The Staff Attorney will advance reproductive rights and gender equity (RRGE) under an intersectional reproductive justice framework. The RRGE Staff Attorney will work with the legal and policy teams, and the broader community, to develop and execute the organization's policy and legislative advocacy agenda related to reproductive freedom and gender equity. Their work will include drafting legislation, testifying in front of government bodies, and lobbying local and state legislators to pass laws protecting and expanding reproductive freedom and gender equity, and opposing laws infringing thereon. The RRGE Staff Attorney will conduct extensive legal and policy research and analysis, answer legal questions, support litigation, and draft a variety of legal memos, letters, and other documents that require an understanding of many aspects of law, particularly health and constitutional law and civil rights and civil liberties protections. This position will focus on RRGE while supporting other civil rights issues.
This is an exempt, full-time role based in New Mexico and reporting to the Senior Staff Attorney. This position is a grant funded for one year. Continuation of this role beyond one year will depend on grant renewals and/or securing additional funding.
WHO WE ARE
Our mission is to protect and advance justice, liberty, and equity as guaranteed by the constitutions of New Mexico and the United States. We are committed to ending racism and other inequities. This includes how we work with each other and with our partners and allies in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit our website at www.aclu-nm.org
Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging are core values of the ACLU and central to our work. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
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Collaborate closely with the ACLU-NM policy team on legislative work
- Engage with legislators and draft bill language for the organization’s RRGE priorities
- Perform legal analysis to determine the constitutionality of existing and proposed laws and policies related to RRGE
- Draft legislative testimony for bills and initiatives
- Analyze and draft proposed legislation and administrative regulations, track legislation, educate lawmakers, prepare legislative memos and talking points, and testify before legislative committees
- Monitor implementation of priority laws
- Attend hearings, briefings, and other proceedings before policymaking bodies.
- Deliver testimony and represent the organization in front of state and local government bodies
- Draft reports, memos, letters, and documents to different audiences to explain complex legal and policy matters and provide recommendations
- Build and maintain relationships with key legislators, coalitions, and advocates to advance the organization's legislative agenda
- Identify, recruit, and prepare witnesses for hearings on key bills
- Assist with developing and facilitating meetings with staff and outside coalitions and advocates
- Assist members of the legal department by conducting legal research, writing, and analysis
- Conduct legal research and writing to develop legal theories, claims, procedural rules, and defenses
- Write, edit, cite-check, and format legal memoranda, demand letters, pleadings, briefs, motions, affidavits, and discovery requests and responses
- Engage in client-facing work, including conducting intake interviews, making referrals, and identifying potential cases
- Collaborate with communications staff on media and communications strategies and respond to media requests and engage media interest
- Collaborate with the engagement team on outreach and organizing strategies.
- Assist with developing and executing plans and strategies to meet legal and policy team goals and objectives
- Ensure that principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) inform all practices and processes
- Other duties, special projects, and tasks as assigned
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
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J.D. and admitted to practice in New Mexico
- Relevant expertise in reproductive rights and health
- Understanding of the reproductive justice framework
- A strong and demonstrated commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and the mission and goals of the ACLU
- A strong understanding of constitutional law
- Experience lobbying
- Experience drafting and advocating for policy change
- Civil litigation experience. Previous experience in constitutional and/or civil rights litigation on the plaintiff’s side is a plus
- Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical ability
- Strong communication skills and experience working with diverse communities and cultures
- Proven ability to work independently and within a team.
- A commitment to equity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance
- Ability to travel 1-3 times per year nationally
- Ability to travel within New Mexico (investigations, client meetings, legislative work)
No one person will have all the qualities enumerated above. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested and feel you could be successful in this role.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
The anticipated annual salary for this role is $80,578. We offer excellent benefits, including employer-paid health, dental and vision insurance for employees; long-term disability and life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution and match of up to 5.5%; and vacation accrual that starts at 18 days per year in addition to sick leave and family and medical leave.
HOW TO APPLY:
All applications are treated confidentially. Please send cover letter no longer than one page and resume by email to HR@aclu-nm.org. Please include “Staff Attorney” in the subject line and all attachments should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Your letter should explain ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above. We also invite applicants to include in their letter information about how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work. Please indicate where you learned of this job posting. No phone calls, please. Note: we will not accept resumes that do not include a cover letter.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be evaluating applications on a rolling basis beginning on August 2nd, 2024.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of New Mexico reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice
COVID:
The Staff Attorney, like most ACLU-NM staff, will work partially in-office and partially from home.
For the safety of our staff, their families, and the communities that we work with, ACLU-NM requires that staff be fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC.
ACLU of New Mexico is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and promote an inclusive culture. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all members of our community can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented and marginalized groups.
“ACLU of New Mexico” refers collectively to two separate corporate entities, ACLU of New Mexico and ACLU of New Mexico Foundation. The two entities share the same mission, office space, and employees.
