Project Attorney Jobs
Project attorney jobs are open across law firms, corporations, and government agencies, with specializations in litigation support, contract review, and regulatory compliance, from staff-level to senior project counsel roles. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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ABOUT THE JOB
The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel in the National Prison Project of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, or New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. This is a two-year term-limited position.
The National Prison Project works to ensure that conditions in prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers, and immigration detention facilities comply with the Constitution, domestic law, and international human rights principles. The Project has successfully litigated on behalf of incarcerated people in more than 25 states, and is the only organization litigating conditions of confinement cases nationwide. Our priorities include reducing overcrowding, improving health care, eliminating violence and maltreatment, and increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, and other places of detention. We also work to reverse the policies that have given the United States the highest incarceration rate in the world and led to extreme over-representation of people of color in the incarcerated population.
This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Reporting to the Deputy Project Director for Immigration Detention, the Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel will contribute to all aspects of the Project’s litigation and non-litigation work, with a special focus on the Project’s immigration detention work.
YOUR DAY TO DAY
- Litigate in federal and state courts, including appellate courts, throughout the country
- Carry a substantial caseload in federal and state court, working closely with other staff attorneys and local counsel
- Conduct legal research and write legal memoranda
- Analyze legislation for potential litigation
- Draft pleadings and briefs, engage in discovery and motion practice, and conduct evidentiary hearings and oral arguments
- Provide technical assistance and expert legal advice to local ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys, and others who seek assistance from the Project
- Conduct policy advocacy on immigration detention, prisoners’ rights, and criminal justice issues
- Develop new cases, identify and work with potential plaintiffs and witnesses
- Engage in public speaking to a variety of audiences on a broad range of immigration detention, prisoners’ rights, criminal justice, and civil liberties issues
- Travel as required for litigation, case management, conferences, and client development
In addition to:
- Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned
FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL
- Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
- Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
- Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts
WHAT YOU'LL BRING
- J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school
- Demonstrated litigation experience
- Admission to practice (based on office assignment)
- A demonstrated ability to work independently as well as within a team. Ability to foster and contribute to a collaborative team environment is essential
- Excellent legal research and writing skills
- Demonstrated ability to perform complex legal analytical work
- Demonstrated ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively
- Self-motivated, diligent and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with issues related to conditions of confinement preferred
- Proficiency in Spanish preferred
COMPENSATION
The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on year of law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details, based on individual circumstances)
- 0-2 years since law school graduation: $96,069 - $120,009
- 3-5 years since law school graduation: $134,414 - $158,579
- 6-10 years since law school graduation: $165,839 - $187,087
- 11-15 years since law school graduation: $190,585 - $201,403
- 16-20 years since law school graduation: $203,304 - $208,540
- 21-25 years since law school graduation: $209,595 - $213,890
- 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $214,920 - $219,104
The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY where are National Offices are headquartered. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.
For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf
WHY THE ACLU
For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.
We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.
At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:
- Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
- Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
- Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
- We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops
OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.
With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage 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, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please complete the Accommodation Request Form
If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
ABOUT THE JOB
The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel in the National Prison Project of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, or New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. This is a two-year term-limited position.
The National Prison Project works to ensure that conditions in prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers, and immigration detention facilities comply with the Constitution, domestic law, and international human rights principles. The Project has successfully litigated on behalf of incarcerated people in more than 25 states, and is the only organization litigating conditions of confinement cases nationwide. Our priorities include reducing overcrowding, improving health care, eliminating violence and maltreatment, and increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, and other places of detention. We also work to reverse the policies that have given the United States the highest incarceration rate in the world and led to extreme over-representation of people of color in the incarcerated population.
This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Reporting to the Deputy Project Director for Immigration Detention, the Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel will contribute to all aspects of the Project’s litigation and non-litigation work, with a special focus on the Project’s immigration detention work.
