Paralegal, State Supreme Court Initiative (SSCI)

ACLU • Columbia, WA

11h • Hybrid

About The Position

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. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

Requirements

• Must take initiative, be highly organized and detail-oriented, and possess strong interpersonal and time management skills.
• Must have excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
• Must be able to work independently as well as within a team while maintaining a high level of efficiency and professionalism.
• Must be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and see projects through to completion.
• Must have strong computer skills, and advanced knowledge is preferred in Microsoft Office Suite e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneDrive, etc.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree and/or one to two years of paralegal experience preferred.
• Basic knowledge of The Bluebook for legal citations and Westlaw preferred.
• Experience creating tables of contents, tables of authorities, presentations, and copy for web pages and other public-facing documents preferred.
• Experience proofreading and editing others’ written work, including to ensure consistency with rules of grammar and substantive accuracy, preferred.
• Experience bringing a creative approach to solving technological or other difficult problems preferred.

Responsibilities

• 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, communications assets, and other materials as assigned.
• 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, and work to improve, 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.

Benefits

• Generous paid time-off policy
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• 401k plan and employer match
• Annual professional development funds
• Internal professional development programs and workshops

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree