Bilingual Legal and Intake Assistant

The Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois (ACLU-IL) is hiring a Bilingual Legal and Intake Assistant in the Legal Department.

The Legal Department of the ACLU of Illinois works with colleagues across the organization to advance civil rights and civil liberties through impact litigation, advocacy, and education. Our work protects democracy by advancing First Amendment rights, immigrants’ rights, voting rights, and government transparency; fights racism in the criminal and civil legal systems and in policing; promotes access to reproductive health care, the rights of LGBTQ+ communities, and gender equity; and addresses and prevents the harm experienced by children in the foster system, young people in juvenile detention, and people in institutions, prisons, and jails.

Job Description

The Bilingual Legal and Intake Assistant is a highly collaborative team player who facilitates communication between members of the Legal Department and Spanish-speaking clients, prospective clients, and witnesses, helps to manage and oversee the process of monitoring and responding to requests for legal services (“intake”), and provides administrative support for litigation, investigations, and education by the Legal Department. The Bilingual Legal and Intake Assistant reports to the Deputy Legal Director and works closely with the Legal Manager and other Legal Department staff to provide administrative support.

This is a full-time non-exempt union position that is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers/United Auto Workers Local 2320.

Responsibilities

• Facilitates Spanish language communication between members of the Legal Department (and other affiliate employees when necessary), clients, witnesses, and other organizational contacts.
• Aids in live conversation and written translation from English into Spanish and from Spanish into English. Experience working with legal terms in both Spanish and English strongly preferred.
• Primarily responsible for reorganizing, monitoring, and maintaining our system for receiving and responding to requests for legal advice and assistance; facilitates contact between appropriate intakes and members of the Legal Department; drafts and sends responses.
• Answers telephone calls and greets office visitors.
• Conducts factual analysis of data obtained through discovery, investigations, and public records requests.
• Finalizes legal filings and other documents, including proofreading, formatting in accordance with court requirements, checking legal and factual citations, and creating tables of authorities and tables of contents.
• Files and serves legal pleadings in federal and state courts and administrative agencies, monitors local rules and filing processes, tracks assigned docket of cases, conducts general internet research and legal research, and monitors ECF filings.
• Maintains legal files and time and expense records.
• Provides logistical support for Legal Department meetings, outreach, depositions, and travel.
• Assists with administrative processes of Legal and other departments as needed.

Qualifications

This is a full-time position based in Chicago, Illinois. All applicants must reside in Illinois and have:

• Fluency in both Spanish and English, and the ability to accurately and efficiently translate written and spoken language from English into Spanish, and from Spanish into English.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, PowerPoint, Excel, Dropbox, and other major office programs, including facility with mail merge letters, spreadsheets, tables, and charts.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize work on time-sensitive matters while maintaining progress on long-term projects to ensure deadlines are met.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Work experience as a legal assistant or paralegal preferred, including experience with cite-checking and filing legal submissions in federal court, state court, and administrative agencies.
• Willingness to work in-person at the affiliate’s physical office Monday through Friday.
• Willingness to travel throughout Illinois and to work beyond the normal workday and/or weekends when needed.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues and contacts with different backgrounds, experiences, and positions within the organization.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ability to work effectively with colleagues, community partners, and clients with different backgrounds and experiences.
• Commitment to advancing ACLU-IL’s mission, goals, and programs.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $63,000 to $75,000, commensurate with experience. Salary may be higher depending on additional experience.

Benefits include:

• Vacation: 15 days of paid vacation in the first year and 20 days of paid vacation thereafter.
• Health benefits: 100% employer-paid premiums for medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff and eligible dependents.
• Retirement benefits: 6% employer-paid retirement contribution after 1 year without any employee contribution, plus 50% employer retirement match of the first $125 per pay period the employee contributes.
• Other benefits: 100% employer-paid life insurance; employee assistance program; short and long-term disability insurance. Paid parental leave after 1 year. Flexible spending accounts.

ACLU Employment Statement

The ACLU of Illinois is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, criminal record, or veteran status.

The ACLU-IL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance applying online, please email the Human Resources department at jalicea@aclu-il.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process.

How to Apply

Visit our application page to apply online: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3808941/Roger-Baldwin-Foundation-of-ACLU-Inc/Bilingual-Legal-and-Intake-Assistant

Benefits include:

Vacation: 15 days of paid vacation in the first year and 20 days of paid vacation thereafter.

Health benefits: 100% employer-paid premiums for medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff and eligible dependents.

Retirement benefits: 6% employer-paid retirement contribution after 1 year without any employee contribution, plus 50% employer retirement match of the first $125 per pay period the employee contributes.

Other benefits: 100% employer-paid life insurance; employee assistance program; short and long-term disability insurance. Paid parental leave after 1 year. Flexible spending accounts.

Fluency in both Spanish and English, and the ability to accurately and efficiently translate written and spoken language from English into Spanish, and from Spanish into English.