YOUR DAY TO DAY
- Litigate in federal and state courts, including appellate courts, throughout the country
- Carry a substantial caseload in federal and state court, working closely with other staff attorneys and local counsel
- Conduct legal research and write legal memoranda
- Analyze legislation for potential litigation
- Draft pleadings and briefs, engage in discovery and motion practice, and conduct evidentiary hearings and oral arguments
- Provide technical assistance and expert legal advice to local ACLU affiliates, cooperating attorneys, and others who seek assistance from the Project
- Conduct policy advocacy on immigration detention, prisoners’ rights, and criminal justice issues
- Develop new cases, identify and work with potential plaintiffs and witnesses
- Engage in public speaking to a variety of audiences on a broad range of immigration detention, prisoners’ rights, criminal justice, and civil liberties issues
- Travel as required for litigation, case management, conferences, and client development
In addition to:
- Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned
FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL
- Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
- Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
- Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts
WHAT YOU'LL BRING
- J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school
- Demonstrated litigation experience
- Admission to practice (based on office assignment)
- A demonstrated ability to work independently as well as within a team. Ability to foster and contribute to a collaborative team environment is essential
- Excellent legal research and writing skills
- Demonstrated ability to perform complex legal analytical work
- Demonstrated ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively
- Self-motivated, diligent and able to meet strict deadlines while under pressure
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Familiarity with issues related to conditions of confinement preferred
- Proficiency in Spanish preferred
COMPENSATION
The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on year of law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details, based on individual circumstances)
- 0-2 years since law school graduation: $96,069 - $120,009
- 3-5 years since law school graduation: $134,414 - $158,579
- 6-10 years since law school graduation: $165,839 - $187,087
- 11-15 years since law school graduation: $190,585 - $201,403
- 16-20 years since law school graduation: $203,304 - $208,540
- 21-25 years since law school graduation: $209,595 - $213,890
- 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $214,920 - $219,104
The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY where are National Offices are headquartered. Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.
For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf
WHY THE ACLU
For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.
We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.
At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:
- Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
- Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
- Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
- We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops
OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.
With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage 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, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please complete the Accommodation Request Form
If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
Project Attorney Jobs by Experience Level
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Law & Legal Services
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in project attorney jobs.
- J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar admission in at least one state
- Experience with e-discovery platforms such as Relativity, Concordance, or similar document review tools
- Prior document review or contract review experience in a law firm or corporate legal department
- Familiarity with litigation support workflows including privilege review, coding, and quality control
- Strong written communication skills for drafting memos, summaries, and contract redlines
- Ability to work independently under deadline pressure on large-volume document sets
Tips for Your Project Attorney Job Search
Tailor your resume to matter type
Project attorney postings are written around specific matter types, so a resume that leads with litigation review experience won't land the same way for a transactional contract role. Reorder your bullets to front-load the work that matches the posting's focus.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists project attorney openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Highlight document review platform fluency
Many project attorney postings require hands-on experience with e-discovery and document review platforms. Name the specific tools you've used in your resume rather than writing a generic reference to 'document management software' or 'review platforms.'
Target postings by engagement length
Project attorney roles range from short document review assignments to multi-year litigation projects. Filter your search by contract length or engagement type so you're applying to roles whose timeline actually fits your availability and career goals.
Prepare a matter-specific work sample
Interviewers for project attorney roles often ask candidates to describe a document review protocol they followed or a contract clause they flagged. Walk through a real example with enough procedural detail to show you understand the work, not just the job title.
Negotiate rate and extension terms upfront
Project attorney roles are frequently contract-based, so the rate, renewal terms, and billing structure are negotiable before you sign. Ask about extension options and billing expectations during the offer conversation, not after you've started.
Project Attorney Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most project attorneys?
Meridial, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, and Kemper are hiring the most project attorneys right now, with openings concentrated in New York, Texas, and California, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to track active litigation dockets and large transactional deals at law firms and in-house legal departments.
How many project attorney jobs are remote?
About 84% of project attorney openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how broadly document review and contract work has shifted to distributed teams. Roles centered on e-discovery review and contract analysis are the most likely to be posted as fully remote, while positions requiring court appearances or in-person client meetings tend to be on-site.
How do you become a project attorney?
You become a project attorney by earning a J.D., passing the bar in at least one state, and building direct experience with document review or contract work. Most candidates start with a litigation support or staff attorney role at a law firm or legal staffing agency. Getting comfortable with e-discovery platforms early makes you competitive for the highest-volume openings.
Can you get hired as a project attorney with little experience?
Yes, some project attorney roles are specifically structured for recent bar admissions, particularly large-scale document review projects that prioritize training candidates on the matter. Focus your applications on staff attorney or entry-level project counsel postings, emphasize any clinical or internship work involving document review or contract analysis, and be specific about your bar admission status and any relevant coursework.
What does the project attorney interview process look like?
The project attorney interview process typically involves an initial screening call with a legal staffing coordinator or HR contact, followed by a substantive conversation with a supervising attorney. Interviewers focus on your document review experience, familiarity with specific platforms, and your ability to apply privilege determinations consistently. Some engagements skip a formal interview entirely and move directly from application to a short assessment or platform walk-through.
Where can I find and apply to project attorney jobs?
You can find and apply to project attorney jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that fit your bar admission, matter experience, and availability, then apply directly to each listing that matches what you're looking for.
See All 37 Project Attorney Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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