AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (ACLU) OF TEXAS

The ACLU is the nation’s foremost defender of civil liberties and civil rights, dedicated to defending the Bill of Rights and advocating for marginalized communities through litigation, legislation, and public education. The ACLU of Texas, founded in 1938 and headquartered in Houston, is the one of the largest ACLU affiliates in the nation. The ACLU of Texas has regional offices in Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, and El Paso.

Whether it’s protecting the rights of immigrants and refugees, ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBT community, combatting voter suppression, or preserving reproductive rights, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil rights and liberties cases to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.

Intake Coordinator/Litigation Assistant

HOUSTON, TX
Supervisor: Legal Program Manager


JOB DESCRIPTION

The ACLU of Texas seeks an Intake Coordinator/Litigation Assistant to provide strategic support, coordination, and development for the Legal Department. Under the supervision of the Legal Program Manager, the Innovator will be tasked with recruiting and managing the intake program comprised of undergraduate college students. The coordinator will help revolutionize the way the ACLU of Texas handles intake investigations and provide much need resources to impacted communities. In addition, the Innovator will:

  • Manage and oversee day-to-day intake functions.
  • Recruit, develop, onboard, and supervise intake interns.
  • Develop and implement intake initiatives that advance litigation goals.
  • Provide big-picture oversight and support to the legal intake program, including providing guidance and feedback on system design and evaluation, assessing opportunities for growth and risk, overseeing training curriculum, addressing high-risk intakes, etc.
  • Participate and assist in active civil rights case management, including maintenance of client relationships.
  • Assist with drafting motions, declarations, and preparing discovery requests and responses.
  • Perform general paralegal work, including preparing documents for filing in court, cite-checking, and using PACER and Westlaw.

DESIRED SKILLS

  • Spanish speaking and writing proficiency are preferred, but not required.
  • Knowledge of diverse groups, experience working with a multicultural workforce, and sensitivity and appreciation of cultural differences is required.

Legislative Research and Advocacy Assistant

HOUSTON, TX
Supervisor: Senior Government Relations Manager


JOB DESCRIPTION

The Legislative Research and Advocacy Assistant will work under the guidance of the Senior Government Relations Manager preparing for the next legislative session by tracking bills, attending and reporting on committee hearings, and assisting in proposing and drafting testimony before and during the 2023 legislative session. Before and during the legislative session, the Innovator would assist in facilitating coordination around policy advocacy between the legal and policy departments. This position will include additional advocacy work such as public information act requests, advocacy letters, and research on critical civil liberties and civil rights issues. Finally, the position will include research and work with policy attorneys on projects related to federal, state, and local reforms and ACLU of Texas’ border work. Day-to-day, the Legislative Research and Advocacy Assistant will:

  • Lead legal and policy research projects related to local, state, and federal policy advocacy on priority issues such as criminal legal system reform and fighting for reproductive rights.
  • Develop bill ideas for the Texas legislative session in 2023 related to ACLU of Texas advocacy priorities.
  • Monitor the state legislature (for example, committee hearings on priority issues), and other relevant government meetings such as city council meetings or federal hearings on border issues.
  • Support legislative advocacy of ACLU staff focused specifically on Smart Justice, LGBTQIA+ Rights, Reproductive Rights, Voting Rights, and Immigrant Rights/Border Issues.
  • Work with and support key advocacy coalitions.
  • Work with the Senior Government Relations Manager to coordinate and support ACLU of Texas’ partnership with legislative offices and other policymakers and their staff.
  • Attend meetings with coalition partners and policymakers and their staff.
  • Assist with trainings for ACLU of Texas volunteers and staff.

DESIRED SKILLS

  • Strong communication and advocacy skills.
  • The ability to work on multiple projects and prioritize work in a fast-paced environment.
  • The ability to develop relationships with others in the ACLU of Texas, people from allied nonprofits, and legislators and their staff.
  • A working knowledge of the Texas Legislature is a plus but not required.

Nonprofit Partners