ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Legal Assistant in the Racial Justice Program of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The Racial Justice Program (RJP) is part of the ACLU’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality, which works to combat racial discrimination; to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair, and free of racial bias; to advocate for humane and constitutional conditions of confinement; and to abolish the death penalty as a legitimate form of punishment. The Trone Center for Justice and Equality also includes the Criminal Law Reform Project, Capital Punishment Project, and the National Prison Project. The RJP challenges racial discrimination and other practices and policies that have a direct or disparate impact on communities of color, including Native American communities. RJP has a particular emphasis on education, criminal justice and economic justice issues. To advance its work RJP, often working with the ACLU's 53 affiliates nationwide, uses litigation, legislative advocacy and public education to challenge unconstitutional court-imposed fines and fees, unequal educational opportunities, policies and practices that push children out of the education system into the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems, unfair lending practices and a range of police and criminal justice system practices that unfairly target communities of color.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers Union. 

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Director, Racial Justice Program, the Legal Assistant will be responsible for a wide range of administrative, clerical and substantive tasks to support and advance our litigation, advocacy, and public education efforts.

YOUR DAY TO DAY Provide general administrative support to RJP staff, including processing invoices; tracking and reporting expenses, case costs and lobbying hours; preparing expense reports; ordering supplies; and updating case codes and contact sheets Provide administrative support to Project Director and Deputy Director, including managing handling travel arrangements and calendar Schedule, arrange and prepare and distribute materials for meetings and conference calls, and take minutes at those meetings as needed Maintain and organize electronic and hard copy filing systems, including case files, attorney correspondence files, litigation docket summary Draft correspondence and other materials as requested; respond to written and verbal inquiries, as directed by Director and/or other staff Type, prepare, proofread legal and other documents Administer listservs Update RJP onboarding materials for new staff Collect information for and update RJP’s docket, sharing regular updates with staff across the ACLU as needed Develop, update, and maintain the Project’s website and other public information outlets, as needed Assist with attorney pro hac and bar admission applications Sort and distribute mail Provide administrative support for manager review of applications for intern and project staff positions Work jointly with interns and communicate routine and/or procedural guidance on projects assigned by managers Oversee undergraduate intern hiring and assignments Assist with general RJP intake Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned 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 Strong administrative, organizational and time management skills Strong writing and proofreading skills Must be detail oriented and adept at managing multiple tasks simultaneously Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook) and have experience with Internet research Must be a self-starter, take initiative, and work well in a fast-paced environment Ability to work independently, as well as within a team Commitment to racial and social justice and the ACLU’s mission to defend civil liberties and civil rights Bachelor's degree or at least 1-2 years related work experience, preferred 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 $76,308, 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 email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.