ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Paralegal in the Reproductive Freedom Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY.

The ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project envisions a world that respects and supports each of us in making deeply personal decisions that determine the shape of our lives: with whom to form intimate relationships, and whether, when, and how to have children. In the world we see, we can all get the health care and other resources necessary to have a child, to prevent pregnancy, or to have an abortion—regardless of where we live, our income, race, age, gender identity, or immigration status or whom we love. 

For nearly five decades, the ACLU has been a leader in the efforts to ensure that every person has access to affordable and stigma-free abortion care. The ACLU has participated in nearly every reproductive rights case before the Supreme Court and in significant cases in federal and state courts too numerous to count. The ACLU is currently involved in challenges to abortion bans around the country, including bans in Arizona, Guam, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Utah, as well as challenges to a host of other restrictions on access to abortion. The ACLU also has several ongoing lawsuits seeking to expand access to abortion and reproductive health care in general. 

In addition, the NPAD team works closely with our state affiliates to fight abortion bans and restrictions, decriminalize abortion, shore up protections for abortion rights, and expand access to abortion care. The team provides resources, technical assistance, and support to affiliates that are advocating for abortion rights and access.  

The ACLU is unique among reproductive rights organizations in that it works with the ACLU’s nationwide network of state affiliates as well as attorneys and advocates in the organization who specialize in areas such as LGBT rights, criminal defense, immigrants’ rights, racial justice, disability rights, and freedom of speech and religion.

Reporting to the Project Director or one of the Deputy Directors, the Paralegal will attend regular staff meetings and will have the opportunity to learn about current threats to reproductive rights and justice in states across the country and the legal landscape for challenging them, as well as opportunities to expand access to reproductive health care.   

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Track state legislation relating to reproductive health care
• Respond to requests for information about state bills and litigation 
• Monitor and compile media coverage of reproductive health, rights and justice issues
• Format, cite check, create tables for, and file litigation documents in federal and state courts around the United States
• Manage litigation documents including exhibits, discovery documents, deposition transcripts, and briefs
• Maintain databases and case files
• Assist staff in assembling and preparing information, including multimedia presentations, for conferences, media, etc.
• Prepare updates for ACLU website 
• Manage administrative tasks including attorney calendar management, expensing and invoicing, time tracking, and coordination of travel
• Provide administrative support for manager review of job applications
• Provide other litigation and administrative support
• Engage in special project and other duties as assigned

In addition to: 

• Centering 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

• Must take initiative, be highly organized, extremely detailed oriented, and a strong proofreader
• Must be efficient, able to handle multiple tasks at once, and work well under pressure 
• Must have strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently, as well as within a team 
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, and PowerPoint
• Commitment to civil liberties and reproductive rights is essential

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree 
• One year of paralegal experience, preferred
• Basic knowledge of Westlaw Next, preferred
• Basic knowledge of the Blue Book, preferred
• Experience creating tables of contents and tables of authorities for briefs, preferred
• Basic knowledge of Quorum a plus

COMPENSATION

The salary for this position is $72,674. Generous 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.