Job Description
The Senior Supervising Attorney is a staff position within the ACLU-WI’s Legal
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Department. The Senior Supervising Attorney is a highly collaborative team player
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who works in tandem with colleagues across the organization to advance the goals
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of the ACLU-WI. The Senior Supervising Attorney leads and litigates cases in state
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and federal court. A core priority of the work is to use systemic impact litigation and
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advocacy strategies to advance the rights of persons on issues related to First
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Amendment rights, criminal legal reform, LGBTQ+ rights and bodily autonomy,
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immigrant rights, and voting rights. The Senior Supervising Attorney will develop
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significant subject matter expertise in one or more of these areas of work such that
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they are considered an expert in the field and are able to independently lead our
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legal work in those areas. The Senior Supervising Attorney will also work closely
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with staff across the organization on the Policy, Communications, Legal,
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Organizing, and Development and Engagement teams, as well as coalition partners
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and the ACLU National Office.
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This position is a full-time exempt position. The Senior Supervising Attorney
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reports to the Legal Director. The position may be based anywhere in Wisconsin in a
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hybrid work environment (in-person and work from home), but will require regular
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in-person attendance at the Milwaukee office for mandatory in-office days. Work is
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likely to include some nights and weekends and occasional travel at the expense of
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the organization.
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Senior Supervising Attorney Primary Responsibilities:
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The general job responsibilities of a Senior Supervising Attorney include, but are
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not limited to, the following:
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● Investigate, develop, and lead high-impact cases at the trial and appellate level
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in federal and state courts and in state or federal administrative proceedings;
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● Investigate, develop, and advance, in coordination with other Departments,
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non-litigation strategies for advancing civil rights and civil liberties;
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● Conduct investigations, lead impact litigation, and/or non-legislative advocacy,
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either independently or in collaboration with other members of the Legal
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Department;
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● Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with our cooperating
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counsel, allied organizations, community-based organizations, stakeholders,
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members of communities affected by our work, and ACLU-WI members;
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● Serve as an ACLU-WI spokesperson with the media and external partners on
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identified issues;
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● Effectively supervise, manage, and mentor early-career and mid-career
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attorneys, Legal Department support staff, and law clerks, including assigning
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and overseeing day-to-day work and evaluating their work performance and
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professional development;
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● Work closely as a partner with the Legal Director to improve internal
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procedures and to develop overarching departmental strategies and goals in
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the context of an organization-wide strategic plan;
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● Work closely with and provide policy analysis and legal expertise to non-legal
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program staff at the ACLU of Wisconsin and ACLU National;
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● Fulfill the duties of the Legal Director in the Legal Director’s absence, as
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directed;
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● Oversee the process for recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and managing new
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junior legal staff, fellows, and interns, and take responsibility for managing the
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professional development of these junior staff members;
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● Other administrative duties as assigned.
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Experience & Qualifications
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● Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging as core values;
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● A strong commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU, racial justice,
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dismantling white supremacy and incorporating a structural power analysis
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into work;
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● Knowledge and understanding of how power and oppression is manifested in
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matters of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity,
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gender expression, religion, ability, citizenship and socio-economic
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circumstances;
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● Have a J.D. and be admitted to practice in Wisconsin or be eligible to waive
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into the Wisconsin bar;
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● Have a minimum of 8 years of litigation experience in both state and federal
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courts;
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● Have demonstrated ability in conceiving impact litigation cases and litigating
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them to conclusion. Significant experience in conducting evidentiary
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proceedings and handling expert discovery and witness presentation is an
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asset;
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● Have excellent persuasive writing skills for court filings and for
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communications in legal and non-legal settings;
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● Have demonstrated ability to speak persuasively and effectively with
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individuals from a diverse range of identities, interests, and backgrounds in
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non-legal and legal settings;
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● Have strong legal aptitude, including thoughtful engagement with novel and
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complex legal questions, and demonstrated ability to respond quickly and
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effectively to emergent issues;
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● Have a well-developed interest in a range of civil rights and civil liberties
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issues and the ability to master areas of law outside of their current
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expertise;
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● Be highly collaborative with the desire to consult and share information with
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colleagues, and skills to respectfully resolve differences;
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● Be able to tolerate a high degree of ambiguity and have the flexibility
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necessary to readjust strategy in an always changing legal and political
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environment;
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● Have demonstrated ability to supervise attorneys to produce high-quality
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results and help less-experienced attorneys develop their skills;
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● Have demonstrated practice of integrating key equity concepts into work and
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interpersonal interactions by addressing structural implications and
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disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions on race, gender,
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sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, class, and other
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group identities;
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● Have demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within
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the workplace, using an approach that values all individuals and respects
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differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual
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orientation, religion, ability, socio-economic circumstance, and other factors.
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The following qualifications are preferred but not required:
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● Prior experience working with community groups and coalitions either as
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clients or as partners on projects relevant to the Mission of ACLU-WI;
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● Prior experience in recruiting and managing relationships with Pro Bono
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counsel from the private bar;
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● Prior experience working in a non-profit legal environment;
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● Fluency in a second language other than English.
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Working Conditions: Hybrid work requirements consisting of approximately a
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40-hour work week with work from home permitted when work responsibility
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allows, prioritizing caregiving and work-life balance needs.
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● Ability to work extended hours including nights and weekends when the job
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demands it, especially related to litigation and court-imposed deadlines;
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● Ability to travel, as required;
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● Ability to work at a computer for multiple hours a day;
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● Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer;
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● Visual acuity for extensive reading, preparing, and analyzing information,
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and viewing a computer terminal;
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Physical Requirements
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● Stationary positioning: Must be able to remain in a stationary, seated
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position for 50 to 75% of the working period.
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● Mobility: Ability to move about as needed in the office or at offsite venues.
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Occasionally may be required to ascend or descend from one level to another.
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● Transporting: Must be able to lift and/or carry items weighing up to 10
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pounds frequently and up to 25 pounds occasionally.
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● Communicating: The ability to communicate information and ideas so
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others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in
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these situations.
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● Determine/Observe: The ability to observe details at close range.
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● Operation of Machinery: Must be able to constantly operate a computer
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and other office productivity machinery, such as calculators, copy machines,
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computer, printers and other devices.
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● Temperature: Typically works in a climate controlled, indoor environment.
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May occasionally work in other environments at offsite venues that would
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include some exposure to outdoor areas with variation in hot and cold
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temperatures
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Compensation: Compensation is based on relevant experience and skills, but
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expected to be no less than $100,000 annually for a candidate who meets the
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Required Qualifications, including years of experience. The organization provides
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employees $60 per month for internet and cell phone allowance. Benefits include
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paid vacation and sick leave, 12 weeks paid family medical / parental leave and
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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.
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How to Apply: Email a single document of the requested documents to
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hr@aclu-wi.org. Please use ‘[YOUR NAME]- Senior Supervising Attorney’ in the
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subject line of the email.
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The requested items are the following:
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● Cover letter explaining how you are qualified for this position and why you’re
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interested in being part of the ACLU of Wisconsin;
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● Resume;
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● Writing Sample of a substantive, argumentative motion, response, or appellate
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brief filed in a federal court or state appellate court that has not been
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significantly edited by others;
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● Final interviewees will need three professional references and will be required
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to meet in person with members of the team in Milwaukee.
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The ACLU of Wisconsin is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and
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strongly encourages people of color, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+
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community, and formerly incarcerated people to apply. The ACLU of Wisconsin
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undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to
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ensure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all
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positions. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations
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in the application process to contact us at hr@aclu-wi.org.