Immigrants' Rights Staff Attorney

ACLU of Colorado is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization guided by a mission to protect, defend, and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado through litigation, education, and advocacy. As the oldest and largest civil rights organization in Colorado, its work is guided by the Bill of Rights, ensuring the freedoms contained within are available for members of marginalized communities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ people, women, immigrants, people experiencing poverty, unhoused people, incarcerated people, and students.

ACLU of Colorado envisions a future where the civil rights and civil liberties of all people in Colorado are honored, respected and upheld. For more information about the work of the ACLU of Colorado and the civil liberties principles we uphold, please visit our website u-co.org.

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado seeks a dynamic, skilled, mission-driven applicant for a full-time Immigrants’ Rights Staff Attorney position. The Immigrants’ Rights Staff Attorney will work under the direction of the Legal Director to conduct systemic immigration work including strategic litigation at the intersection of immigrants’ rights and constitutional rights and collaborate on the same across departments through integrated advocacy.

Examples of our current and ongoing work in this area include D.B.U. et al. v. Donald J. Trump et al.;
Ramirez Ovando, et al. v. Noem, et al.; and Mendoza Gutierrez v. Baltasar, et al.

• In concert with the Legal Director, craft cutting‑edge legal cases by selecting issues appropriate for litigation, conducting factual and legal research, interviewing potential clients and witnesses, and identifying and developing legal theories through substantive legal research and writing
• Draft legal memoranda, demand letters, and advocacy letters
• Litigate ACLU cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts; participate and potentially exercise leadership roles in all aspects of discovery, motion practice, trials, evidentiary hearings, and appeals; draft pleadings, motions, briefs, and other litigation documents
• Coordinate and work with ACLU volunteer cooperating attorneys
• Supervise and mentor law student interns and volunteers
• Present selected potential cases to the ACLU Legal Panel for evaluation
• Review and investigate selected requests for legal assistance
• Develop and maintain relationships with legal staff at National ACLU, its projects, and other ACLU affiliates
• Provide support and work with ACLU staff in our Communications, Development, and Advocacy and Policy departments, in furtherance of our integrated advocacy model, which combines legal advocacy, public communications, and policy advocacy for maximum impact
• Serve as an ACLU spokesperson in public speaking events and with the press
• Serve on interdepartmental committees dedicated to a variety of different subject areas including diversity, equity and inclusion, smart justice, privacy and liberty, and systemic equality

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA‑accredited law school with at least two years of litigation experience
• Membership in the Colorado bar or ability to secure membership in the Colorado bar within one year of employment
• Substantive experience and knowledge of immigration and constitutional law and understanding of a wide range of civil liberties and civil rights issues
• Strong demonstrated commitment to immigration law and the mission of the ACLU of Colorado
• Excellent demonstrated writing skills, both for legal and non‑legal audiences
• Extensive research and analytical skills
• A demonstrated commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values individuals and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio‑economic circumstance, and a demonstrated ability to work with diverse individuals within the organization and the broader community
• Ability to work beyond the 9 to 5 hours of the normal workday, including attending evening and weekend meetings and/or events

Desired Qualifications

• Fluency in Spanish is desirable
• Signi…