Employment Opportunity
LEGAL PROGRAM ASSISTANT
ACLU FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

OVERVIEW:
The ACLU is one of the nation's foremost defenders of civil liberties and civil rights. We are a nonpartisan organization dedicated to defending the Bill of Rights through litigation, legislation, and public education. The Texas affiliate of the ACLU, founded in 1938, is headquartered in Austin, and includes a regional office in Houston and thirteen chapters with more than 17,000 members statewide.

The Legal Program Assistant provides strategic support and coordination for the ACLU Foundation of Texas’ Legal Department. S/he manages all filing and administrative support for the Department, which includes a Legal Director, two Staff Attorneys and a Legal Advocacy Coordinator. This position requires a self-directed, highly-organized person.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Reports and Presentations
  • Plan, prepare and draft Legal Program’s quarterly reports and annual report.
• Law Interns, UT Work-Studies, and Volunteers
  • Responsible for recruiting law interns, work-studies, and volunteers for the legal department by posting announcements where appropriate and managing incoming resumes.
  • Serve as primary liaison between the ACLU of Texas and law schools’ career services departments.
  • Plan and organize the summer intern program.
  • Provide administrative support to the law clerks and interns including technology needs, meetings, email accounts, equipment, and work space.
• Administrative
  • Maintain and update binders for ACLU policies, local court rules and ACLUTX Legal Program Policy and Procedure Manual.
  • Keep the legal case and resource files updated and organized according to the legal program filing system.
  • 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(s) relating to requests for amicus briefs and when attorneys are providing background information on specific cases.
  • Manage technology for the Legal Department.
  • Assure that photocopying, mailing letters, and coordinating meetings for the Legal Department are completed. Run errands to the courthouse as directed.
  • Assist the Legal Director, Staff Attorney(s) and Legal Advocacy Coordinator to prepare, cite-check, proof and file legal documents in federal and state courts.
  • Other duties as required.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proven interest in legal work or nonprofit management.
• Excellent administrative skills and a track record of successfully providing administrative support.
• Excellent computer skills, including databases, word processing, spreadsheets, email and online communications.
• 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.
• Spanish speaking and writing ability preferred.
• Administrative experience in a nonprofit organization setting is preferred.
• Experience using a database and Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Ability to work long hours and some weekends, as requested.
• BA/BS degree is preferred.

COMPENSATION:
$22,000 annual salary. Paid time off in accordance with ACLU of Texas policies and procedures. Additionally, the ACLU of Texas currently offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package including employer-paid medical and dental insurance, disability insurance, pension plan and a 401(k) Plan.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications should include a cover letter, resume, and an ACLU of Texas Employment Application, which is located on our website, www.aclutx.org, under “Career Opportunities”. Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job posting.

Applications should be sent electronically in MS Word format or Adobe PDF to:

jobs@aclutx.org

Absolutely no unsolicited calls.

Applications accepted until position is filled.

The ACLU of Texas is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages people of color, women, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community to apply…