Full Time Schedule

4-Year Degree Required

See full job and application details at https://www.idealist.org/en/nonprofit-job/70fbe78a948e4565af1022b3731b1a65-litigation-paralegalsupervising-litigation-paralegal-earthjustice-headquarters-seattle

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; preserve magnificent places and wildlife; advance clean energy; and combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals, and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time and bring about positive change. We are guided by a passionate, ambitious vision for the future for people and our planet: until justice stands for all, we will never rest. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections. We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment. Our headquarters are in San Francisco, with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, Tallahassee, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, Chicago, and Washington, DC.

This position provides litigation paralegal services, including legal advocacy assistance and factual research for the Northwest office.

The position will ideally start August 1st, 2021. Depending on qualifications and experience, we plan to hire a Litigation Paralegal or a Supervising Litigation Paralegal.

Responsibilities

Litigation Responsibilities (90%):

  • Prepare documents for filing with court and before agencies, including: formatting for compliance with court rules.
  • Assist attorneys with collection, organization, and/or preparation of large document productions, including administrative records, FOIA responses, and/or discovery productions
  • Proofreading and cite-checking (Bluebook cite standards and/or verify reference and/or authority).
  • Prepare tables of contents, tables of authorities, exhibits, and exhibit lists for complex dispositive motion briefs and similar filings.
  • Prepare excerpts of records, appendices, and other large voluminous multi-volume filings, including ensuring compliance with appropriate file size and page limit guidelines.
  • Finalize and file pleadings and related documents with proper court or agency.
  • Familiar with state, federal, and appellate courts and ability to research applicable local rules for each.
  • Maintain calendar / docket.
  • Has command of the local, administrative, and ECF rules in courts where litigation is pending.
  • Maintains pleadings, general litigation, discovery, correspondence, and other case related items in electronic files, and creates paper files when necessary.
  • Coordinate case management tasks, including prepare retainers, litigation holds, conflict checks; ensure compliance with litigation holds, protective orders, and e-discovery requirements; track & compute deadlines.
  • Research and organize factual information and technical data; develop chronologies, reports, tables, graphics, and other visual aids.
  • Support attorneys with management of discovery including conducting document review, with attorney approval, preparing deposition summaries and/or requests for and responses to discovery, and serving discovery requests on opposing counsel.
  • Support attorneys with management of administrative record and FOIA reviews, and, with attorney approval, communicating with agency staff regarding the production.
  • Coordinate logistics for trials, administrative hearings, or other proceedings.
  • Assist attorneys in trial preparation.
  • Prepare for and participate in conference calls and meetings.
  • Communicate with courts, opposing and allied counsel, clients, experts, and government officials, as part of regular responsibilities or as approved by attorneys.
  • At request of attorneys, draft routine pleadings or sections of pleadings, and FOIA and public records requests.
  • Track and report docket updates in designated cases.
  • Maintain electronic case database of office’s cases.
  • Retrieve legal documents from agencies, libraries, and internet sources.
  • Maintain litigation support manual and court-specific information, including filing checklists; collaborate with other litigation staff across the organization as needed to improve litigation support for the office and Earthjustice generally.
  • As the office establishes procedures for this role, provide assistance in case development such as coordination of standing submissions, including working with clients to identify and screen potential declarants; conducting interviews; drafting and editing declarations; communicating with clients regarding standing.

Administrative and Other Support (10%):

  • Participate in design, formulation, and implementation of various office policies and procedures.
  • Assist with attorney admissions, registration and renewals; maintain e-filing accounts
  • Provide back-up administrative support as needed.
  • Foster office morale and inclusive work environment.
  • Other tasks as assigned and as needed.

*A Supervising Paralegal will also have the following responsibilities:

  • Partner with the Managing Attorney and/or other staff to evolve the effectiveness of litigation support and institute and implement best practices in the face of changing technology, norms, and rules
  • Supervision of one or more litigation assistants or paralegals
  • Lead the litigation support team to maximize the utilization and growth of each member of the team and ensure that litigation support functions are performed effectively and to the highest standards

Qualifications

  • College degree preferred.
  • At least 5 years of experience in a related litigation position.
  • Paralegal certification or comparable mastery of skills from previous position.
  • Familiarity with environmental and social justice issues preferred.
  • Outstanding organizational skills.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Strong proofreading and grammatical skills to effectively proofed legal work
  • Must be a self-starter, multi-tasker, and be able to work independently.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
  • Attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines, often under pressure.
  • Ability to handle a varied workload and prioritize as needed.
  • Familiarity with technology and comfortable learning new technology.
  • Expert user of Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Pacer/ECF, and other technology used to support litigation and program work.
  • Significant experience with e-discovery software.
  • General understanding of legal practice relevant to our work, including the rules and procedures in venues where office or program practices.
  • Familiarity with general rules of civil procedure and progression of litigation through the court system, with the ability to read and interpret local, ECF and administrative rules of court.
  • Manage complex and voluminous document productions and filings.
  • Applicants should be flexible, punctual, highly reliable, and available for evening and weekend work, as needed.
  • As our office is currently working from home, applicants should have the ability to work in a remote environment, including high-speed internet access.
  • Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
  • Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences. 

* To be considered for the Supervising Paralegal position the successful candidate must meet the foregoing qualifications plus:

  • At least 5 years of Paralegal litigation experience or the equivalent
  • Relevant supervisory abilities & experience (hiring, training, work direction, performance appraisal, coaching, and discipline)
  • Leadership skills

Physical Demands: Ability to operate various office equipment, such as personal computer, calculator, copy machine, facsimile machine, and telephone system. Ability to perform routine bending, stooping, twisting, and reaching. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Please note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for personnel so classified.

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive. We also offer an extremely congenial work environment and a casual dress code. 

Salary range is based on experience and location.

Salary range for Litigation Paralegal in Seattle, Washington: $79,100-$87,900

Salary range for Supervising Litigation Paralegal in Seattle, Washington: $87,200-$96,900 

To Apply

Interested applicants should submit the following:

  • Resume
  • Cover letter describing why you want to work for Earthjustice

Click here to apply: https://app.jobvite.com/j?cj=oXzVffwq&s=Idealist

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application.

No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles: We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.