Position Overview

The Abolitionist Law Center (ALC) is contracting a part-time Administrative Assistant position based in Philadelphia, PA. The Administrative Assistant  will be responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of ALC’s Philadelphia office and administrative functions. This role requires a highly organized, detail-oriented individual with excellent communication, time management, and leadership skills. The Administrative Assistant will manage office supplies, handle administrative tasks, coordinate office events, and support the overall efficiency of the office environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily office operations and ensure that office processes run smoothly.
• Manage office supplies inventory and place orders as needed.
• Coordinate maintenance and repairs of office equipment.
• Assist leadership in organizing and scheduling meetings, travel, and appointments.
• Assist in the preparation of regularly scheduled reports, including expense reports and staff timesheets, and record and maintain meeting notes.
• Handle general inquiries and provide general support to visitors.
• Plan in-house or off-site activities, such as parties, celebrations, and conferences.
• Ensure office safety and compliance with ALC policies and health and safety regulations.
• Implement and maintain ALC procedures and policies in the Philadelphia office.
• Support HR in onboarding, training, and offboarding employees.
• Liaise with facility management vendors, including cleaning, catering, and security services.

Requirements

• Experience as an Office Manager, Front Office Manager, or Administrative Assistant.
• Able to demonstrate a sound understanding of agenda planning and practical experience in hosting meetings (virtually and otherwise)
• Very comfortable navigating Google Workspace and Calendar; Able to provide training and support troubleshooting basic technical issues related to organizational software for other staff.
• General knowledge of best practices in file management and digitization – both electronic and hard copies; detail-oriented with diligent record keeping 
• Advanced written and oral communication skills; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, org leadership, and external partners
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently, with relatively little supervision
• Weekday in-office availability, with the ability to work weekends/evenings as needed for meetings. 
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds and complete light cleaning and office organization tasks

Compensation

This position will be based in Philadelphia. This is an in-person, part-time position of up to 20 hours per week, with a starting rate of $25.00 per hour.

Application Process

Please send your resume, three professional references, and a detailed cover letter explaining your interest in the position as a single PDF to info@alcenter.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Court watch interns will get direct experience seeing how county courts operate and handle criminal and civil cases at multiple levels, be instrumental in spotting inequities and other weak spots in the system, and work with our team to strategize about how to research, advocate, and expose systemic injustice.

Learn more at alccourtwatch.org/get-involved/

Interns will work with directly impacted communities and learn how a blend of community organizing, litigation, and civic engagement can create create change. This is an in person internship available to those in Philadelphia. We offer year-round opportunities and encourage those interested to reach out to Sam at sam@alcenter.org.

ALC accepts applications from October 1st thru January 31st for our summer legal internship positions.

The 10-week summer internship program is for law students interested in abolition and movement lawyering, who successfully complete their first year of law school and want to work with us in defending the human rights of incarcerated people and their communities in Pennsylvania.

Our casework includes solitary confinement litigation, direct representation of those seeking medical transfer under the state “compassionate release” law, post-conviction criminal representation, prison conditions litigation, and class action litigation against Philadelphia and Allegheny County Jails over their treatment of the incarcerated population.

ALC is accepting three Philadelphia-based interns who will be asked to work in ALC’s Philadelphia office at least two days a week, and one intern in Pittsburgh who will also be asked to work in the office at least two days a week. Please indicate your location preference in your cover letter.

Statistics show that people from structurally marginalized communities are less likely to apply if they feel they do not meet 100% of the requirements. If you have a strong feeling in your gut about this position, no matter who you are, we strongly encourage your application.

Apply: Applications should be sent in a single email with one PDF attachment including all materials (listed below) with the subject line “Legal Internship Application” to Rupalee Rashatwar, Staff Attorney, at rupalee@alcenter.org.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Cover Letter: No more than two pages double-spaced. Include name and contact information; current law school or legal education; whether you are interested in a Philadelphia-based position or a remote position; your interest in prison abolition; why you want to work with the Abolitionist Law Center; and what experiences, skills, or attributes of yours make you suitable to work with ALC.
• Resume: No longer than one page in length to reflect most recent work history. Previous internships and volunteer and organizing experience may also be included.
• Professional References: Please provide three professional references. These can be prior employers, volunteer coordinators, or other people with whom you have worked. These should be from people who can attest to your ability to handle challenging intellectual work, learn new material, work well in a collaborative setting, and communicate effectively.
• Legal Writing Sample: no longer than five single-spaced pages or 10 double-spaced. This can be an excerpt from a longer writing.

Decisions: Decisions will be made on a rolling basis.

Funding: There is no guaranteed funding available from ALC for these positions; students will be required to finance their internship via grants or fellowships.