JOB OPPORTUNITY
TEMPORARY FT INTAKE COORDINATOR
ACLU FOUNDATION OF TEXAS

This is a temporary position only and is not eligible for benefits or Paid Authorized Absence through the ACLU of Texas.

The ACLU Foundation of Texas is a non-profit, public interest organization devoted to protecting individual liberties and civil rights. The ACLU Foundation of Texas educates, litigates and acts in spirited defense of the Bill of Rights and our nation’s civil rights laws. A staff of 17 employees and numerous volunteers (for both the ACLU of Texas and the ACLU Foundation of Texas) work in a fast-paced, friendly office. We are a rapidly growing organization in the process of greatly expanding our staff; this is a new position. The organization is headquartered in Austin, with a regional office in Houston. The ACLU of Texas also has 13 active chapters statewide.

The Intake Coordinator manages the intake and administrative aspects of the legal program, assists in various legal matters including the preparation and filing of legal documents with the courts, provides primary staff support to the Legal Director, and helps manage requests for legal assistance. This position requires a self-directed, highly-organized person.

Responsibilities will include but may not be limited to:

Pre-litigation Factual Investigation and Legal Research

• Draft pre-litigation memoranda, reports and other internal documents.
• Present cases to the Legal Committee for evaluation and authorization of litigation;
• Research civil liberties questions, and prepare legal memoranda and demand letters;
• Investigate complaints. Perform investigations of complainants, internet searches and other research to investigate facts regarding complaints received.

Intake Management

• Database and Complaint Management
• Modify and maintain intake database for accuracy, currency, and completeness.
• Update complaint records with information from investigations or other actions taken on the complaint within the Legal Program.
  • Process intake monthly
    • Import complaints.
    • Recommend intake to the Legal Director and Legal Program Associate regarding cases that may require further investigation.
    • Forward intake to ACLU of Texas projects, other affiliates and national projects after Legal Director’s review.
      
  • Respond to requests for legal assistance received at the affiliate by referring solicitors to the website.
    
• Compile, analyze and present statistical data regarding the Legal Program’s intake database and program.
• Develop and update informational materials in response to common inquiries. Maintain resource materials and complaint forms.

Chapters

• Assist chapters who have identified advocacy issues for which litigation might be appropriate in accessing appropriate complaint data and developing strategy.
• Reach out to chapters when local counsel would be appropriate.

Administrative

• Supervise law students who would assist in investigations and legal research.
• Maintain files for legal intake.
• Assure that photocopying, mailing letters, courthouse filings and coordinating meetings for the Legal Department are completed as directed by Legal Director and Legal Program Associate.

Requirements

• JD from accredited law school;
• Licensed to practice law and a member of the State Bar of Texas;
• Database knowledge and excellent typing skills;
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral;
• Ability to set/change priorities according to deadline requirements;
• Ability to provide quality work product by assigned deadlines;
• Proficiency in Spanish is preferred;
• Experience with public interest organizations desirable but not required;
• Excellent organizational skills; and
• Ability to work well with a diverse range of strong personalities.

Hourly Pay: $20/hour. This temporary position is not eligible for benefits and Paid Authorized Absence.

Application Procedure: Applications should include a cover letter, resume, and three references. Two writing samples are also required with at least one being a legal research memo, brief, or article. Applicants who graduated from law school within the past five years should include a law school transcript. Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job posting. Previous applicants need not reapply.

Applications should be sent electronically in MS Word format or Adobe PDF to:

Lisa Graybill, Legal Director
lgraybill@aclutx.org
and
Kim Skotak, Legal Program Associate
kskotak@aclutx.org

Absolutely no unsolicited calls.

Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2007 and continue until position is filled.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to apply.