About the organization and the department The mission of the ACLU Foundation of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) is to be an enduring guardian of justice, fairness, equality, and freedom, working to ...
About the organization and the department The mission of the ACLU Foundation of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) is to be an enduring guardian of justice, fairness, equality, and freedom, working to ...
About the organization and the department The mission of the ACLU Foundation of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) is to be an enduring guardian of justice, fairness, equality, and freedom, working to ...
About the organization and the department The mission of the ACLU Foundation of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) is to be an enduring guardian of justice, fairness, equality, and freedom, working to ...
Fellow
Fresno, CA · On-site
$113K - $124K/yr
ACLU NorCal seeks two Fellows to join our Legal Advocacy department. The Fellows will serve a two-year term, starting in Fall 2027. Over the course of those two years, the Fellow will help to develop ...
Fellow
Fresno, CA · On-site
$113K - $124K/yr
ACLU NorCal seeks two Fellows to join our Legal Advocacy department. The Fellows will serve a two-year term, starting in Fall 2027. Over the course of those two years, the Fellow will help to develop ...
Staff Attorney / Senior Staff Attorney
Fresno, CA · On-site
$130K - $230K/yr
About the job The ACLU of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) is now hiring for Staff Attorneys and/or Senior Staff Attorneys to join our Legal Advocacy department. These attorneys will help to develop ...
New
Staff Attorney / Senior Staff Attorney
Fresno, CA · On-site
$130K - $230K/yr
About the job The ACLU of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) is now hiring for Staff Attorneys and/or Senior Staff Attorneys to join our Legal Advocacy department. These attorneys will help to develop ...
New
Campaign Coordinator
Fresno, CA · On-site
$28.84 - $37.26/hr
The Campaign Coordinator will support ACLU NorCal's electoral engagement work ahead of the November 2026 general election through a variety of voter contact methods. The campaign coordinator will ...
Campaign Coordinator
Fresno, CA · On-site
$28.84 - $37.26/hr
The Campaign Coordinator will support ACLU NorCal's electoral engagement work ahead of the November 2026 general election through a variety of voter contact methods. The campaign coordinator will ...
Campaign Coordinator
Fresno, CA · On-site
$28.84 - $37.26/hr
The Campaign Coordinator will support ACLU NorCal's electoral engagement work ahead of the November 2026 general election through a variety of voter contact methods. The campaign coordinator will ...
Campaign Coordinator
Fresno, CA · On-site
$28.84 - $37.26/hr
The Campaign Coordinator will support ACLU NorCal's electoral engagement work ahead of the November 2026 general election through a variety of voter contact methods. The campaign coordinator will ...
Aclu Norcal information
What are some common challenges faced by staff at ACLU NorCal, and how can new team members prepare for them?
What is ACLU NorCal?
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an ACLU of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) staff member, and why are they important?
What is the difference between Aclu Norcal vs Legal Advocate?
| Aspect | Aclu Norcal | Legal Advocate |
|---|---|---|
| Required Credentials | Bachelor's degree, experience in civil rights or legal work | Varies; often requires legal knowledge, sometimes a law degree or paralegal certification |
| Work Environment | Nonprofit organization, advocacy-focused | Legal firms, nonprofit legal services, or government agencies |
| Employer & Industry Usage | Used by civil rights organizations, advocacy groups | Legal services, public interest law, nonprofit legal aid |
While both roles involve legal knowledge and advocacy, Aclu Norcal focuses on civil rights advocacy within a nonprofit setting, whereas Legal Advocates may work in legal firms or legal aid organizations providing direct legal support.

Full-time
Re-posted 25 days ago
Job description
About the organization and the department
The mission of the ACLU Foundation of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) is to be an enduring guardian of justice, fairness, equality, and freedom, working to protect and advance civil liberties for all Californians. This position offers a unique opportunity to be at the heart of the Legal-Policy team which pursues cutting edge impact litigation and promotes policy change in order to defend and expand the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the California Constitution.
The position
Intake Counselors support the Civil Liberties Intake Program by processing requests for legal assistance, distributing know-your-rights materials, etc. The Intake Counselor position is supervised by the Intake Program Manager.
Responsibilities can include:
- Answering phone calls received through our Civil Liberties Hotline;
- Conducting initial interview questions with the callers, writing clear and complete notes during the call, and documenting relevant matters in a concise manner;
- Reviewing, evaluating, and responding to written requests for assistance, including mail and online complaints; and
- Working with a web-based database to enter and update information from the intake, as well as catalog that data within the system.
Qualifications
The ACLU NorCal values equity and inclusion and encourages a diversity of candidates from various backgrounds to apply.
Individuals joining the Legal-Policy Department team as a Volunteer Civil Liberties Intake Counselor must have the following skills and qualifications:
- Strong commitment to and enthusiasm for the mission of the ACLU of Northern California (for examples of our work, see the ACLU NorCal's online legal docket: https://www.aclunc.org/our-work/legal-docket);
- Ability to adhere to a strict code of confidentiality;
- A dedication to ongoing learning on how to best perform intake volunteer duties;
- Strong oral and written communication skills;
- Proficiency with or willingness to learn Outlook;
- Proficiency with or willingness to learn a web-based database; and
- Highly organized and careful attention to detail.
Helpful but not required skills and qualifications include
- Advanced or higher proficiency in Spanish (reading, writing, listening, and speaking);
- Experience with a web-based database.
Time commitment & benefits
We require a minimum 4-month commitment of at 6 least hours during the workweek (Monday - Friday). This is an unpaid position.
To apply
The cover letter should include why you are interested in this volunteer position and what your availability will be for the coming months.
The ACLU of Northern California advances equity and inclusion in the workplace by providing equal employment opportunity to support a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (over 40), sexual orientation, military and veteran status, and any other basis prohibited by law. The organization also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. This equal employment opportunity policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, advancement, training, problem resolution, and separation from employment. Through this policy, the ACLU NorCal strives to establish and maintain an equitable and accessible work environment that is free from discrimination and supportive of a workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our communities and the people we serve. ACLU NorCal will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).
About ACLU of Northern California
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Industry
Non-profits
Company size
51 - 200 Employees
Headquarters location
San Francisco, CA, US
Year founded
1934