legal Director is responsible for overall management of the legal department and its docket, 20+ staff members, and a network of cooperating attorneys.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Vision/Strategic Direction for the Legal Department: The Legal Director must develop and pursue a strategic vision for the legal program that advances the NYCLU's overall civil liberties and civil rights agenda and strategic plan; develop potential cases and legal theories; manage the docket of 50-75 cases; assign cases; and work with attorneys to develop litigation strategies, including strategies that use the state constitution to expand rights beyond federal law. The Legal Director must also ensure that the litigation is consistent with ACLU and NYCLU policy; develop relationships with law firms, legal organizations, and other coalition partners to advance issues of mutual concern; and pursue strategies to resolve matters short of litigation, as appropriate. The Legal Director must also collaborate and communicate with the Executive Director and Director of Strategy and Program Integration, and with other members of the Senior Leadership Team on matters of strategy and direction. In particular, the Legal Director must be a collaborative partner to the Education Policy and Racial Justice Center Directors, providing thought partnership, litigation support and a collaborative supervision model to achieve the Centers' strategic litigation goals.
- Personnel management: The Legal Director must hire, train, manage, and supervise legal department staff, holding them accountable to NYCLU's standards of performance; oversee recruitment, mentoring, and professional development of legal staff and student interns consistent with the NYCLU's commitment to equity and fairness; and supervise the management of the intake and referral unit, which screens requests for assistance, conducts initial factual research, provides information and referrals, and maintains intake records, resources, and databases. The Legal Director must promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the hiring and management of staff, in interactions with colleagues, and in external relationships, in accordance with NYCLU commitments. In this capacity, the Legal Director must with the Director Human Resources and the NYCLU's DEI Manager.
- Budgetary responsibilities: The Legal Director must oversee and manage a budget for a department of 20+ people and work with the Finance Department to develop and manage the budget each year. Additionally, the Director must work with the Development Director to pursue funding opportunities for programmatic work.
- Reporting, records management, and general duties: The Legal Director must prepare reports of litigation activities for the Executive Director, the Board of Directors and maintain reporting to the State judiciary as required by State law; ensure the maintenance of accurate and easily retrievable case files, legal research, and administrative files; attend NYCLU and ACLU events, including occasional meetings with donors; help facilitate smooth functioning of the office, and develop a solid understanding of office protocols and culture; and accept other assignments from the Executive Director and Director of Strategy and Program Integration.
- Organizational legal resource: The Legal Director must provide excellent analysis of court rulings and occasional legislative bills for senior staff; articulate the NYCLU's views to the public and the media as requested by the Executive Director and Communications Director. The director must coordinate and collaborate with the national ACLU legal department, using it as a resource as appropriate; and represent and guide strategy for the NYCLU with respect to legal discussions led by the ACLU or with other affiliates. Further, the Director must engage actively with the State and New York City bar associations to advance the NYCLU's issues, mission and organization.
- Collaboration with other departments/centers: The Legal Director must work collaboratively with other departments and staff members of the NYCLU to maximize the effectiveness of the NYCLU's multi-disciplinary program of litigation, advocacy, public education, and community organizing. This includes collaboration with the Policy Department, Field Department, Communications Department, Education Policy Center, and Racial Justice Center. Further, the Director must assist with the development and upholding of interdepartmental protocols, policies, and structures.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Fifteen years of litigation experience, which should include substantial state and federal constitutional law experience. Such experience should involve a nuanced understanding of the development of constitutional doctrine and the application of civil liberties principles to contemporary controversies. Proven management ability, including experience in supervising attorneys and support staff, and in managing and encouraging volunteers, both students and professionals. Superior ability to plan effective strategies, establish realistic objectives, maintain momentum, and evaluate progress. Excellent organizational and time management skills to manage one's own work as well as others, and to assure completion of assignments and projects.
- A track record of successful leadership through strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building. Ability and flexibility to work in both service and leadership roles with many diverse players and constituencies. Excellent problem-solving skills and demonstrated skills in participatory decision-making. Non-profit experience is a plus.
- Excellent analytical, writing, and speaking skills. A demonstrated ability to write clearly and precisely. The ability to communicate effectively with plaintiffs, opposing counsel, staff, volunteers, the press, and the general public. A demonstrated ability to convey difficult civil liberties issues to the general public.
- A commitment to the goals and mission of the NYCLU. Exemplary professional workplace behavior, unimpeachable integrity, and a commitment to the values of reliability, respect, accountability, and compassion. Flexibility, determination, and good humor.
- A demonstrated commitment to diversity and building an equitable and inclusive work environment; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio- economic circumstance.
- Competence in the use of office computer applications, electronic databases, and electronic legal research. (We use Microsoft Office.)
- This position is exempt and requires a willingness to work beyond a standard 7.5-hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events.
- Licensed to practice law in New York and admitted to the federal district courts in New York and to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your resume and cover letter that includes your unique qualifications for this position, and where or how you learned of this job posting via
If feasible, please submit these materials as a single PDF.
The NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve.
The NYCLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail ldecicco@nyclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process. This position may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
Requirements:Compensation details: 180000-206000 Yearly Salary
PI687a0a6e0f44-29448-37061256
