Senior Supervising Attorney

The Senior Supervising Attorney is a staff position within the ACLU-WI’s Legal

Department. The Senior Supervising Attorney is a highly collaborative team player

who works in tandem with colleagues across the organization to advance the goals

of the ACLU-WI. The Senior Supervising Attorney leads and litigates cases in state

and federal court. A core priority of the work is to use systemic impact litigation and

advocacy strategies to advance the rights of persons on issues related to First

Amendment rights, criminal legal reform, LGBTQ+ rights and bodily autonomy,

immigrant rights, and voting rights. The Senior Supervising Attorney will develop

significant subject matter expertise in one or more of these areas of work such that

they are considered an expert in the field and are able to independently lead our

legal work in those areas. The Senior Supervising Attorney will also work closely

with staff across the organization on the Policy, Communications, Legal,

Organizing, and Development and Engagement teams, as well as coalition partners

and the ACLU National Office.

This position is a full-time exempt position. The Senior Supervising Attorney

reports to the Legal Director. The position may be based anywhere in Wisconsin in a

hybrid work environment (in-person and work from home), but will require regular

in-person attendance at the Milwaukee office for mandatory in-office days. Work is

likely to include some nights and weekends and occasional travel at the expense of

the organization.

Senior Supervising Attorney Primary Responsibilities:

The general job responsibilities of a Senior Supervising Attorney include, but are

not limited to, the following:

● Investigate, develop, and lead high-impact cases at the trial and appellate level

in federal and state courts and in state or federal administrative proceedings;

● Investigate, develop, and advance, in coordination with other Departments,

non-litigation strategies for advancing civil rights and civil liberties;

● Conduct investigations, lead impact litigation, and/or non-legislative advocacy,

either independently or in collaboration with other members of the Legal

Department;

● Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with our cooperating

counsel, allied organizations, community-based organizations, stakeholders,

members of communities affected by our work, and ACLU-WI members;

● Serve as an ACLU-WI spokesperson with the media and external partners on

identified issues;

● Effectively supervise, manage, and mentor early-career and mid-career

attorneys, Legal Department support staff, and law clerks, including assigning

and overseeing day-to-day work and evaluating their work performance and

professional development;

● Work closely as a partner with the Legal Director to improve internal

procedures and to develop overarching departmental strategies and goals in

the context of an organization-wide strategic plan;

● Work closely with and provide policy analysis and legal expertise to non-legal

program staff at the ACLU of Wisconsin and ACLU National;

● Fulfill the duties of the Legal Director in the Legal Director’s absence, as

directed;

● Oversee the process for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and managing new

junior legal staff, fellows, and interns, and take responsibility for managing the

professional development of these junior staff members;

● Other administrative duties as assigned.

Experience & Qualifications

● Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging as core values;

● A strong commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU, racial justice,

dismantling white supremacy and incorporating a structural power analysis

into work;

● Knowledge and understanding of how power and oppression is manifested in

matters of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity,

gender expression, religion, ability, citizenship and socio-economic

circumstances;

● Have a J.D. and be admitted to practice in Wisconsin or be eligible to waive

into the Wisconsin bar;

● Have a minimum of 8 years of litigation experience in both state and federal

courts;

● Have demonstrated ability in conceiving impact litigation cases and litigating

them to conclusion. Significant experience in conducting evidentiary

proceedings and handling expert discovery and witness presentation is an

asset;

● Have excellent persuasive writing skills for court filings and for

communications in legal and non-legal settings;

● Have demonstrated ability to speak persuasively and effectively with

individuals from a diverse range of identities, interests, and backgrounds in

non-legal and legal settings;

● Have strong legal aptitude, including thoughtful engagement with novel and

complex legal questions, and demonstrated ability to respond quickly and

effectively to emergent issues;

● Have a well-developed interest in a range of civil rights and civil liberties

issues and the ability to master areas of law outside of their current

expertise;

● Be highly collaborative with the desire to consult and share information with

colleagues, and skills to respectfully resolve differences;

● Be able to tolerate a high degree of ambiguity and have the flexibility

necessary to readjust strategy in an always changing legal and political

environment;

● Have demonstrated ability to supervise attorneys to produce high-quality

results and help less-experienced attorneys develop their skills;

● Have demonstrated practice of integrating key equity concepts into work and

interpersonal interactions by addressing structural implications and

disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, gender,

sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, class, and other

group identities;

● Have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within

the workplace, using an approach that values all individuals and respects

differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual

orientation, religion, ability, socio-economic circumstance, and other factors.

The following qualifications are preferred but not required:

● Prior experience working with community groups and coalitions either as

clients or as partners on projects relevant to the Mission of ACLU-WI;

● Prior experience in recruiting and managing relationships with Pro Bono

counsel from the private bar;

● Prior experience working in a non-profit legal environment;

● Fluency in a second language other than English.

Working Conditions: Hybrid work requirements consisting of approximately a

40-hour work week with work from home permitted when work responsibility

allows, prioritizing caregiving and work-life balance needs.

● Ability to work extended hours including nights and weekends when the job

demands it, especially related to litigation and court-imposed deadlines;

● Ability to travel, as required;

● Ability to work at a computer for multiple hours a day;

● Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer;

● Visual acuity for extensive reading, preparing, and analyzing information,

and viewing a computer terminal;

Physical Requirements

● Stationary positioning: Must be able to remain in a stationary, seated

position for 50 to 75% of the working period.

● Mobility: Ability to move about as needed in the office or at offsite venues.

Occasionally may be required to ascend or descend from one level to another.

● Transporting: Must be able to lift and/or carry items weighing up to 10

pounds frequently and up to 25 pounds occasionally.

● Communicating: The ability to communicate information and ideas so

others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in

these situations.

● Determine/Observe: The ability to observe details at close range.

● Operation of Machinery: Must be able to constantly operate a computer

and other office productivity machinery, such as calculators, copy machines,

computer, printers and other devices.

● Temperature: Typically works in a climate controlled, indoor environment.

May occasionally work in other environments at offsite venues that would

include some exposure to outdoor areas with variation in hot and cold

temperatures

Compensation: Compensation is based on relevant experience and skills, but

expected to be no less than $100,000 annually for a candidate who meets the

Required Qualifications, including years of experience. The organization provides

employees $60 per month for internet and cell phone allowance. Benefits include

paid vacation and sick leave, 12 weeks paid family medical / parental leave and

optional medical (includes one plan at no cost to the employee) dental and vision coverage, life insurance, short and long term disability insurance; and an optional 401(K) retirement fund with a stepped employer match.

How to Apply: Email a single document of the requested documents to

Please use ‘(YOUR NAME)- Senior Supervising Attorney’ in the

subject line of the email.

The requested items are the following:

● Cover letter explaining how you are qualified for this position and why you’re

interested in being part of the ACLU of Wisconsin;

● Resume;

● Writing Sample of a substantive, argumentative motion, response, or appellate

brief filed in a federal court or state appellate court that has not been

significantly edited by others;

● Final interviewees will need three professional references and will be required

to meet in person with members of the team in Milwaukee.

The ACLU of Wisconsin is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and

strongly encourages people of color, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+

community, and formerly incarcerated people to apply. The ACLU of Wisconsin

undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to

ensure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all

positions. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations

in the application process to contact us at