Paralegal, Reproductive Freedom Project

Job Description

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Paralegal in the Reproductive Freedom Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY

The ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project envisions a world that respects and supports each of us in making deeply personal decisions that determine the shape of our lives: with whom to form intimate relationships, and whether, when, and how to have children. In the world we see, we can all get the health care and other resources necessary to have a child, to prevent pregnancy, or to have an abortion—regardless of where we live, our income, race, age, gender identity, or immigration status or whom we love.

For four decades, the ACLU has been a leader in the efforts to ensure that every person has access to affordable and stigma free abortion care. The ACLU has participated in nearly every reproductive rights case before the Supreme Court and in significant cases in federal and state courts too numerous to count. Below are just a few examples of current cases: Challenges to laws banning abortion in multiple states, including Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri; A challenge to the Trump Administration’s policy that bars unaccompanied immigrant minors from obtaining abortions; Challenges to laws seeking to shut down clinics and push abortion care out of reach, including an effort to shut down the last clinic in Kentucky; Cases seeking to expand the availability of abortion care.

Reporting to the Project Director the Paralegal will be responsible for providing administrative and litigation support to the legal project.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Format, cite check, and file litigation documents in federal and state courts around the United States
• Create tables of contents and tables of authorities for legal briefs
• Prepare basic documents required for attorney admissions to courts, including pro hac vice forms and notices of appearance
• Manage litigation documents including exhibits, discovery requests, deposition transcripts, and briefs
• Maintain databases and case files; archive documents
• Provide research support for cases
• Handle general clerical duties, including processing invoices, tracking expenses and case costs, generating expense reports, ordering supplies, answering phones, etc.
• Make travel arrangements and arrange meetings for project staff
• Provide other litigation and administrative support
• Assist staff in assembling and preparing information, including multimedia presentations for speaking engagements
• Prepare updates on cases for ACLU website
• Act as liaison between Staff Attorneys and Legal Administrative Assistants to disseminate work assigned by attorneys and provide routine and/or procedural guidance regarding work assignments
• Provide administrative support for the managers’ review of applications for Legal Administrative Assistant and intern positions
• Work jointly with interns and communicate routine and/or procedural guidance on projects assigned by managers

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent word-processing and computer skills in Windows 7 environment
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Powerpoint
• Strong internet research skills
• Ability to locate and meticulously follow court rules
• Must be well organized, efficient, highly motivated, able to handle multiple tasks at once, work well under pressure, and take initiative
• Strong writing, verbal and interpersonal skills, superb attention to detail and excellent phone manner
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Commitment to the mission of the Reproductive Freedom Project and the ACLU
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance
• Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree
• One year of legal assistant or paralegal experience
• Experience with following court rules, filing court documents, and using PACER
• Experience maintaining litigation files
• Experience making travel arrangements

COMPENSATION

Salary for this position is $62,871. Excellent benefits package provided.

ABOUT THE ACLU

For 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 LGBT 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 from government abuse and overreach.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages 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 makes every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions.

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 e-mail [email protected] . If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.