The National Prison Project of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) invites applications for the position of Staff Attorney in the Washington, DC office.

OVERVIEW
Founded in 1972 by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Prison Project seeks to ensure constitutional conditions of confinement in prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and immigration detention facilities. We seek to promote prisoners’ rights through class action litigation and public education. Our policy priorities include reducing prison overcrowding, improving prisoner medical care, eliminating violence and maltreatment in prisons and jails, and minimizing the reliance on incarceration as a criminal justice sanction. The Project also publishes a semi-annual Journal, coordinates a nationwide network of litigators, conducts training and public education conferences, and provides expert advice and technical assistance to local community groups and lawyers throughout the country.

The work of the National Prison Project has never been more vital than it is now. The population in American prisons and jails has tripled in the past 15 years with the predictable consequence that facilities are overcrowded; medical systems are overwhelmed; work, education, and treatment programs are inadequate; and idleness and inadequate supervision lead to greater levels of violence. As our national prison and jail population has climbed to over two million persons, it has grown increasingly racially skewed. On any given day, one-third of all African-American males are under some form of criminal justice supervision; one in eight in their twenties is in prison or jail. These trends have been exacerbated by the impact of the "war on drugs," with three fourths of all those convicted of drug offenses being persons of color. The consequences of these racial disparities in the criminal justice system reach beyond the prison gates: as a result of state felony disenfranchisement laws, an estimated 13% of all African-American males are not eligible to vote.

The Project, with a staff of eight lawyers, has fought and continues to fight unlawful prison conditions and practices through successful litigation on behalf of prisoners in more than 25 states. Since 1991, the Project has represented prisoners in five cases before the United States Supreme Court. It is the only organization litigating prison conditions of confinement nationwide on behalf of men, women, and children.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

The Staff Attorney is responsible for a substantial caseload of major class actions in federal court and will work closely with other staff lawyers and local counsel. The work includes:

• Drafting of pleadings and briefs, discovery and motion practice, and trial and appellate litigation. Providing technical assistance and expert legal advice to local ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys, and others who seek assistance from the Project.
• Engaging in public speaking and articulating ACLU views to the media and a variety of audiences on a broad range of prisoners’ rights, criminal justice issues and civil liberties concerns.
• Substantial travel is required.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• JD and litigation experience required, preferably in federal courts.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to civil liberties.
• Familiarity with criminal justice issues is desirable.

COMPENSATION
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

HOW TO APPLY
Applications should consist of a current resume, the names and phone numbers of three references, and at least one legal writing sample. Applications should be sent via e-mail to hrjobs@aclu.org. Reference [NPP-05/WACLU] in the subject of your e-mail or submit your materials by mail to:

Human Resources
RE: [NPP-05/WACLU]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, which will not be before October 6, 2007. Please indicate where you learned of this job posting.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”