The focus of this role is to conduct legal research and analysis, legislative drafting, and projects to support the organization’s legislative, policy, and non-litigation advocacy work; assess, analyze, and advocate for Mississippians across ACLU of Mississippi’s priority campaigns—Democracy and Voting, Immigration and Policing, and Social and Economic Justice through legal research and writing, community engagement, policy analysis and legal and legislative investigation. This position will also include facilitating appeals in appropriate programs and informing impacted communities of the civil rights and civil liberties implications of, national state and municipal government actions and proposed new legislation/ policy/ ordinances.

This position reports to the Deputy Executive Director, and works closely with colleagues within the Advocacy department, as well as other advocates across departments, to achieve ACLU-MS program objectives.

Public Education, Coalition Work, and Community Engagement

• Engage in direct civic engagement and coalition building to further ACLU-MS’s strategic efforts.
• Draft civic engagement, public education, and communications materials in consultation with the legal, advocacy, and communications teams.
• Present research findings, analysis, and other learnings to educate internal and external stakeholders.
• Forge and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including issue area experts, cooperating attorneys, community organizations, public interest groups, civil rights groups, government officials, advocacy coalitions, and academics, to engage them in ACLU-MS work and support collaborative projects.
• Collaborate on ACLU-MS projects with staff across departments, as assigned, as well as colleagues at other ACLU state affiliates and the National ACLU.

Direct Assistance & Advocacy

• Support advocacy strategies to increased access to public benefit programs, including SNAP, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and childcare vouchers as well as other legislative priorities of the ACLU of Mississippi.
• Evaluate program effectiveness, identify policy gaps, and work with community organizations and advocates to provide actionable recommendations to improve service delivery and accessibility for vulnerable populations.
• Monitor and interpret federal, state, and local policy changes that impact issues related to social and economic justice, immigration and policing, and democracy and voting for all Mississippians.
• Prepare and present detailed reports, policy briefs, and presentations to stakeholders and policymakers.
• Stay informed on best practices, emerging trends, and innovations in public benefit programs across the country.
• Assist individuals with appeal and applications for public assistance through SNAP, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and childcare vouchers.
• Identify barriers to program access and participation for underserved populations, including systemic inequities and administrative inefficiencies.

Research, Analysis, and Drafting

• Review, analyze, and synthesize the constitutional, civil rights, and civil liberties implications of existing and proposed state legislation, executive branch orders, municipal policies/ordinances, and similar matters, with close attention to how they impact public assistance, voting rights and election law, due process, immigrants’ rights, and racial justice.
• Develop and draft local and state legislation, policies and ballot measures, policy models, non-litigation advocacy letters, and public education materials for ACLU-MS advocates to use in educating policymakers, community partners, and ACLU-MS staff.
• Design and lead public records requests in support of priority advocacy campaigns, and assist with reviewing, categorizing, and synthesizing documents obtained, researching civil rights and civil liberties implications of the documents, and communicating those implications to ACLU-MS staff.

Other Responsibilities

• Special projects and other tasks, as assigned by the Deputy Executive Director.

• Juris Doctor or advanced law degree required.
• Direct experience working on issue-based public advocacy campaigns.
• Demonstrated strength in legal research and analysis as well as legislative and policy drafting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, as well as interpersonal skills.
• Proven experience in creative problem-solving and deriving insight from research findings and data.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in policy analysis, research, or program evaluation, with a focus on public benefit programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data and policy issues to diverse audiences.
• Knowledge of Medicaid, TANF, childcare vouchers, and other public benefit programs, including their regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms.
• Commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and social justice in public policy.
• Experience engaging with and working on behalf of underrepresented communities.
• Strong belief in the ACLU’s mission and work to defend and strengthen civil rights and civil liberties.
• Ability to frequently and independently travel to various locations across Mississippi.
• Flexibility to work outside of regular business hours when needed, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

This position is full-time, exempt, and will pay an annual salary of between $78,000 and $90,000 depending on experience. Excellent benefits offered, including paid vacation; sick leave; employer-paid medical insurance for employees; 401(k) retirement benefits plan with employer match; life insurance; extended medical leave including parental leave after an eligible period; professional development opportunities.

ACLU-MS full-time employees enjoy hybrid work schedules. Staff can work up to 3 days remotely and 2 days in office.

Applications should include a cover letter, resume and list of three professional references to jdortch@aclu-ms.org. To facilitate our review, your emails should have the subject line: “[Your last name] Advocacy Policy Counsel Application.” We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

This job announcement 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 Mississippi reserves the right to change the description and/or posting without advance notice.