Paralegal

Description

Position: Paralegal

Department: Legal

Terms of Employment: Full-Time/Non-Exempt (Local 2320 Union Position) NYCLU staff are currently working in a hybrid model. A number of in-person days will be required.

Location: New York Civil Liberties Union, 125 Broad Street, NY, NY 10004

Salary: $55,000 – $60,000 (Subject to the NYCLU’s salary scale and commensurate with experience and qualifications). 

Application Deadline: September 7, 2026 (Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled).

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties.  Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org. 

DEI VISION STATEMENT

The NYCLU is committed to building an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace that centers the voices of marginalized and directly impacted communities. This commitment strengthens our mission to protect civil liberties and advance justice across New York. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others whose experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION 

The New York Civil Liberties Union is seeking a full-time paralegal to assist its attorneys involved in civil rights and civil liberties litigation. The paralegal will be based in the NYCLU’s New York City office, but travel within New York State may be required. The NYCLU’s Legal Department is comprised of seventeen lawyers, a director of legal operations, an investigator, three paralegals, a data analyst, and a legal assistant. Legal Department staff work on a wide range of civil rights and civil liberties cases in federal and state courts. They also participate in the legislative, advocacy, and communications work of the NYCLU.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Prepare and execute filings of a variety of legal documents, including briefs, motions, court forms, petitions, subpoenas, and discovery documents. 
• Maintain electronic and paper case files, including pleadings, correspondence, discovery, and other materials. 
• Communicate/coordinate with clients, court personnel, co-counsel, partner organizations, etc. 
• Track and conduct interviews with potential clients through intake.
• Draft and mail correspondence, declarations, notices, and various court/legal documents. 
• Manage logistics for depositions, oral arguments, court hearings, and other events.
• Assist attorneys with legal and other research, including cite-checking, factual research and Internet searches. 
• Support various investigatory, research, advocacy, and case-related projects as needed.
• Take notes, assist with scheduling, help with word processing, and carry out other general clerical and administrative duties.
• Attend court conferences, hearings or public meetings as necessary.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent with 1-2 years of related experience in a legal setting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. 
• Excellent word-processing, proofreading, verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well with others in a collegial and diverse environment. 
• Ability to work well under pressure, including some evenings and weekends. 
• Ability to manage time and tasks independently, problem-solve, and manage multiple projects and cases simultaneously.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• In addition to the above requirements, knowledge of legal terminology and legal principles; familiarity with legal case management software; familiarity with legal citation conventions; experience with electronic court filing systems; experience with electronic legal research tools (i.e., Westlaw, Lexis); experience with handling data and using data-analysis software (such as Excel) is strongly preferred. 
• Fluency in Spanish or in other languages commonly spoken in New York is a plus. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your resume and cover letter that includes your unique qualifications for this position, and where or how you learned of this job posting via  https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/4374430/New-York-Civil-Liberties-Union-Foundation/Paralegal   Given the number of applications received, NYCLU will only contact applicants selected for an interview. 

The NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the population that we serve.

The NYCLU 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 e-mail [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process.

This position may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.