PARALEGAL [LGBT-11]
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & AIDS Project, NY
For more than 92 years, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), has been at the forefront of virtually every major battle for civil liberties and equal justice in this country. Principled and nonpartisan, the ACLU has offices in all 50 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, and brings together the country’s largest team of public interest lawyers, lobbyists, communication strategists, and members and activists in the advancement of equality, fairness, and freedom, especially for the most vulnerable in our society.
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) and AIDS Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York City seeks applicants for the full-time position of Paralegal.
OVERVIEW
The LGBT & AIDS Project is part of the ACLU’s Center for Liberty, which is dedicated to the principle that we are all entitled to determine the course of our lives based on who we are and what we believe, free from unreasonable government constraint and baseless stereotypes. The Center for Liberty encompasses the ACLU’s work on LGBT rights, women’s rights, reproductive freedom, freedom of religion and belief, and HIV/AIDS.
Founded in 1986 as part of the National ACLU, the goal of the LGBT & AIDS Project is the creation of a society in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and people with HIV/AIDS enjoy the basic rights of equality, privacy and personal autonomy, and freedom of expression and association. This means an America where people can live openly without discrimination; where there is respect for our identities, relationships, and families; and where there is fair treatment in employment, schools, housing, public places, health care, and government programs.
Today, the ACLU brings more LGBT cases and advocacy initiatives than any other national civil rights organization. Doing this work as part of the broad civil liberties agenda of the ACLU exemplifies the notion that the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities must work in concert with other social change movements in order to achieve a just society for all. The ACLU strives to ensure that the racial and economic diversity of the LGBT and HIV-affected communities is reflected in its work and continues to explore ways to make its efforts more sensitive to the needs of people of color and people who are economically disadvantaged.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Paralegal will work in New York and will provide support to the Project’s New York lawyers as well as Project lawyers in Chicago and San Francisco. Responsibilities include:
- Respond to individuals contacting the Project for legal assistance, maintain the intake database and ensure timely responses to inquiries.
- Cite check, edit, format, produce and serve litigation documents.
- Draft declarations, prepare deposition summaries, review and organize documents.
- Conduct internet and other factual research and collaborate with other project staff in preparing background memoranda on selected policy issues.
- Assist the Project attorneys with legislative tracking.
- Collect and analyze social science and other research for use in litigation and policy presentations.
- Maintain a summary of the Project’s litigation, other legal work and the timekeeping system.
- Assist in the development and maintenance of the Project’s website and other public information outlets.
- Oversee the recruitment and supervision of college interns.
- Work on other projects and assist with events as needed.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- A Bachelor’s degree is required, and one year of paralegal, or related experience, preferred.
- Excellent research, including Internet research, and writing skills.
- Must take initiative, be highly organized, detail-oriented and possess strong interpersonal skills.
- Strong computer skills with advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, etc. Basic knowledge of Westlaw is preferred.
- Experience creating tables of contents, tables of authorities, mail merges, and creating/inserting macros.
- Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
- Commitment to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and people living with HIV is essential.
- Commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU.
COMPENSATION
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested persons should submit a cover letter, resume, a legal writing sample (sample will not be returned) and the names of three (3) references by email to hrjobsINCL@aclu.org. Reference [LGBT-11/ACLU-INCL] in the subject line and indicate the location(s) for which you are applying. Please note that this is not the general ACLU applicant email address. This email address is specific to LGBT postings. In order to ensure your application is received please make certain it is sent to the correct e-mail address. You can expect to receive an automatic response that acknowledges the submission of application materials.
Alternatively, materials can be sent via regular mail to:
Human Resources
American Civil Liberties Union
RE: [LGBT-11/ACLU-INCL]
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this career opportunity.
Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the job description and or posting at any time without advance notice.
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, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status.
We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact:Recruitment@aclu.org. Correspondence sent to this address that is not related to accommodations will not be reviewed. Applicants should follow the instructions above regarding how to apply.
The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”
This page last updated March 31, 2013.