18-Month Litigation Paralegal

The Biodiversity Defense Program of Earthjustice is seeking to hire a Litigation Paralegal to join our team of lawyers and advocates who work to stem the growing crisis of biodiversity loss. This is an 18-month, 28-hour per week position. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing litigation paralegal services, including legal advocacy assistance and factual research. The successful candidate must work either Pacific or Mountain Time hours and be located near an Earthjustice office to handle occasional in-office tasks, such as printing documents. Because the Biodiversity Defense Program has a nationwide focus, this position may entail occasional travel.

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; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to 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 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, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Tallahassee, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Litigation Responsibilities (80%):

• Prepare documents for filing with court and before agencies, including proofing, cite checking, and 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.
• 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 preparing retainers, litigation holds, conflict checks; ensuring compliance with litigation holds, protective orders, and e-discovery requirements; tracking & computing deadlines.
• Research and organize factual information and technical data, including scientific information; 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 and with supervision 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.
• 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 (20%):

• Provide administrative support, as needed. Examples of potential administrative tasks include: preparing client billing and process payments, supporting hiring processes for job openings, assisting with attorney admissions, and participating in the formulation and implementation of office policies.
• Foster office morale and inclusive work environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 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 proof 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 program 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.

COMPENSATION

We offer a mission- and employee-focused work environment and a competitive compensation package, including excellent benefits. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Earthjustice is a qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

Salary is dependent on experience and location.

• Salary Range in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY: $66,900-$74,325
• Salary Range in Chicago, IL; Honolulu, HI; Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA; and Washington, D.C.: $63,600-$70,650
• Salary Range in Anchorage & Juneau, AK; Denver, CO; and Philadelphia, PA: $60,225-$66,900
• Salary Range in Bozeman, MT; Houston, TX; and Miami & Tallahassee, FL: $56,925-$63,225

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit the following via Jobvite by 5:00pm PT on November 8, 2023.

• Resume.
• Cover letter.
• Later on, finalists will be asked to submit 3 references, one of whom must be a direct supervisor.

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 only considers applications submitted for current openings via Jobvite. Unsolicited resumes or resumes for posted positions that are not submitted via Jobvite will not be reviewed or retained.

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, Earthjustice is 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, genetic information, or any other factor specified under applicable laws 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.