PARALEGAL/LEGAL ADVOCACY COORDINATOR
ACLU FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

The full-time Paralegal/Legal Advocacy Coordinator provides strategic support and coordination for the ACLU Foundation of Texas’ growing Legal Department. S/he will proactively identify, investigate and respond to alleged civil liberties and civil rights violations to achieve maximum impact on litigation, including investigating complaints in Texas and/or working with coalition partners, National ACLU and other ACLU of Texas departments. Additionally, s/he manages all filing and administrative support for the Department, which includes a Legal Director, Staff Attorney, and a Litigation Fellow. This position requires a self-directed, highly-organized person with energy and enthusiasm. Work weeks commonly in excess of 40 hours should be expected and occasional travel will be required.

Responsibilities Include:

Managing Law Interns, Work-Study Students, and Volunteers

• Responsible for managing law interns, work-studies, and volunteers for the legal department.
• Respond to intern/work-study/volunteer questions in a timely manner.
• Serve as primary liaison between the ACLU of Texas and law schools’ career services departments.
• Plan the summer intern program, which includes planning events and building a calendar
• Provide administrative support to the Legal Program law clerks including technology needs, scheduling meetings with the Legal Director, email accounts, equipment, and work space.

Administrative

• Manage active litigation filing system including tracking received court documents.
• Track expenditures including bills for litigation and open records requests. Complete all expense reports for the Legal Director.
• Respond to all phone calls and correspondence or refer to the appropriate legal staff member. Refer telephone calls to the Legal Director or Staff Attorney relating to requests for amicus briefs and when attorneys are providing background information on specific cases.
• Assure that photocopying, mailing letters, and coordinating meetings for the Legal Department are completed. Run errands to the courthouse as directed by Legal Director and Staff Attorney.

CLE Program

• Plan, manage, and execute the Legal Program’s Continuing Legal Education (CLE) annual program
• Outreach and advocacy to lawyers and lawyer associations about the work of the Legal Program and the ACLU of Texas.
• Submit and receive request for approval to the State Bar for each CLE course.
• Confirm expert legal presenters.
• Schedule meeting locations.
• Supervise and attend CLE courses.

Legal Program and Docket

• Update both internal and public dockets as necessary.
• Coordinate with the Communications Department to post and update public docket, as well as Legal Program materials and publications and news/press releases on the ACLU of Texas website.

Cooperating Attorneys

• Build and maintain relationships with cooperating attorneys and potential cooperating attorneys.
• Reach out to cooperating attorneys with information about the Legal Program and potential litigation.
• Maintain and update cooperating attorney list with current contact information. Through the Legal Director, execute initial communication with potential cooperating attorneys to inform about the Legal Program and seek approval to add their contact info to our email list.

Database and Complaint Management

• Modify and maintain intake database for accuracy, currency, and completeness.
• Update complaint records with information from investigations or other actions taken on the complaint within the Legal Program
• Respond to requests for legal assistance received at the affiliate by referring solicitors to the website or to Legal Program Coordinator & Manager.
• Compile, analyze and present statistical data regarding the Legal Program’s intake database and program to be reported to the State Board of Director’s, Staff and National ACLU.
• Process intake monthly
  • Import complaints.
  • Recommend intake regarding cases that may require further investigation.
  • Forward intake to ACLU of Texas projects, other affiliates and national projects after Legal Director’s review.

Case Management and Plaintiff Liaison

• Primary contact for plaintiffs; refer questions to the appropriate attorney, set up communication events, track and organize.

Fact Research

• Obtain case information on Westlaw and Pacer to support ongoing litigation.
• Provide department with background information and supporting materials for litigation

Investigate complaints

• Perform investigations of complainants, internet searches and other research to investigate facts regarding complaints received.

Qualifications—Required

• Proven interest in legal work or nonprofit management.
• Excellent administrative skills and a track record of successfully providing administrative support.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and handle a variety of tasks, and meet established deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills, including databases, word processing, spreadsheets, email and online communications.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with a wide variety of people, including but not limited to board members, staff, volunteers, interns, coalition partners, organizational donors and media.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, stressful workplace.
• Knowledge of diverse groups, experience working with a multicultural workforce and sensitivity and appreciation of cultural differences is required, as is an understanding of the meaning of civil liberties and a commitment to supporting efforts to uphold them is essential; commitment to the mission of the ACLU of Texas.
• Paralegal certification and/or BA/BS degree.

Qualifications—Desired

• Spanish speaking and writing ability preferred.
• Minimum of one year of experience in handling civil liberties/rights complaints.
• Minimum of two years experience working in a nonprofit organization setting.
• Administrative experience in a nonprofit organization setting.
• Experience using a database and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Supervision:
The Paralegal/Legal Advocacy Coordinator reports to the Legal Director, who is responsible for the overall legal program.

Compensation:
Commensurate with experience. Excellent health and dental coverage, employee’s coverage fully paid by the ACLU of Texas. A Defined Pension Benefits Plan is provided to each employee; 401(k) plan; generous vacation and leave benefits.

To Apply:
Download an ACLU of Texas application online (http://www.aclutx.org/files/ACLU%20TX%20Employment%20Application.doc). Submit along with a resume, one writing sample of no more than five (5) pages, and a cover letter that explains how your experience is applicable to the job requirements.

Applications should be submitted to:

Lisa Graybill, Legal Director
ACLU of Texas
P.O. Box 12905
Austin, Texas 78711

Absolutely no unsolicited calls.

The ACLU Foundation of Texas is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to apply.