Second, money money money is required, unbelievable amounts of money is a prerequisite to litigation. That is why people apply to the ACLU for assistance - them ACLU has the money. It is also why cities cave to the ACLU upon the writing of a letter, cities don't care to fund a law suite against the ACLU (Christmas trees on the public square, Ten Commandments in public buildings).
Lastly, any lawyer worth his or her
salt, will tell you as well I that it is very difficult to practice in a state with which one is unfamiliar. I am well versed for Kentucky but send me across the river to Ohio, I have no license; I have only a general as opposed to a specific knowledge of what to do and how to do it. Essentially without local Ohio counsel to assist, I would be in violation of the law as well as nearly an ignorant fool. Every state has a different substantive and procedural scheme. That is another advantage the ACLU has, they have many members in every state so local counsel and knowledge is always available.