Paralegal, Voting Rights Project

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks a full-time position of Paralegal in the Voting Rights Project 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 ACLU Voting Rights Project was established in 1965 – the same year that the historic Voting Rights Act (VRA) was enacted, and has litigated more than 300 cases since that time. Its mission is to build and defend an accessible, inclusive, and equitable democracy.  

The Project has three guiding principles: (1) all Americans should be eligible to vote; (2) voting should be free and easy; and (3) all people should count equally. The Project employs an integrated advocacy approach, combining legislative advocacy, public education, and litigation, and has active cases in over a dozen states.  

Within the last few years, the Voting Rights Project has litigated several cases in the Supreme Court including Department of Commerce v. New York, successfully challenging an attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census; and Allen v. Milligan, successfully defending the constitutionality of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. 

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 Deputy Project Director the Paralegal will provide litigation and administrative support to the Project’s legal team. This includes, but is not limited to cite checking and formatting litigation documents, maintaining litigation calendar, files and other litigation items, processing invoices, generating expense reports, and handling travel arrangements, as well as providing onsite administrative, logistical and other support for trials and hearings.  

YOUR DAY TO DAY

• Provide paralegal support for a wide range of federal, state, and administrative litigation, including by filing, reviewing, and organizing litigation documents such as briefs, motions, declarations, deposition summaries, discovery requests, and responses, and correspondence with co-counsel, including cite-checking, proofreading, and formatting such documents.  
• Handle general administrative duties for the Project, including processing invoices, tracking expenses, case costs, generating expense reports, and ordering supplies, etc. 
• Handle travel arrangements.  
• Provide logistical administrative, and document management support for hearings and trials.  
• Assist in case management, including maintenance of electronic files, physical files, court records, and litigation calendars; anticipate and identify potential litigation tasks and prepare accordingly.  
• Coordinate logistics for depositions, client meetings or phone calls, service of process, courtesy copy delivery, and other litigation support. 
• Work jointly with interns and communicate routine and/or procedural guidance on projects assigned by managers.  
• Conduct internet and other factual research. 
• Handle 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 working collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Demonstrated interest in civil rights and civil liberties  
• Demonstrated related administrative experience 
• Basic knowledge of the bluebook