Paralegal 

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) seeks experienced applicants for a full-time position of Paralegal. The Paralegal will help advance civil liberties and civil rights in New Jersey by providing litigation and administrative support as part of the ACLU-NJ’s legal team. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication, writing and editing, and organizational skills as well as some case management experience.  

This is a full-time position and is based in Newark, NJ with a hybrid work schedule where we work in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The paralegal will be supervised by the Legal Department Manager. 

Organizational Overview    

For more than 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities. We are committed to repairing and transforming spaces where constitutional promises have not been delivered.      

In every facet of our work, we strive to be anti-racist and are actively committed to advancing racial justice in the institutions of New Jersey, for the people of New Jersey. We aim to center the voices and lived experiences of those who historically have not been fully protected by government systems or laws.      

Founded in 1960 and based in Newark, we are a non-partisan organization that operates on several fronts – political, legal, cultural – to bring about systemic change and build a more equitable society.    

As part of an organization that uses an integrated, inter-departmental approach to advocacy, the Paralegal will join a 12+ person legal team that engages in litigation and a wide range of advocacy tools to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and that works collaboratively with policy and communications colleagues to maximize the ACLU-NJ’s impact.  

Responsibilities  

The paralegal, with other legal administrative staff members, provides support for a wide range of federal, state, and administrative litigation, including impact litigation, complex class-action litigation, appeals, and amicus briefs. 

• Responsible for case management, and preparing, formatting, filing, and serving legal documents, assisting with finalizing pleadings and exhibits, including proofreading and cite checking, creating table of authorities, and gathering and preparing materials for depositions, client meetings, and court hearings.  

• Coordinate all logistics for meetings, hearings, service of process, courtesy copy delivery, and other litigation support. 

• Maintain and organize electronic case files and legal docket. 

• Support and manage the administrative logistics of working with cooperating attorneys and out-of-state attorneys, including preparing court admission paperwork and payments. 

• Engage in factual investigative work and research to support the development of cases or advocacy, including drafting public records requests.  

• Contribute to a collaborative culture that centers racial justice, inclusion, participation, and collaboration.  

• Collaborate with colleagues by providing input on and assisting in the implementation of legal program policies, procedures, and systems – such as the case management process; paper and electronic filing systems; and legal docket. 

• Participate in the development of the legal department’s vision, plans, and priorities.  

• Provide administrative and organizational support as needed, including scheduling meetings and preparing agendas and notes.   

The job responsibilities listed are not exhaustive, and the paralegal may be required to perform other duties to support the work of the Legal Department.  

Preferred Qualifications & Skills  

The ACLU-NJ anticipates hiring a paralegal with at least three years of experience in state or federal courts (preferably NJ State Courts and 3d. Cir. Courts) but will consider all applicants with similar experience.  

• Excellent writing, editing, and cite-checking skills.  

• Proven project and time management skills, including a high level of organization, the ability to solve problems and meet deadlines, and excellent attention to detail.  

• Highly skilled in Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with Teams.  

• Excellent at working collaboratively on a variety of projects and building strong relationships with colleagues, and the ability to take and give feedback constructively.  

• A strong understanding of and demonstrated commitment to racial justice; a commitment to implementing the ACLU-NJ’s Strategic Framework.     

• Ability to manage a demanding workload and the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.  

• Ability to work occasional weekend and evening hours when needed.  

• Working knowledge of New Jersey and federal court websites and procedures for the filing of pleadings and briefs 

• Knowledge of Spanish or other languages likely to be spoken by clients with limited English proficiency in New Jersey is a plus.  

Compensation  

The salary for this position starts at $68,000. The ACLU-NJ supports and plans for staff member professional growth and skill development through internal and external opportunities. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which currently includes 30 days paid time off, plus 12 office holidays and 18 health care leave days; medical, vision, and dental insurance; 100 days paid family leave; life and long-term disability insurance; pre-tax transit benefits; and a 401(k) plan with employer match. This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

About our Culture  

We are a diverse workforce and take pride in our ability to attract and retain employees with a huge array of backgrounds and experiences. We work hard but also like to celebrate our successes. We strive to bring humility, empathy, kindness, and generosity to our work, internally within the organization and externally with our partners and those whom we are serving. We seek to build a work culture with a sense of respect and collegiality, and a willingness to be generous with our expertise and resources.  

TO APPLY  

If you are excited about bringing your experience to the ACLU-NJ, complete the application by uploading a cover letter and resume here. We invite applicants to include in their cover letter information about how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.   

Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled; at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website.    

The ACLU-NJ is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture of belonging. It is our policy to employ qualified people without regard to race; color; gender, gender identity or expression; religion; sex; national origin or ancestry; age; disability; sexual orientation; veteran’s status; marital status; civil union status; arrest or court record; citizenship; credit history; genetic information; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or any other characteristic protected under federal or state law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people, women, people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.  

The ACLU-NJ makes every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions. The ACLU-NJ is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email careers@aclu-nj.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodations for the interview process.