Legal Director

ABOUT THE ACLU OF KANSAS

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas is a non-profit and non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving and advancing the civil rights and legal freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights and the Kansas Constitution. The ACLU of Kansas works in the state legislature, the courts, and local communities to protect the rights of all people living in Kansas. The organization’s work includes efforts to strengthen and defend First Amendment rights, voting rights, reproductive rights, racial justice, LGBT rights, immigrants’ rights, stopping government surveillance, and reforming the criminal legal system.

The organization currently uses a campaign model where 80% of our efforts and resources are dedicated to two campaigns: voting rights and immigrants’ rights. The remaining 20% of our efforts are devoted to other civil liberties matters as they arise. The ACLU of Kansas often works in broad-based coalitions made up of individuals and organizations from across the political, partisan, and ideological spectrum. The ACLU of Kansas is an affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union, has an annual budget of approximately $4.7 million, and has nearly 40,000 supporters across the state.

The ACLU of Kansas comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the ACLU Foundation of Kansas. Both entities have the same overall mission and share some resources but are separate entities that engage in different types of work to protect civil liberties. The ACLU Foundation of Kansas is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that primarily engages in litigation and public education. The ACLU of Kansas is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation that primarily engages in lobbying and advocacy. On a contracted basis, the ACLU of Kansas also provides operational support to Kansans United for Civil Liberties, an IRS Section 527 organization that provides non-partisan, non-endorsing voter education about civil liberties issues in elections for public office.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The ACLU of Kansas seeks a visionary, dynamic, creative, self-motivated team player to serve as its Legal Director. This senior-level, at-will position will lead the organization’s statewide program of impact-oriented litigation and legal advocacy. Reporting to the Deputy Executive Director/Chief Program Officer, the position may be based at either of the ACLU of Kansas’s offices, located in Overland Park and Wichita.

This position involves some travel to communities around the state, including to state and federal courthouses. This is a management position, with current supervisory responsibility for three full-time employees in addition to legal fellows, legal interns, and legal volunteers.

The ACLU of Kansas has adopted a “campaign” approach for its work. Work is focused on pursuing specific integrated advocacy campaigns to achieve measurable goals that will expand civil liberties, while building the long-term power of the ACLU and the civil liberties movement. The organization’s current campaigns are voting rights and immigrants’ rights. Both campaigns have legal advocacy or litigation objectives they seek to attain at the state level and at the local level.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• In coordination with the Deputy Executive Director/Chief Program Officer, develop vision and set overall strategy for the ACLU of Kansas legal program.
• Ensure the ACLU of Kansas maintains an active and diverse litigation docket consistent with organizational and campaign priorities.
• Serve as lead counsel for cases pursued by the ACLU of Kansas, where appropriate.
• Investigate and litigate select civil liberties cases in state and federal courts.
• Manage and litigate active cases, including: drafting and developing arguments for briefs and motions; managing all aspects of discovery; managing in-court proceedings; negotiating settlements; and maintaining client relationships throughout the case.
• Supervise legal staff (including volunteers and legal interns/fellows).
• Prepare legal memoranda and demand letters.
• Review, comment on, or write amicus briefs.
• Provide legal analysis to other ACLU staff, when appropriate.
• Coordinate collaboration with and legal support for other ACLU of Kansas programs in the promotion of integrated advocacy, including Know Your Rights materials.
• Collaborate with national ACLU partners and participate in national ACLU conferences.
• Establish, maintain, and manage a robust set of co-counsel relationships with law firms and cooperating attorneys, within and outside of Kansas.
• Maintain communication and contact with the broader legal community in Kansas.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the ACLU of Kansas in the press, as a public speaker, and before other audiences, as appropriate.
• Coordinate media strategies for legal cases with communications staff.
• Collaborate with communications staff in drafting press releases, op-eds, and articles for newsletter, website, social media, and other outlets.
• Report on legal program activities to funders and the ACLU of Kansas board of directors, as applicable.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

While no one candidate may possess all the qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will be passionate about the mission and values of ACLU of Kansas and will bring many of the following skills and experiences:

• Undergraduate degree and JD required.
• Bar licensure in at least one state is required at the time of application. Admission to the Kansas Bar will be required for the successful candidate; candidates not yet admitted to the Kansas Bar will be required to waive in within six months of hire or sit for/pass the next available Kansas bar exam.
• At least seven years of civil litigation experience, with at least 5 of those years as USC 1983 litigation or other plaintiff-side civil rights experience. Experience in both federal and state courts strongly preferred.
• Prior experience managing an organizational/advocacy litigation docket.
• At least two years of experience in managing legal staff is required; additional years of experience is preferred.
• Experience working on racial justice issues and using a racial justice lens.
• Substantial knowledge of constitutional and statutory civil liberties and civil rights law.
• Excellent analytical, communication (written and oral), and research skills, with the ability to articulate legal concepts and complex issues tactfully and effectively to a variety of audiences.
• Strong legal writing and editing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse groups.
• Initiative, vision, and ability to develop and implement short and long-term legal and litigation strategies.
• Exceptional ability to work independently and keep organized in a fast-paced environment, manage several projects simultaneously, and adjust strategy to frequently changing demands.
• Understanding of how to work collaboratively with colleagues across departments and functions; experience in integrated advocacy strongly preferred.
• Ability to manage, lead, and inspire professional growth in legal staff.
• Commitment to the highest ethical standards and professionalism.
• An unwavering passion for the mission and goals of the ACLU, including demonstrated interest in civil liberties, equity and racial justice is essential.
• Commitment to using litigation and legal advocacy as a tool for advancing justice and the ACLU’s values is essential.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Compensation: The salary range for the Legal Director is in a range that begins at $130,000 and rises commensurate with experience.

Benefits: A career with the ACLU of Kansas provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. Staff members have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make a career with the ACLU of Kansas very rewarding, including but not limited to:

• Competitive Health Benefits: The ACLU of Kansas pays the full premium for the health care coverage for the employee and approximately 70% for dependents.
• Comprehensive Retirement Package: including automatic enrollment in the organization’s Contribution Plan.
• Longevity Payments paid yearly and gradually increasing based upon the anniversary date of hire.
• Generous Paid Time Off includes 17 paid holidays, vacation, personal, and sick paid time-off.
• Employee Assistance Plan offers support and referrals to help employees and members of the employee’s household to manage everyday life issues.
• Flexibility: ACLU of Kansas follows a hybrid schedule model allowing staff to work remotely for up to three days per week. Our in-office time is primarily used for team meetings and formal and informal collaboration.

TO APPLY

To learn more about the ACLU of Kansas, please visit: www.aclukansas.org.

This search is being led by Katherine Jacobs and Jehivian Hernandez of GDSI Leadership. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume, via GDSI’s applicant portal.

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 Kansas reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU of Kansas is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Kansas encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, criminal record, or veteran status. The ACLU of Kansas undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions. The ACLU of Kansas strongly encourages formerly incarcerated individuals to apply.