Paralegal

ACLU of Maine; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The ACLU of Maine is seeking a full-time Paralegal to support civil rights litigation and policy advocacy. This role involves assisting with legal documents, conducting investigations, and supporting the legal team in various capacities. Ideal candidates will have strong organizational skills and a commitment to the ACLU's mission. This position offers a starting salary of $65,000 with excellent benefits including paid time off and health insurance.

Benefits

20 days paid time off

10 paid holidays

Health and dental insurance

401(k) plan with employer match

Qualifications

• Experience in a litigation environment preferred.
• Fluency in Spanish, French, Arabic, or Portuguese preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist with factual investigations and legal document preparation.
• Support Policy Fellow in maintaining the legislative calendar.
• Facilitate case file management and communications updates.

Skills

Fluency in a relevant language

Strong organizational skills

Excellent interpersonal communication

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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NOTE: To be considered for this position, please follow the the instructions under the "How to Apply" section of this post.

About the ACLU of Maine

We are the Maine affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union. We fight for equality, justice, and freedom for all people in Maine in the statehouse, in the courthouse, and through public education and engagement. We are active in the areas of criminal legal reform, racial justice, immigrants' rights, reproductive freedom, women's rights, Indigenous justice, LGBTQ equality, voting rights, privacy, and freedom of speech and religion. We are a passionate, highly motivated group and we are looking for exceptional talent to join our team.

About the Opportunity

The ACLU of Maine seeks applicants for a full-time Paralegal to support and strengthen our litigation and advocacy work. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by MSEA, SEIU Local 1989.

Under the supervision of the Legal Director, the Paralegal will assist in a range of diverse legal and policy projects, including supporting all stages of civil rights litigation in both state and federal court.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Specific responsibilities include:

Direct Support of Civil Rights Litigation

• Review all requests for legal assistance and work with an attorney to send responses and conduct follow-up as appropriate.
• Assist with factual investigations, including preparing public records requests, interviewing clients and witnesses, and assisting with research.
• Draft and send correspondence and legal documents, including letters, motions, court forms, petitions, subpoenas, and discovery documents.
• Prepare legal filings, including proofreading, formatting, cite-checking, creating tables of contents and authorities, and filing documents.
• Assist with discovery, including the organization, case management, collection, review, and production of documents.
• Analyze data and prepare reports and graphics for public readership.
• Work with attorneys to present Know Your Rights materials to community members.
• Monitor relevant deadlines, calculate court deadlines, and update case calendars.
• Work jointly with legal interns and staff to support projects as assigned.

Direct Support of Policy Advocacy

• Support Policy Fellow as needed in maintaining the legislative calendar and drafting testimony.

Administrative Tasks

• Facilitate conflicts checks, case opening procedures, case file management, and tracking for litigation matters.
• Work with the communications team to update program materials for the ACLU of Maine webpage.
• Provide support for hiring processes for legal department roles.

Qualifications

• Experience in a litigation environment preferred.
• Fluency in a relevant language, including Spanish, French, Arabic, or Portuguese, preferred.
• Experience working withclients of all backgrounds.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks under time pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work proactively, collaboratively, and independently as needed to get things done.
• A strong passion for the ACLU of Maine’s mission.

We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications described. Prior paralegal experience is not required.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time non-exempt position with a starting salary of $65,000. The salary is non-negotiable, consistent with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Excellent benefits include 20 days paid time off, 10 paid holidays, individual employer-provided health and dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, paid family medical leave, and 401(k) plan with employer match of up to 5.5%. Additionally, staff are paid during the following office closures: the first full week in August, the week of Thanksgiving, and from December 24 through January 1.

Location

The ACLU of Maine’s office is based in Portland, Maine. Currently, staff work on a hybrid schedule, with all staff in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume. Submit materials [e-mail] include your name and “Paralegal” in the subject line. If you need assistance or accommodation, contact us [e-mail]. Your cover letter should explain ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above. We also invite applicants to include information about how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.

The ACLU of Maine is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Maine encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, previous criminal convictions, and veteran status.

Hiring Timeline

Applications are due by June 1, 2025. We plan to contact you by mid-June if we are interested in moving your candidacy forward and intend to extend an offer by early July. This position will ideally begin in late July.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Entry level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Legal

• Industries

  Non-profit Organizations

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