Paralegal

ACLU - National Office; Washington; Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Healthcare benefits

401k plan with employer match

Professional development funds

Job summary

The ACLU - National Office in Washington, DC seeks a Paralegal for the Program on Freedom Religion and Belief. This full-time, hybrid role requires in-office presence two days per week.

You will support litigation, research, and policy work, maintain the Program's docket, assist with discovery, and help update the website and public information outlets. Strong Westlaw and MS Office skills are essential, and you will collaborate with national and state affiliates.

Qualifications

• Excellent research skills, including Internet research.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must take initiative, be highly organized, detail-oriented, and possess strong interpersonal and time-management skills.
• Strong computer skills with advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Basic knowledge of Westlaw is preferred.
• Experience creating tables of contents, tables of authorities, and mail merges.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team.

Responsibilities

• Cite-check, format, and proofread documents, including legal briefs, memoranda, demand letters, and other correspondence.
• Conduct legal research and monitor cases on Westlaw.
• Assist in carrying out other litigation-related tasks, including editing discovery requests and responses, reviewing evidence, and preparing for depositions.
• Conduct Internet and other factual research related to prospective or ongoing litigation, policy matters, or public education efforts.
• Work with the Program attorneys to track state legislation and conduct related research.
• Maintain and ensure the accuracy of the Program’s litigation docket and calendar, and organize litigation and policy files.
• Assist in developing and maintaining the Program’s website and other public information outlets.
• Perform job-related special projects and other duties as assigned by the Director and other Program staff.

Skills

Research skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Independence

Teamwork

MS Office

Tools

Westlaw

Microsoft Office

Job description

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Paralegal in the ProgramonFreedom Religion and Belief of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight(8) days per month.

Fromitsearliestdayssupporting conscientiousobjectorstowaranddefendingJohnScopesin the infamous “Monkey Trial” of 1925, the ACLU has worked tirelessly to defend the right to religious liberty nationwide. Today, the national ACLU’s Program on Freedom Religion and Beliefprotectsthisfundamentalrightbyhelpingto ensurethatgovernmentallawsandpractices neither promote religion nor interfere with its free exercise. The Program fights to preserve religious freedom and the right of individual conscience through an integrated strategy of litigation, education, and public advocacy.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Reportingtothe ProjectDirector ,the Paralegal willbeacorememberofacollaborative, dedicatedteamworkingto advancetheACLU’smissiontoadvanceandprotectthefreedomof religion and belief.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Cite-check,format,andproofreaddocuments,includinglegalbriefs,memoranda, demand letters, and other correspondence


• Conductlegalresearchandmonitorcases onWestlaw


• Assistincarryingoutotherlitigation-relatedtasks,includingeditingdiscoveryrequests and responses, reviewing evidence, and preparing for depositions


• ConductInternetandotherfactualresearchinconnectionwithprospectiveorongoing litigation, policy matters, or public education efforts


• WorkwiththeProgramattorneystotrackstatelegislationandconductrelatedresearch


• MaintainandensuretheaccuracyoftheProgram’slitigationdocketandcalendar,and organize and maintain litigation and policy files


• AssistinthedevelopmentandmaintenanceoftheProgram’swebsiteandotherpublic information outlets.


• Performjob-relatedspecialprojects,supportotherlegaldepartmentprojects,andother duties as assigned by the Director and other Program staff


• Receiverequestsforlegalassistanceandensuretimelyresponsestoinquiries


• WorkwithothernationalACLUprojects,ACLUstateaffiliatesnationwide,andallies


• AssistProgramstaffregardingstrategicplanningandrelatedmatters


• Workonspecialprojects andotherduties asassignedbytheProjectDirector

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

• Excellentresearchskills,includingInternetresearch


• Excellentoralandwrittencommunicationskills


• Musttakeinitiative,behighlyorganized,detail-oriented,andpossessstronginterpersonal and time-management skills


• StrongcomputerskillswithadvancedknowledgeinMicrosoftOfficeSuite(e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.)


• BasicknowledgeofWestlawispreferred


• Experiencecreating tablesofcontents,tablesofauthorities,and mailmerges


• Abilitytoworkindependentlyaswellaswithinateam

COMPENSATION

The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, there is a set salary for each role based on geographic work location. The annual salary for this position is $81,166 ( Level K ), reflecting the salary of a position based in New York, NY. 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.