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, legislative work, 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 staff 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.
Litigation Associate
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, HOUSTON, OR SAN ANTONIO, TX
Hybrid or Remote: The position is mostly remote with frequent travel to the Rio Grande Valley. Innovator must be willing to relocate to the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, or Houston.
Supervisor: Senior Manager, Legal Operations
JOB DESCRIPTION
This position will join our established Border/Immigration team to manage and assist on policy and litigation as it relates to challenges along the Texas border. In addition, the position will engage with impacted communities through legal advocacy, know your rights presentations, and create materials for distribution. Lastly, they will have the opportunity to assist in active court cases and receive firsthand experience prior to heading to law school.
With anticipated mass deportations and possible continuation of family separation, the ACLU of Texas is looking for an Innovator to help build capacity and encourage impacted communities on the border. The Innovator will assist with research, story gathering and data analysis to further the organization’s litigation & policy goals as it pertains to the border and immigration. The Innovator will play a key role in our integrated advocacy program that seeks to protect civil rights and civil liberties through litigation, legislative advocacy, community engagement and public education and in shaping the overall vision of the affiliate’s work.
The person in this position will employ various tools to perform in-depth research to understand the scope and details of civil liberties and civil rights violations. This research will help determine, and lay the groundwork for, the appropriate advocacy tool to address the situation. The work – which may include original research, drafting and filing public records requests and reviewing disclosed documents, writing memoranda, white papers, and reports, gathering data and analysis of that data, interviewing witnesses and potential clients, drafting blogs and more – will assist in “building” cases to be used in legal advocacy, supporting legislative advocacy, policy initiatives and campaigns, supporting public education efforts, and messaging in earned or paid media.
This position will also assist with filings in cases, client management, and general litigation and departmental administrative support duties throughout the duration of the position.
DESIRED SKILLS
- A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; a personal approach that values the individual holistically and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances.
- Travel will be necessary. The Innovator must be willing to live in Texas, with a preference for living in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. An additional stipend for moving costs will be available.
- Well organized and attentive to detail; strong analytical skills.
- Spanish speaking skills are required.
Litigation Associate
HOUSTON, TX
Hybrid or Remote: Remote (travel to the office required once per quarter, all travel costs are covered by the organization).
Supervisor: Senior Manager, Legal Operations
JOB DESCRIPTION
This position will join our established Free Speech team to manage and assist on policy and litigation as it relates to challenges to the First Amendment. In addition, the position will engage with impacted communities through legal advocacy, know your rights presentations, and create materials for distribution. Lastly, they will have the opportunity to assist in active court cases and receive firsthand experience prior to heading to law school.
This year’s Innovator will assist with research, story gathering and data analysis to further the organization’s litigation & policy goals as it pertains to the First Amendment. The Innovator will play a key role in our integrated advocacy program that seeks to protect civil rights and civil liberties through litigation, legislative advocacy, and public education and in shaping the overall vision of the affiliate’s work. The person in this position will employ various tools to perform in-depth research to understand the scope and details of civil liberties and civil rights violations. This research will help determine, and lay the groundwork for, the appropriate advocacy tool to address the situation.
The Innovator’s work – which may include original research, drafting and filing public records requests and reviewing disclosed documents, writing memoranda, white papers, and reports, gathering data and analysis of that data, interviewing witnesses and potential clients, drafting blogs and more – will assist in “building” cases to be used in legal advocacy, supporting legislative advocacy, policy initiatives and campaigns, supporting public education efforts, and messaging in earned or paid media. This position will also assist with filings in cases, client management, and general litigation and departmental administrative support duties throughout the duration of the position.
DESIRED SKILLS
- A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; a personal approach that values the individual holistically and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances.
- Travel may be necessary. A preference for Texas based Innovators or Innovators willing to live in Texas is encouraged but not required. All travel costs will be covered by the organization.
- Well organized and attentive to detail; strong analytical skills.
- Spanish speaking Innovators are preferred but not required.
