The ACLU of Massachusetts (“ACLUM”) is seeking Volunteers to join their Legal Resources Team. Volunteers do not need to be attorneys and do not give legal advice.
Responsibilities
Volunteers are a vital part of the daily operations for the ACLUM, and perform the following responsibilities: answer and return phone calls from persons seeking legal assistance about civil liberties violations; record summaries of calls in a database to be reviewed by the ACLU’s Legal Assessment Attorney and other staff attorneys; provide initial suggestions for where else callers might obtain help, as ACLUM cannot always provide direct assistance; and redirect calls intended for other ACLUM staff members. Volunteers generally work in four-hour shifts (9:00am – 1:00pm or 1:00 – 5:00pm), one shift per week. This work can be done remotely.
Attributes
ACLUM seeks volunteers who are patient, kind, non-judgmental and even-tempered. They must be able to listen, ask pertinent questions, and maintain an objective attitude in speaking with people who are experiencing problems. Volunteers must become familiar with ACLUM’s legal priorities, as well as alternative resources to suggest to callers. The ability to speak and understand Spanish and/or Portuguese is a plus.
How to Apply
To apply, submit a resume and statement of interest to legalvolunteer@aclum.org.
About the ACLU of Massachusetts
The ACLU of Massachusetts (ACLUM) was founded in 1920 and is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nationwide, non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that works to preserve and expand the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Through strategies of litigation, advocacy, public education, and grassroots activism, they strengthen and expand public understanding of racial justice, juvenile justice, LGBTQ rights (including equal marriage), women’s rights, criminal justice issues, equal opportunity, free speech and assembly, privacy rights, religious liberty, students’ rights, voting rights, and reproductive rights.
BC Law Pro Bono Program
Hours volunteered to the ACLUM will count towards BC Law’s voluntary 50 hour pro bono pledge.