For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has been our nation’s guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s preserving the right to have an abortion, ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBT community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. With more than a million members, activists, and supporters, the ACLU is a nationwide organization that fights tirelessly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., for the principle that every individual’s rights must be protected equally under the law, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin.

The Women’s Rights Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York City seeks applications for a full-time Legal Administrative Assistant. While the primary focus of duties will be for the Project, the position may also provide assistance to other legal projects.

OVERVIEW

The Women’s Rights Project is part of the ACLU’s Center for Liberty, which is dedicated to the principle that we are all entitled to determine the course of our lives based on who we are and what we believe, free from unreasonable government constraint and baseless stereotypes. The Center for Liberty encompasses the ACLU’s work on women’s rights, reproductive freedom, LGBT rights and the rights of people living with HIV, the rights of people with disabilities, and freedom of religion and belief.

Founded in 1972 by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Women's Rights Project (WRP) has been a leader in the legal battles to ensure women’s full equality in American society. WRP is dedicated to the advancement of the rights and interests of women and works to implement ACLU policy in the area of gender discrimination. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, WRP pushes for change and systemic reform in those institutions that perpetuate discrimination against women.  WRP has been an active participant in virtually all of the major gender discrimination litigation in the Supreme Court and in significant communications and public education efforts on behalf of women and girls.

WRP focuses on women’s rights in the following priority areas: employment, education, and violence against women.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Handle general clerical and administrative duties for the Project including processing invoices, tracking expenses and case costs, preparing expense reports, ordering supplies, etc.
• Type, prepare, proofread and edit legal and other documents.
• Maintain and organize files.
• Draft correspondence and other materials as requested; respond to written and verbal inquiries.
• Conduct research including Internet research.
• Answer telephones, route calls, and take messages.
• Schedule meetings and conference calls; prepare materials and take minutes.
• Handle travel arrangements for staff.
• Work jointly with interns and communicate routine and/or procedural guidance on projects assigned by managers.
• Provide administrative support for the managers’ review of applications for intern positions
• Fax, copy, mail and complete other general administrative tasks as assigned.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.
• Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or 1-2 years related work experience preferred.
• Must possess strong administrative, organizational and time management skills.
• Must possess strong writing and proofreading skills.
• Must be detail oriented and adept at managing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; excellent telephone manner. 
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook) and have experience with Internet research.
• Must be a self-starter, take initiative, and work well in a fast paced environment.
• Ability to work independently, as well as within a team.
• Commitment to women’s rights and the ACLU’s mission to defend civil liberties and civil rights.

COMPENSATION

Salary for this position is $49,486. Generous benefits package provided.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a cover letter, resume, short writing sample, and the names of three references with contact information to: [email protected].  Reference [WRP- 18/ACLU] in the subject line.  Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job listing. 

Please note that this is not the general ACLU applicant email address. This email address is specific to the Women’s Rights Project posting. In order to ensure your application is received please make certain it is sent to the correct e-mail address. You can expect to receive an automatic response that acknowledges the submission of application materials.

Please indicate in your cover letter 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 description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

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, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, and record of arrest or conviction.

The ACLU undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions.

We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact:[email protected]. Correspondence sent to this email address that is not related to requests for accommodations will not be reviewed. Applicants should follow the instructions above regarding how to apply.

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.”