The Staff Attorney is a highly collaborative team player who will develop and litigate cases in state and federal court and engage in other legal advocacy efforts on various civil rights and civil liberties issues. The Staff Attorney will also: assist the ACLU of Utah’s effective response to requests for help through the intake process; work with cooperating attorneys and other legal partners to develop litigation; and advance the mission and work of the ACLU of Utah’s legal advocacy efforts as a whole.

The Staff Attorney is a Full-Time, Salaried, and Exempt position that will work under the supervision of the Legal Director. After the defined 6-month probationary period, as indicated in our affiliate Handbook, this position is classified as “for cause.”

Specifically, the Staff Attorney will:

• Effectively pursue the ACLU of Utah’s strategic priorities and fulfill the Legal Department’s stated goals in furtherance of those priorities through legal advocacy in state and federal courts, including investigating, developing and litigating high-impact cases in furtherance of civil rights and civil liberties priorities, often alongside co-counsel from other firms and organizations.
• Engage in non-litigation legal advocacy efforts for the same purposes, including but not limited to administrative advocacy, legislative analysis, and records requests.
• Assist with legal research, document review, and citation checks for legal filings.
• Assist in the ACLU of Utah’s responses to requests for assistance received through the intake process, which the Intake Program Manager manages.
• As directed by the Legal Director, assist other departments in an integrated advocacy approach to further the mission and strategic priorities of the ACLU of Utah.
• As assigned by the Legal Director, assist in public education efforts in collaboration with the Campaigns and Communications teams.
• Consult with other departments of the ACLU of Utah, under the direction of the Legal Director, on organizational priorities.

• Individuals with litigation experience—including law school clinics, clerkships, and direct client representation—are preferred and strongly encouraged to apply.
• Staff Attorney: at least one year of civil or criminal litigation experience, including experience taking/defending depositions, participating in evidentiary hearings and/or trials, drafting motions or appeals, and experience engaging in complex discovery.

Excellent benefits include:

• paid time off
• medical, vision, and dental insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer matching contribution that vests immediately

We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds and lived experience enhances our ability to meet our mission and creates an environment where all community members can thrive. We strongly encourage and greatly value applications from women, people of color, immigrants, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups.