Paralegal, State Supreme Court Initiative

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Paralegal to support the State Supreme Court Initiative (SSCI) in the Legal Department 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. 

The SSCI is dedicated to strengthening and expanding the ACLU’s voice in state supreme courts. Working with the ACLU’s affiliates around the country, along with other projects in the ACLU’s national office, the SSCI identifies cutting-edge cases of constitutional import in state supreme courts and files briefs in those cases, either as amicus curiae or co-counsel. It also facilitates strategic collaboration among the ACLU’s state affiliates and other partners engaged in state constitutional litigation and works with affiliates to develop strategies for building civil liberties and civil rights doctrine in their states.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

The Paralegal will be responsible for providing litigation support, preparing briefs for filing, and conducting administrative and research projects as needed to support the SSCI’s work.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Produce and file briefs, motions, pro hac vice materials, and other pleadings in state courts around the country, including by providing cite-checking, copy-editing, tables-building and other support
• Assist in tracking key litigation and legal developments to identify potential cases as well as other advocacy opportunities
• Support attorneys and legal fellows in managing relationships with stakeholders, partners and cooperating attorneys, and clients
• Work with ACLU colleagues to develop web pages and communications assets
• Manage administrative tasks including litigation and attorney calendar management, expensing and invoicing, binder compilation, time tracking, and coordination of travel, as needed
• Conduct legal and factual research using Westlaw, academic databases, and the Internet
• Maintain case files and internal litigation tracking systems including case summaries and calendar of litigation deadlines and court dates
• Provide administrative support review of applications for intern, fellow, and other staff positions
• 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

• Must take initiative, be highly organized and detail-oriented, and possess strong interpersonal and time management skills.
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team while maintaining a high level of efficiency and professionalism
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and see projects through to completion

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or one to two years of paralegal experience 
• Basic knowledge of the Blue Book 
• Basic knowledge of WestlawNext
• Strong computer skills with advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, OneDrive, etc. 
• Experience creating tables of contents, tables of authorities, mail merges, and creating/inserting macros 

COMPENSATION

The ACLU values equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with the ACLU's compensation philosophy there is a set salary for this role. The ACLU also has a locality adjustment policy that applies to salaries. The annual salary for this position is $73,251 (Level K), reflecting the salary of a position based in Washington, DC. This position is subject to a hybrid schedule of 2 days/week or 8 days/month in-office.   

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.

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