Paralegal

Jobtailor; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

ACLU of Wisconsin seeks a dedicated paralegal to support civil liberties and civil rights litigation. The role involves legal research, document preparation, and maintaining confidential client files in a collaborative team setting.

You will handle intake, data entry, and calendar management, while assisting attorneys with filings and discovery. Proficiency in LegalServer, Microsoft Office, and Google Suite is required.

Qualifications

• Paralegal certification or degree preferred but not required.
• Experience with civil liberties/civil rights law is a plus.
• Comfort working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Legal Department with investigating and litigating civil liberties and civil rights cases in Wisconsin state and federal courts.
• Manage legal intake requests, including online and written complaints and data entry.
• Conduct factual and legal research to aid case development and gather evidence.
• Maintain electronic and paper case files, including opening, maintenance, and archiving.
• Administer the LegalServer case management system and coordinate technical support.

Skills

Legal Research

Case Management

LegalServer Expertise

Federal Court Filing Experience

Paralegal Certification

Data Entry

Calendar Management

Education

Paralegal Training Certificate

Active Paralegal Certification

Tools

LegalServer

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Job description

• Provide assistance to the Legal Department in investigating and litigating selected civil liberties and civil rights cases in Wisconsin state and federal courts
• Manage legal intake requests, including online and written complaints, monthly intake review, and data entry
• Assist with case development through factual and legal research, interviews, information gathering, and evidence analysis
• Manage and maintain electronic and paper legal case files, including opening, ongoing maintenance, and archiving
• Administer the LegalServer case management system and coordinate technical modifications, assistance, and troubleshooting
• Manage litigation administration and logistics under attorney direction, including document production, discovery review, service of discovery documents, and court reporter arrangements
• Prepare, file, and serve court filings for attorneys
• Manage calendars and scheduling requests to ensure case deadlines are met
• Assist in maintaining client relations
• Draft routine correspondence, procedural motions, and government record requests
• Collect, organize, and summarize responses to record requests
• Cite-check, proofread, and format documents for filing
• Assist attorneys with timekeeping and reporting on certain cases
• Support recruitment, selection, supervision, and evaluation of law clerks, interns, and volunteers
• Maintain professional ethics and client confidentiality
• Support a collaborative and respectful work environment
• Occasionally appear at public events on behalf of the organization
• Perform other administrative duties as assigned

Requirements

• Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging as core values
• Strong commitment to the ACLU mission and goals, racial justice, dismantling white supremacy, and structural power analysis
• Knowledge of how power and oppression manifest across race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ability, citizenship, and socioeconomic circumstances
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively across lines of difference with colleagues, clients, community partners, and volunteers
• Advanced organizational and case management skills
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to identify primary and secondary authorities and apply appropriate operational and management tools
• Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality and exercise sound independent judgment, integrity, discretion, and diplomacy
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Advanced Microsoft Office and Google Suite skills
• Ability and willingness to become an in-house expert on LegalServer
• Self-starter with follow-through and ability to set priorities and meet deadlines
• Creative problem-solving and ability to develop and execute effective organizational strategies
• Ability to handle difficult and sensitive factual situations involving rights violations and traumatic circumstances
• Willingness to receive and respond to feedback and work collaboratively on a multi-person, multi-firm litigation team
• Paralegal training certificate or degree and three years of paralegal experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, preferred but not required
• Active Paralegal Certification and compliance with State Bar of Wisconsin continuing education requirements preferred but not required
• Nonprofit experience preferred
• Experience in ACLU-WI core practice areas preferred
• Federal court filing experience strongly preferred
• Fluency in Spanish or another non-English language considered an asset, but not required
• Ability to work approximately 40 hours per week
• Ability to maintain physical file records and perform word processing
• Ability to work at a computer for multiple hours per day
• Ability to lift/carry office supplies, packages, and equipment
• Ability to meet the listed physical and communication requirements

Core Competencies

Demonstrates advanced organizational and case management skills, with a strong commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Proficient in legal research, document preparation, and maintaining client confidentiality while supporting collaborative litigation efforts.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Legal Research
• Case Management
• LegalServer Expertise
• Federal Court Filing Experience
• Paralegal Certification

Hard Skills

• Legal Research
• Document Preparation
• Data Entry
• Cite-Checking
• Evidence Analysis
• Calendar Management
• Word Processing
• Filing Court Documents
• Organizing Record Requests
• Maintaining Legal Case Files

Soft Skills

• Excellent Communication
• Interpersonal Skills
• Creative Problem-Solving
• Attention to Detail
• Collaboration

Certifications & Qualifications

• Paralegal Training Certificate
• Active Paralegal Certification

Industry Keywords

• Civil Liberties
• Civil Rights
• ACLU Mission
• Racial Justice
• Nonprofit Experience
• Wisconsin State Bar Compliance

Tools & Technologies

• LegalServer
• Microsoft Office
• Google Suite