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"The American Civil Liberties Union has a century-long history of fighting legal battles for the underrepresented and ostracized members of society. Its mission is to ensure that every individual&amp;#039;s rights are protected equally under the law. Its involvement in Supreme Court cases since the 1920s has led to stronger legal protections for free speech, religious freedom, economic equality, and reproductive rights. Modern causes also include Internet privacy, prisoners&amp;#039; rights, censorship, and all forms of gender, racial, or sexual-identity discrimination.  Attorneys and administrators with the organization work in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. They look for local cases where individuals&amp;#039; rights are being violated and often cover all legal fees, such as in the case of Tamesha Means, a Michigan woman who was denied a necessary medical abortion at her only nearby hospital because its religious code did not condone the procedure. Jo-Anna Joseph, the ACLU&amp;#039;s director of human resources, discusses what the organization looks for in new recruits.  What should I know about the work environment of the ACLU before I apply? Understanding our values and the causes we fight for is key. The ACLU is filled with passionate people working on some of the most crucial issues of our time. It&amp;#039;s challenging work, so we tend to also form strong bonds. We are more than just colleagues here \u2014 we&amp;#039;re working for change as well. Where do you find most of your job candidates? Most of the applicants learn about our job openings through the ACLU website and Idealist.org. However, we also advertise our positions to websites that attract individuals interested in a career at a public service, public interest, and/or nonprofit organization [such as Feminist.org]. Also, to attract and increase the diversity in our applicant pools, we also advertise our positions on sites geared toward traditionally underrepresented groups such as persons with disabilities and job openings are shared on websites such as the Gay &amp;amp;amp; Lesbian Political Action &amp;amp;amp; Support Group. What are three core qualities you look for in all candidates? Applicants should be passionate about the ACLU&amp;#039;s mission, knowledgeable about the issues that the ACLU champions, and possess the work experience and educational requirements that are relevant to the position to which they are applying. For your legal team, do you typically look for previous working law experience, or do you hire newly licensed attorneys? Many of our jobs require prior legal experience, but each job is different, and every job posting indicates whether prior experience is required. Do I need previous experience in social justice work to apply for a job? Previous experience in social justice work is not always required. However, it&amp;#039;s key to possess experience that will be relevant to the position you&amp;#039;re applying for. This is a signal to the hiring manager that there is both a commitment and interest when it comes to the work that the ACLU does every day. If I&amp;#039;m thinking of going to law school or another postgraduate program, should I disclose that in the interview? We want to know about your current work experience, your interests, as well as your future career goals. If you&amp;#039;re interviewing here, you should provide information about your plans to further your education. This lets the hiring manager know that you are interested in career growth and development and that you could provide added value over the long term.  What kinds of job opportunities do you have for recent graduates? We offer year-round post-graduate internships. We also offer legal and public service fellowship opportunities as well as paralegal, coordinator, and lobbyist assistant positions, which are all relevant for recent graduates.  You have offices across the country. Do I apply through the individual branch or through the main organization?  The National ACLU has offices in New York; Washington, D.C.; North Carolina; San Francisco; North and South Dakota; Wyoming; and Puerto Rico. The Careers section on our website provides links to the current career opportunities by location. You can also go to the website of your respective state ACLU affiliate. How many people do you hire in a given year? The number of employees we hire varies from year to year depending upon the needs of the organization. What questions should I always ask in an interview? Ask what they think is the most rewarding aspect of the position as well as what they think would be the most challenging aspect of the position. Be sure to ask what success looks like in the job and the steps you need to take to achieve it. And ask what the key priorities for the job will be and what the short-term and long-term goals for the person hired will be. Should I bring up salary? Yes, you can. We typically encourage applicants to provide us with their salary expectations in their cover letter. Do thank-you cards or emails matter to you? Not sending a thank-you card or note is not a deal breaker. However, it is a good idea to let the interviewer know that you appreciate their time and to let them know that you are still interested in the position. It&amp;#039;s also a good idea to reiterate the particular strengths that you can bring to the position and the team. Interview Insider is weekly series offering tips for getting a job at some of your favorite companies. Check back every Thursday for the latest interview. Follow Heather on Twitter. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/career/interviews/a30107/interview-insider-aclu-career-jobs/>