Paralegal, Women's Rights Project

Job Description

ABOUT THE JOB

Since its founding by Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1972, the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project has been a trailblazer in fighting for gender equity under law. We engage in systemic legal reform to ensure that everyone has the freedom to live, work, and learn free from stereotypes, harassment, and violence based on sex. Our recent work includes challenging employment rules that penalize workers for their pregnancies or push them out of the paid workforce altogether, winning a historic settlement against Facebook for targeting ads for jobs, housing, and credit only at men, and fighting the mass eviction crisis and other unfair housing practices that disproportionately lock out women, particularly Black women, from housing opportunities.

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Paralegal in the Women's Rights Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY .

Reporting to the Project Director , the Paralegal will be an integral part of the Women’s Rights Project’s litigation, advocacy, and strategy to advance gender equity.

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 in connection with prospective or ongoing litigation, policy matters, or public education efforts
• Maintain and ensure the accuracy of WRP’s litigation docket and calendar, and organize and maintain litigation and policy files
• Assist in the development and maintenance of WRP’s website and other public information outlets
• Receive requests for legal assistance and ensure timely responses to inquiries
• 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 intern, fellowship, and project staff positions
• Work jointly with interns and communicate routine and/or procedural guidance on projects assigned by managers
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned
• Center principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in all work, embedding the values in program development, policy application, and organizational practices and processes
• Commitment to the mission of 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

EXPERIENCE & 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, etc.
• Experience creating tables of contents, tables of authorities, and mail merges
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Ability to work with a wide range of people and foster a team environment
• A Bachelor’s degree is preferred
• Basic knowledge of Westlaw is preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to women's rights and gender justice is preferred

COMPENSATION

Salary for this position is $65,386. Excellent benefits package provided.

ABOUT THE ACLU

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union – beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

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 from government abuse and overreach.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. 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 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.

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. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

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