Special Assistant

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Special Assistant to the Deputy Legal Director / Director of the Trone Center in the Legal Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The ACLU’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality, one of three component centers in the ACLU’s National Legal Department, focuses on issues of crime, punishment, and racial justice, including efforts to eradicate racial injustice, the treatment of prisoners, the death penalty and the policies of over-incarceration that have led the United States to imprison more people than any other country in the world.  The Center contains six Projects/Programs working toward these goals:  the ACLU’s Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative (centered in Washington, DC), Capital Punishment Project (centered in Durham, North Carolina), the Criminal Law Reform Project (centered in New York City), the National Prison Project (centered in Washington, DC), the Racial Justice Program (centered in New York City), and the John Adams Project (centered in Washington, DC).  

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Deputy Legal Director / Director of the Trone Center, the Special Assistant will be responsible for managing a wide range of administrative, research and operational duties for the Center, its Projects, and the Department, working closely with relevant parties, including Center Directors, Project Directors, and the Associate Director of Legal Operations. 

YOUR DAY TO DAY

CENTER RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide broad logistical support and assist in managing the day-to-day operations for the Trone Center, including direct support for the Trone Center Director 
• Support the Center Director’s cross-functional work by coordinating within the Legal Department as well as with other organizational departments 
• Maintain an organized system of tracking, monitoring, and prioritizing tasks and projects related to the Center Director’s portfolio to ensure smooth operations 
• Provide litigation/paralegal support to the Center Directors and Projects as needed 
• Conduct in-depth legal and policy research on ACLU issues 
• Draft memos, presentations, talking points, and other various reports for the Center Director 
• Assist with information synthesizing for projects managed by the Center Directors, communicating with different parties internally and externally, ensuring timely execution of deliverables, and keeping the Center Director appraised 
• Draft the Center's communications across digital and print channels
• Schedule, plan and help facilitate on-site as well as off-site meetings, conferences, internal and external facing events, and presentations, which may include coordinating arrangements for participants, handling logistics, preparing and disseminating materials, managing budgets and project plans 
• Make travel arrangements, manage the Center Director’s calendar, process invoices, and complete expense reports with accuracy and timeliness 
• Support the Centers for Liberty and Democracy and their respective Directors, as needed 

DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic and logistical support for department-wide trainings and all-staff meetings 
• Manage departmental onboarding and offboarding  
• Ensure departmental legal compliance through various projects assigned by the Associate Director of Legal Operations
• Support implementation of new software and systems throughout the department, and other initiatives as needed 
• Provide support for strategic planning and budget processes 
• Engage in special projects as assigned 

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

• 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

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Demonstrated passion for advancing civil rights and civil liberties, including racial and social justice  
• Self-starter and ability to take initiative 
• Strong administrative, organizational, and time management skills 
• Detail-oriented and adept at handling multiple tasks simultaneously 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills 
• Strong problem-solving skills 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and experience with Internet research 
• Excellent project management skills executed in dynamic work environments 
• Strong analytical skills and comfort with numerical reasoning 
• Willing to conquer the “small tasks” with an understanding of their vital importance to the success of the Center 
• Excellent writing and proofreading skills 
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team 
• Paralegal or other experience in litigation a plus 

COMPENSATION

WHY THE ACLU

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

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

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 complete the Accommodation Request Form

If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.