Litigation Paralegal

Summary

The ACLU of Massachusetts (“ACLUM”) seeks a full-time Litigation Paralegal to join its Legal department and support the execution of ACLUM’s litigation and cross-functional advocacy work. The focus of this role is to draft correspondence and legal documents, prepare filings, assist in investigations and research, coordinate with cooperating attorneys and other stakeholders, support ACLUM’s legal resources team, perform tracking and reporting, and undertake general administration for ACLUM’s Legal Department. This position reports to the Legal Director and works closely with other ACLUM colleagues to achieve both departmental and cross-departmental advocacy objectives.

Flexibility to accommodate work outside of regular business hours when warranted is an important requirement for this role.

Essential Duties

• Prepare legal filings, including by creating tables of contents and authorities, by filing documents electronically, and by coordinating the production, filing, and service of paper documents.
• Draft and send or execute correspondence and legal documents, including letters, motions, court forms, petitions, subpoenas, and discovery documents.
• Maintain electronic and paper case files, including pleadings, correspondence, discovery, and other materials.
• Assist attorneys with investigations, legal and other research, proofreading/cite-checking, review of public records, case summaries, and general clerical and administrative duties.
• Maintain a working list of ACLUM Legal Department matters, describing the nature of each matter, its status, and next steps. Generate regular reports about these matters to ACLUM’s staff and Boards of Directors.
• Communicate and coordinate with clients, court personnel, co-counsel, cooperating attorneys, partner organizations, and other stakeholders, as assigned.
• Assist in the management of ACLUM’s relationships with cooperating law firms and pro bono coordinators, including keeping track of inquiries and agreements with those attorneys.
• Coordinate requests from ACLUM, across departments and programs, for cooperating attorney assistance from cooperating firms.
• Assist and support the Legal Resources team with maintaining the intake database, training new users, and processing external requests for legal assistance.
• Assist in planning, coordination, and other logistics for meetings and events hosted by the Legal Department; take and distribute meeting minutes, as needed.

Other Responsibilities

• Special projects and other tasks as assigned by the Legal Director.

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes  

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent experience in political science, legal studies, business operations, or related field.
• Prior training and experience as a litigation paralegal required.
• Rich experience in a litigation environment, conducting legal research, preparing legal reports, and drafting case summaries.
• Knowledge of legal terminology and citation conventions, legal case management software, electronic court filing systems, electronic legal research tools (e.g., Westlaw).
• Highly proficient in data management systems, case management systems (i.e., Filevine, ALIS), and Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks under time pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work proactively, collaboratively, and independently as needed to get things done.
• Fluency in Spanish or other languages a plus.
• Strong belief in the ACLU’s mission and work to defend and strengthen civil rights and civil liberties.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion. Respect for differences in race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability and socio-economic background.

Key Performance Indicators

• Reliability and responsiveness in providing administrative support to the Legal Department and constituent teams.
• Timeliness and accuracy in scheduling, reporting, preparation of materials, and completion of other administrative tasks.
• Effectiveness in coordination and communication with the department, other ACLUM colleagues, external partners, and vendors.
• Effective communication with cooperating attorneys and coordination of those relationships.
• Proactivity and consistency in maintaining database and other organizational systems in the Legal Department.

Other Requirements

• Frequent written and verbal communication
• Extensive reading, preparing, and analyzing information, in hard copy and electronic format
• Frequent and extended periods of being in a stationary position
• Regular handling of light packages, manipulating office equipment settings, and administering meetings conducted in hybrid format
• Flexibility to accommodate work outside of regular business hours when warranted, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends

Compensation

Salary commensurate with experience and consistent with ACLUM’s collective bargaining agreement. Estimated minimum annual salary of $63,500, which may be higher depending on the selected candidate’s experience. Benefits include a matching 401(k) plan, medical and dental insurance for employees and their eligible dependents, and paid time off, including vacation and holidays.

About the ACLU of Massachusetts

The ACLU of Massachusetts (ACLUM) was founded in 1920 and is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nationwide, non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that works to preserve and expand the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Through strategies of litigation, advocacy, public education, and grassroots activism, we strengthen and expand public understanding of racial justice, juvenile justice, LGBTQ rights (including equal marriage), women's rights, criminal justice issues, equal opportunity, free speech and assembly, privacy rights, religious liberty, students' rights, voting rights, and reproductive rights. ACLUM staff are unionized and this position is within the bargaining unit.

ACLUM is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and formerly incarcerated people to apply.

This position is based in Boston, MA and eligible for a hybrid work schedule, being in-person an average of three days per week, with the ability to be in the office on any given day as needed and assigned. Residency in Massachusetts or within a 60-mile radius of Boston in a contiguous New England state is required. ACLUM has a Covid-19 vaccine mandate, and candidates receiving a job offer will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to commencing employment. Exemptions to this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law. Applicants should be aware that fully remote work will not be deemed a reasonable accommodation.

TO APPLY:  Applicants for this position should submit a resume, list of references, and a cover letter that best expresses their interest and unique qualifications, via email to paralegal@aclum.org. Type the position title in the subject header. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted until the position is filled. No phone calls or faxes please.