Advocacy Assistant

SUMMARY:

The Advocacy Assistant will provide administrative support to policy advocates paralegals and attorneys to support the work of the Advocacy Department. This position will require flexibility an eagerness to learn the inner workings of impact advocacy and exceptional multi-tasking and prioritization skills.

The Advocacy Assistant reports to the Director of Advocacy Support and may be mentored by a Senior Paralegal.

The Advocacy Assistant like all staff within the ACLU of Southern California is expected to model professional workplace behavior and standards and clearly and enthusiastically demonstrate our core values of accountability collaboration diversity excellence honesty integrity humility and open communication.

This is a hybrid role. The Advocacy Assistant will be required to come to any ACLU SoCal office location up to 3 times per quarter.

CLASSIFICATION:

This is a full-time non-exempt bargaining unit position in the National Organization of Legal Services Workers union.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Advocacy Department including supporting the internship program;Assist Paralegals with court filings and discovery management (organization of exhibits scanning and copying documents coordinating medical records requests sending and organizing PRA requests and responses coordination of courier services etc.) at the discretion of the Director of Advocacy Support

• Manage and maintain various databases through data entry generating reports security updates etc.

• Drafting simple correspondence and memos

• Non-legal substance research projects

• Coordination and implementation of large mailing projects

• Assist with case-opening tasks and maintaining case files including pleadings discovery correspondence dockets etc.

• Make travel arrangements

• Assist with department financial tasks

• Miscellaneous copying scanning shredding binding etc.

• Provide logistical support for meetings both in and out of the office including helping to organize the ACLUs involvement in coalitions and coordinated policy advocacy efforts notetaking etc.

• Manage end-to-end coordination of large-scale Zoom meetings including scheduling hosting and technical oversight; Be presented with opportunities to conduct in-person meetings with incarcerated clients in correctional facilities

• Attend community meetings when necessary

• Other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications include the following:

• At least 2 years of experience providing administrative support preferably in a legal office

• A strong commitment to civil liberties and civil rights

• Mastery of Microsoft Word Outlook Excel and other Office programs including facility with Zoom spreadsheets and tables

• Ability to quickly pick up new software and overall technological competence

• Strong attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple priorities effectively

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Strong organizational skills

• Candidate must be able to learn quickly and quickly apply new skills

• Ability to work independently while also being a team player

• Ability to keep track of and meet deadlines

• Ability to take initiative and handle a fast-paced work environment

• Ability to work with coalitions and community members

• Applicants must be willing to work occasional overtime on evenings and weekends.

Desired qualifications include the following:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience working in public interest or social justice advocacy coalitions and/or working with impacted communities

• Desire to learn how an impact advocacy organization works one that uses a variety of advocacy tools to achieve large long-term social change; and

• Written and oral fluency in Spanish

• Experience working in a non-profit preferred

• Experience working in coalitions and with impacted communities desirable.

Required Racial Justice Competencies

• Understanding and Applying Racial Equity

  • Demonstrate commitment to building or deepening understand of racial equity:

    • Core terms and concepts such as structural racism white privilege and anti-Blackness.

• • The role that racial inequity has played and continues to play in our society.

  • How race impacts supervisory relationships team dynamics and organizational culture.

  • Personal/implicit/unconscious bias.

• Working for Racial Equity

  • Consistently assess structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies activities and decisions within the context of their job responsibilities; race/ethnicity intersection of race/ethnicity gender and/or sexual orientation.

  • Consistently adhere to organizations racial equity policies and procedures including those that relate to hiring retention and promotion.

  • Consistently identify and disrupt ways in which bias plays out in work and/or team.

• Leading on Racial Equity

  • Effectively encourage people to have honest conversations about racial equity and accept feedback openly non-defensively and from a posture of learning.

  • Consistently address structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies activities and decisions by identifying and implementing changes that can produce more equitable outcomes. This applies not only in terms of race/ethnicity but also at the intersection of race/ethnicity gender and/or sexual orientation.

  • Consistently set racial equity outcomes goals and performance measures for team department or organization and develop and successfully implement plans to achieve them.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is between $33.22 and $37.42 per hour which is the equivalent of approximately $64775 and $72969 annually. Compensation is based on number of years of relevant experience. This position is full-time and is benefits eligible. Benefits include medical vision and dental insurance for staff members and their eligible dependents; life and long-term short-term disability insurance; 401(k) plan with employer match; ample vacation and sick leave and twenty-two paid holidays.

TO APPLY

Please submit a cover letter and resume in order to be considered. This role will remain open until filled.

The ACLU of Southern California is committed to developing a culture of diversity equity respect and inclusion and to strive to maintain a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve. The ACLU SoCal is an equal opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable law. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply and value people of all races genders (including gender identity or expression) sexual orientations disabilities citizenships ages religions and national origins and who have different marital statuses family caregiving responsibilities lived experiences with the criminal justice systems and genetic information. The ACLU SoCal does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of any of these characteristics.

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