Join the ACLU of Arkansas Team

The Arkansas Civil Liberties Union Foundation, Inc. (ACLU-AR) is growing its legal department and seeks applicants for a full-time Staff Attorney to join its dedicated, collaborative, and racially diverse team in Little Rock. Since 1969, ACLU-AR has been a leading advocate for civil liberties in the Natural State. The Staff Attorney will help us protect and advance a broad range of civil liberties, including free speech, racial justice, voting rights, immigrants’ rights, privacy, religious liberty, reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, and more.

Reports to: Legal Director

FLSA Status: Exempt

KEY JOB DUTIES

Investigating, developing, and litigating impact civil liberties and civil rights cases at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts and administrative forums. Responsibilities include:

• Identifying possible litigation and handling intake;

• Conducting factual and legal research;

• Evaluating legal theory and strategy;

• Interviewing and counseling clients and witnesses;

• Writing demand letters;

• Drafting pleadings, motions, and briefs;

• Conducting discovery;

• Working with experts;

• Presenting oral arguments; and

• Negotiating settlements.

The staff attorney can expect to step into existing cases with other ACLU staff. They will work with the legal director to gradually develop their own docket of new cases and areas of expertise, aligned with ACLU-AR’s strategic priorities.

Participating in the legal department’s advocacy work and the organization’s broader integrated advocacy campaigns, including:

• Serving as a subject-matter expert and advocating on priority issues.

• Drafting and editing public education and non-litigation advocacy materials, such as Know Your Rights materials, in collaboration with the Policy and Communications Departments.

• Providing technical and other support for legislative and policy work, including analyzing bills and occasionally drafting and delivering testimony.

• Engaging with coalition partners, law and policy makers, community representatives, and colleagues from other ACLU offices working on similar issues.

Coordinating and working with ACLU volunteer cooperating attorneys.

Assisting in the development of more junior staff, including the direct supervision of interns.

Speaking publicly, including to the media, to convey ACLU-AR’s positions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

• A strong understanding of, and demonstrated commitment to, civil rights and civil liberties consistent with the mission and goals of the ACLU.

• Experience litigating in federal or state courts. At least three years of litigation experience in complex civil cases is preferred, although not strictly required. Applicants with judicial clerkship or other experience in lieu of experience as a practicing attorney may be considered.

• Must be licensed to practice law in Arkansas or eligible for admission via reciprocity.

• Excellent analytic, research, writing, and communication skills.

• Ability to develop and litigate impact cases, including demonstrated ability to conduct thorough fact-finding and investigations.

• Ability to work collaboratively on a variety of projects and to build strong relationships with lawyers, other staff members, and community organizers and coalitions.

• Ability to work independently and with minimal oversight.

• Proven project and time-management skills, including a high level of organization, the ability to meet deadlines, and attention to detail.

• Willingness to travel as needed for case development, conferences, and training.

• Competency with standard computer programs such as Microsoft Office, Excel, and Adobe.

• Ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them effectively to diverse audiences.

• Experience working with or representing vulnerable clients.
• Commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Starting salary is $90,000 to $100,000, depending on experience. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employee and family (100% employer-paid premiums); life insurance (100% employer-paid premiums); short-term and long-term disability insurance (100% employer-paid premiums); 401k with employer match (up to 5.5% based on employee contribution); and generous paid time off and paid holidays. This position will be supervised by the Legal Director and will be based in Little Rock. This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The ACLU of Arkansas is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive and equitable office culture of belonging. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified people without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or prior involvement in the criminal legal system.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Submit a detailed letter of interest, resume, brief writing sample, and contact information for three professional references. Applications should be emailed to [email protected], with a copy to [email protected]. Please include “Staff Attorney” in the subject line. Applicants who advance in the process may be asked to complete a writing exercise. No phone calls, please. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning on October 26, 2026.

The ACLU has partnered with the National Black Law Students Association to deepen the bench of talented, passionate, and committed civil rights and social justice attorneys in the South. The Southern Legal Internship Program (SLIP) will place legal interns at ACLU affiliates in each of the 13 states — including Arkansas — in the ACLU’s Southern Collective. SLIP interns will contribute to crucial legal, policy, and organizing campaigns in the issue areas that most affect Black and Brown communities in the region, including voting rights, educational equity, gender justice, and criminal legal reform.

Program Overview

• Time Commitment: Full-time (35 hours/week) for 10 weeks in Summer 2027 (likely beginning June 1 or June 14, 2027)
• Compensation: $8,400
• Location: One SLIP intern will be hired by each of the ACLU Southern Collective affiliates. Until further notice, it is preferred that SLIP interns will report for in-person work (likely on a hybrid basis with some amount of remote and in-person work) at affiliate offices alongside ACLU employees. Each affiliate sets its own policies regarding any mandatory in-person work requirements.
• Orientation: Before the internship begins, SLIP interns will participate in an orientation with their cohort and staff from ACLU National and Southern Collective offices. The date and format of the orientation (including whether it will be held virtually or in person) are TBD. Travel to and from the orientation and lodging will be provided by the ACLU.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Legal, policy, and administrative/regulatory research
• Drafting legal documents
• Drafting public-facing documents, e.g. know-your-rights documents or awareness-raising materials
• Participating in client intake
• Other projects as assigned based on affiliate placement

Qualifications:

• Current law student at the time of application (graduating no earlier than December 2027)
• Member of the National Black Law Students Association OR membership in your law school’s Black Law Student Association chapter. o You can register for NBLSA at this link: https://nationalblsa.wildapricot.org/join-us
• Strong research and writing skills
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Proficiency with Microsoft programs, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to take initiative, think creatively, problem solve, and take ownership of projects and assignments
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills and ability to be a team player
• Commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and social justice

Please note that specific expectations will vary based on affiliate placement.

How to Apply:

To apply, use this link to submit: (1) a cover letter (1 page maximum), (2) a résumé, (3) a writing sample (10 pages maximum), and (4) proof of NBLSA or local BLSA chapter membership through the Greenhouse application link in this post.
You will also be able to indicate the ACLU affiliates to which you want to apply.

Application Requirement: Please label each of your materials with your full name when you upload them (ex. First Name Last Name – Resume)

PRIORITY deadline*: Sunday, November 1, 2026

FINAL deadline: Sunday, November 22, 2026

* We strongly encourage you to apply by the priority deadline*

More Information

If you have questions or want more information about SLIP, please email [email protected] AND CC: Allison Shelnut at [email protected].