Legal Assistant

Unpublished

We are currently no longer accepting new applicants for this position, but may reopen at a later date.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is seeking a full-time legal assistant to provide litigation and administrative support for ACLU-WA’s litigation and legal advocacy efforts.  The Legal Assistant serves as a key member of the legal department team, providing administrative support to the staff attorneys and assistance with our legal intake.
 
Overview
 
The ACLU of Washington is a nonpartisan public interest organization devoted to protecting and extending civil rights and civil liberties. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration and police brutality, achieving full equality for LGBT people, protecting privacy in the digital age, preserving the right to vote, or ensuring reproductive freedom, the ACLU is principled and strategic, willing to take on tough civil liberties issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.
 
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, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, socio-economic circumstance, or record of arrest or conviction.
 
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
 
Handle departmental administrative tasks, such as processing invoices and reimbursements, scanning, copying, calendaring, sending large mailings, new-staff onboarding, and coordinating hiring logistics.
 
Plan and coordinate large meetings and occasional events.
 
Provide litigation support for the ACLU-WA’s active litigation docket.  Manage filings, calendar deadlines, and ensure compliance with local rules in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. Cite check and proof read pleadings to be filed with the courts. Assist in the review of large quantities of documents for relevance and use in active litigation.
 
Provide both administrative and substantive support to the legal department intake team, including by helping to recruit, schedule and manage volunteer intake counselors; assist in maintaining the intake database and curating an extensive library of intake and “know your rights” and self-advocacy literature; and respond to written intake requests sent via letter and web.
 
Communicate clearly and professionally with a broad range of stakeholders including cooperating attorneys, clients, defendants, and judicial officials.
 
Maintain litigation records, including pleadings, exhibits, depositions, discovery documents, correspondence, memos and related documents.
 
Help maintain a positive, respectful, welcoming, and professional work environment for employees and volunteers.  Assist in other activities as assigned.
 
QUALIFICATIONS

Excellent time management and organizational skills.  Successful candidates should have the ability to manage their own workflow in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment while coordinating with multiple other department members.
 
Demonstrated ability to handle stress well.
 
Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills. 
 
Excellent interpersonal skills; proven ability to work well with people with a wide range of interests, skills, and concerns.  A confident and personable demeanor.
 
Computer and technology proficiency including mastery of MS Office Suite, basic Excel functions, and Adobe Acrobat Professional; or proven ability to troubleshoot and learn new software.  Experience with litigation and e-discovery software, as well as management of electronic documents is preferred.
 
While not required, prior office experience and/or some Spanish language proficiency are a plus. 
 
A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
 
A minimum two-year commitment is required.  After the first year, the position will include additional research and paralegal-type responsibilities.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice. This position is “non-exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary is based on experience and qualifications.  Benefits include three weeks of vacation to start, medical and disability insurance, a retirement plan, and an ORCA card.
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURE

To apply, email a letter of application and resume to [email protected] and include in the subject line of the email:  your last name and Legal Assistant. In your letter, please indicate where you learned of the posting. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website at www.aclu-wa.org/careers
 
The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation. The two corporations share the same overall mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington.”