Paralegal, Immigrants' Rights Project

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Paralegal in the Legal Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The Immigrants’ Rights Project is a national project of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation with offices in New York and California. Using targeted impact litigation, advocacy and public outreach, the Project carries on the ACLU’s historic commitment to protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of immigrants. In state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, the Project conducts the nation’s largest impact litigation program dedicated to defending and expanding the rights of immigrants, enforcing the guarantees of the Constitution, and achieving equal justice under the law. It works with the English and non-English language media, immigrant advocacy organizations, and ACLU affiliates around the country to empower immigrant communities through presentations about their rights and about current and proposed immigration laws.

Reporting to the Deputy Director or Project Director, the Paralegal will be responsible for providing litigation and administrative support to the Immigrants' Rights Project. This includes, but is not limited to, preparing litigation documents for filing, responding to legal assistance inquires, and maintaining files and records.

• Produce and file pleadings in federal courts (from district court through Supreme Court level), and occasionally state courts around the United States
• Manage and coordinate databases, case files, correspondence files, etc.
• Handle general administrative duties including processing invoices, tracking expenses and case costs, preparing expense reports, assisting with travel arrangements, and ordering supplies
• Research and analyze court rules, relevant litigation, and factual issues where appropriate
• Serve as liaison with co-counsel and clients
• Respond to intake calls, emails and letters from individuals seeking assistance
• Occasionally, draft materials for dissemination to the public or IRP supporters
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned by IRP leadership and attorneys

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

• Demonstrated administrative support experience in similar/related role preferred
• Self-motivated and highly organized with a focus on detail, effective time management, and strong interpersonal communication.
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team while maintaining a high level of efficiency and professionalism
• Project management experience preferred
• Fluency in Spanish and other relevant foreign languages (written and spoken) is strongly preferred, but not required

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage 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, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.