Reproductive Rights Staff Attorney, ACLU of New Mexico

ACLU of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) works to protect and advance justice, liberty, and equity as guaranteed by the constitutions of New Mexico and the United States. As the state affiliate of the premiere civil rights and civil liberties organization in the country, ACLU-NM fights in the courts, in the legislature, and in its communities to ensure that justice, liberty, and equity are realities for all people.

In particular, the ACLU-NM fights for the rights of people and groups who have historically been disenfranchised to build a more just, equitable, and free New Mexico where all people belong and are respected.

With reproductive freedom under attack across the nation, the ACLU-NM is investing in the addition of a Reproductive Rights Staff Attorney to its legal team. The Reproductive Rights Staff Attorney will ground their work in an intersectional reproductive justice framework and collaborate with and among communities across the state to protect and advance reproductive rights, health, and justice.

Working with the ACLU-NM and National ACLU litigation teams and local cooperating attorneys, the Reproductive Rights Staff Attorney will develop, investigate, and litigate cases. Additionally, they will pursue non-litigation advocacy strategies. They will work with the ACLU-NM’s Communications and Policy departments, coalition partners, a local legal panel, national staff counsel, and cooperating attorneys.

This is an exempt, full-time role in the Legal Department, reporting to the Managing Attorney – Reproductive Rights & Gender Equity. This role must be based in New Mexico, with openness to working out of the Albuquerque or Las Cruces office.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The ACLU-NM is the largest civil liberties organization in the state with thousands of members. They tirelessly pursue large-scale impact that affects real people's lives and carry out a vigorous legislative program that enjoys the respect of New Mexico lawmakers. Just this year, the ACLU-NM was part of the coalition that championed multiple pieces of legislation signed into law in New Mexico that protect New Mexicans’ fundamental rights to body autonomy, including: Reproductive Health Provider Protections (SB 13), which ensures the freedom of individuals to make decisions about their own bodies and their futures with dignity and without undue political interference and dangerous overreach across state lines; the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act (HB 7), which ensures that every New Mexican has the freedom and dignity to make their own decisions about reproductive health care and gender-affirming care in every corner of our state; and the Human Rights Act Modernization (HB 207), which ensures that New Mexico will no longer allow tax-payer-funded discrimination by ensuring all public entities must adhere to the state’s Human Rights Act.

They also secured major wins in court this year that have protected the rights of same-sex parents and the rights of parents and children related to assisted reproduction. Beyond reproductive rights victories in court, ACLU-NM has also won cases protecting the rights of the unhoused, a settlement for a youth who was wrongfully arrested and incarcerated, and a settlement for the wrongful death of a detained asylum seeker.

In all essential work taken on by the ACLU-NM, they partner with individuals and communities impacted by injustices to inform and mobilize people throughout the state. The people in the center of the struggles for justice, who feel the impact in their daily lives, are especially important allies.

Equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of the ACLU and central to their work. They believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within their organization – one that respects and embraces difference, treats everyone equitably, and empowers their colleagues to do the best work possible.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES & IMPACT FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS STAFF ATTORNEY

The Reproductive Rights Staff Attorney will be immersed in a portfolio of work including litigation, advocacy, research, policy, legislation, building partnerships across the community, and other efforts that are central to ensuring the reproductive rights of New Mexicans. They will be part of a close knit, supportive team who are similarly passionate about this work.

Their work will include:

• Implementing legal strategies, under the direction of the Managing Attorney and Legal Director, to protect and expand reproductive rights and gender equity in New Mexico.
• Collaborating with other ACLU of New Mexico program staff and integrating efforts with other policy, communications, and organizing strategies.
• Identifying strategic opportunities for and participating in litigation and administrative advocacy to advance reproductive rights and gender equity. Litigation includes all aspects of discovery, motion practice, trials, and evidentiary hearings, and drafting briefs in trial and appellate courts.
• Providing legal advice and assistance to ACLU of New Mexico clients, as needed. This includes representing abortion providers.
• Conducting legal research and drafting legal memoranda, demand letters, and advocacy letters.
• Developing and implementing strategies to improve public and/or institutional policies related to health care, particularly reproductive health care, for all New Mexicans including immigrants and their families.
• Investigating and litigating under the direction of the Legal Director select civil liberties and civil rights cases. This includes legal research; drafting pleadings, briefs, and motions; conducting discovery; trial and appellate work in state and/or federal courts.
• Cultivating relationships and partnerships with community partners and local/national attorneys committed to the goals of the project.
• Conducting research, preparing legal memoranda and letters; review or write amicus briefs; provide legal analysis to other senior ACLU staff, and provide project-specific supervision of law students and interns.
• Analyzing and drafting proposed legislation and administrative regulations; tracking legislation; educating lawmakers; preparing legislative memos and talking points; and testifying before legislative committees.
• Ensuring that principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) inform all practices and processes.
• Other duties, special projects, and tasks as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

The Reproductive Rights Staff Attorney will be a strong collaborator and team player, someone who is able to adapt well, prioritize work appropriately, and communicate expertly in settings as varied as the courtroom and a meeting with the public. They will need to be able to work effectively in a high-trust, autonomous environment that can be stressful and challenging.

Essential Qualifications:

• J.D. degree and relevant expertise in reproductive rights, health, or other civil rights.
• Demonstrated understanding of the reproductive justice framework.
• Significant civil litigation experience. Previous experience in constitutional and/or civil rights litigation on the plaintiff’s side is a plus.
• Experience managing a varied and complex docket.
• Member of the State Bar of New Mexico or willingness to become admitted to the New Mexico Bar within one year of hire. There is a public service bar admission track in New Mexico.
• A strong and demonstrated commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and the mission and goals of the ACLU.
• A strong understanding of constitutional law.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical ability.
• Strong communication skills and experience working with diverse communities and cultures.
• Proven ability to work independently as well as 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.

Please note:  The Reproductive Rights 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.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary for this role is determined by our litigator pay scale and is based on year of graduation from law school. Based on the experience necessary for this role, we anticipate an annual salary of no less than $75,500. We offer excellent benefits, including health and dental insurance, long-term disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, and generous sick and vacation time, family and medical leave policies.

TO APPLY

More information about ACLU-NM may be found at: www.aclu-nm.org.

We are partnering with Cara Pearsall and Rachel Burgoyne of the national talent consulting and search firm NPAG. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s website.

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.