[Hamp-law] Paralegal Job, National Prison Project/ DC

[Carin Rank]

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Paralegal [NPP-03]

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

National Prison Project, Washington, D.C.


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 Prison Project
(NPP) of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, D.C. is seeking
applicants for the full-time position of Paralegal.

OVERVIEW

Founded in 1972 by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National
Prison Project seeks to ensure constitutional conditions of confinement
in prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and immigration detention
facilities. We have successfully litigated on behalf of prisoners in
more than 25 states, and since 1991 we have represented prisoners in
five cases before the United States Supreme Court.

The Project is the only prison litigation program in the country with a
national focus, and is currently engaged in class action litigation
dealing with prison conditions in approximately twenty states. Our
policy priorities include reducing prison overcrowding, improving
prisoner health care, eliminating violence and maltreatment, and
increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, and other
places of detention. The Project coordinates a nationwide network of
litigators, conducts training and public education conferences, and
provides expert advice and technical assistance to local community
groups and lawyers throughout the country.

The Project also works to challenge the policies of over-incarceration
that have led the United States to imprison more people than any other
country in the world. This is an opportune moment to reform those
policies.  There is a growing consensus among criminal justice experts
and policymakers that America’s criminal justice system has relied too
heavily on incarceration as the first and often only response for
non-violent behavior that could better be addressed through other means.
  The population in American prisons and jails has grown exponentially
in recent decades and now approaches two and a half million.  Facilities
are overcrowded; medical systems are overwhelmed; work, education, and
treatment programs are inadequate; and prison violence has increased.
This failed experiment does not make us safer, it is not affordable, and
it exacerbates the racial disparities that have long plagued the
criminal justice system.

The Project has an extensive public education program and acts as a
national resource and technical assistance center on criminal justice
issues.  The Paralegal is an integral member of the Project staff and
plays an essential role in the Project’s efforts to reform the criminal
justice system.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

-Assist in the development and implementation of public education
campaigns to eliminate the use of long-term solitary  confinement and to
amend the Prison Litigation Reform Act; responsibilities include
corresponding with Congressional offices, maintaining contacts with ACLU
affiliates and advocacy organizations, managing listservs and
maintaining online resource libraries, and collaborating with other
criminal justice organizations and public interest firms in the drafting
and production of advocacy and public education materials.

-Coordinate the undergraduate internship program; hire and manage 3-4
interns per semester.

-Assist in the development and maintenance of National Prison Project
related portions of the ACLU website.  Edit content and maintain an
electronic resource library on the NPP’s section of the ACLU intranet.

-Coordinate with the administrative department of the ACLU and track
various matters regarding general office administration, including
project budget and expenses.

-Draft internal and external communications and handle paper and
electronic court filings.

-Arrange depositions, travel, and attorney/client interviews; log and
respond to case-related correspondence; prepare legal documents.

-Conduct internet research, track major news stories regarding cases and
policy priorities, produce public education and advocacy materials for
various conditions issues and in response to current events, and
maintain updated information on prison conditions and contact
information for other organizations to be distributed to prisoners.

-Create, utilize, and troubleshoot databases for various cases and
administrative use.

-Occasional public speaking/presentation opportunities; draft and give
presentations on various prison conditions issues.

-Handle other responsibilities and projects as needed.


QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

-Bachelor’s degree required.
-Strong research skills, including internet research.
-Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
-Exceptional organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize
and meet deadlines under pressure.
-Strong interpersonal skills.
-Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability
to compose, edit and proof correspondence and documents.
-Highly proficient functioning in a network environment and working with
Microsoft Office (including Word, Outlook, Excel, and Access).
-Commitment to civil liberties and prisoners’ rights is highly desirable.
-A minimum of one year of paralegal or related experience 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

Please send a cover letter (include salary requirements), a current
resume, the names and phone numbers of three references, and at least
one writing sample by email to hrjobsNPP at aclu.org reference
[NPP-03/ACLU-W] in subject line – or by mail to:

Human Resources
RE: [NPP-03/ACLU-W]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Please indicate where you learned of this career opportunity.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

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 job description and/or posting at any time without advance
notice.

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. They
share the same overall mission of protecting civil liberties, and also
share office space and employees.  This job posting refers collectively
to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”