[Hamp-law] Paralegal job, ACLU/ NYC

[Carin Rank]

PARALEGAL [LGLF-57/ID] - Job
Posted by: American Civil Liberties Union
Location: New York, New York, United States
http://www.idealist.org/view/job/Xmh6HCgXNm3p/

Description

Career Opportunity

PARALEGAL [LGLF-57]

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
National Security Project, NY

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), founded in 1920,
is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with more than
500,000 members, and is dedicated to the principles of liberty and
equality embodied in the U.S. Constitution. The National Security
Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York City is seeking
applicants for the full-time position of Paralegal. Applicants should be
prepared to start no later than June 1, 2012, although an earlier start
date is preferable.

OVERVIEW:

The National Security Project is part of the ACLU’s Center for
Democracy, which works to strengthen democratic institutions and values,
including the values of government transparency and accountability, and
to reinforce the United States’ commitment to human rights and the rule
of law. The Center for Democracy includes, in addition to the National
Security Project, the Human Rights Project and the Project on Speech,
Privacy, and Technology.

The National Security Project advocates for national security policies
that are consistent with the Constitution, the rule of law, and
fundamental human rights. The Project litigates cases relating to
detention, torture, discrimination, government surveillance, censorship,
and secrecy. Its active and diverse docket includes: a suit on behalf of
a number of U.S. citizens and residents who are prohibited from flying
to or from the United States or over U.S. airspace because they are on
the government's “No Fly List”; a challenge to the government’s
unconstitutional seizure of the assets of a charity; a challenge to the
indefinite detention without charge or trial of a prisoner held at
Guantánamo Bay; a suit on behalf of a broad coalition of human rights,
media, and legal organizations challenging the constitutionality of
dragnet wiretapping conducted under the amended Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act; and numerous suits under the Freedom of Information
Act for information about a variety of related issues including the
legal basis for the government’s use of drones to conduct “targeted
killings” both on and far from conventional battlefields, the treatment
of prisoners held by the United States in detention centers overseas,
and the government’s use of new surveillance laws.

The Paralegal is an integral member of the Project and will have the
opportunity to learn about current threats to human rights and civil
liberties stemming from the government’s national security policies.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

     Respond to individuals who contact the Project for legal
assistance; utilize and maintain the intake database to respond to
requests; and provide support to the Project’s attorneys with client and
witness interviews, as needed.
     Conduct Internet and other factual research and collaborate with
attorneys in preparing background memoranda on selected policy issues.
     Cite check, edit, format, produce, and serve litigation documents,
including briefs, memoranda, and correspondence.
     Draft, edit, and prepare affidavits, Freedom of Information Act
requests, reports, and other legal or public education documents.
     Review and organize documents related to Freedom of Information Act
requests and discovery.
     Assist in the development and maintenance of National
Security-related portions of the ACLU website.
     Oversee the training of new Legal Administrative Assistants.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

     A Bachelor’s degree plus one year of paralegal or related
experience is preferred.
     Excellent research, including Internet research, and writing skills
     Must take initiative, be highly organized and detail-oriented, and
possess strong interpersonal and time-management skills
     Ability to work independently as well as within a team
     Strong computer skills with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word
including creating tables of contents, tables of authorities, mail
merges, and creating/inserting macros
     Basic knowledge of Access, Excel, WordPerfect, and Westlaw is preferred
     A commitment to assisting the ACLU in its mission to defend civil
rights and civil liberties
     A demonstrated interest in human rights and civil liberties issues
relating to national security issues is preferred

COMPENSATION:

The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits
package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU
compensation scale.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants should submit a letter of interest (include salary
requirements), resume, writing sample, and the names and contact
information of two references by email to hrjobs at aclu.org - reference
[LGLF-57/ID] in the subject line or mail to:

Human Resources
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
RE: [LGLF-57/ID]
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this career
opportunity.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and
encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women,
people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender individuals.

The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil
Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil
Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with
the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU
has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work
to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the
two organizations under the name “ACLU.”

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