Litigation Assistant, Community Partnerships Program

The Community Partnerships Program at Earthjustice seeks a Litigation Assistant in New York City. This position provides paralegal and administrative support for attorneys in the Northeast and Washington, DC offices.

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, 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, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities:

Paralegal (70%):

• Coordinate with attorneys to prepare documents for filing in court and before agencies, including:

  • Formatting for compliance with court rules;
  • Proofreading, Bluebooking, and cite-checking;
  • Preparing tables of contents, tables of authorities, exhibits, and exhibit lists; and
  • Filing and serving.

• Perform factual and paralegal research and draft memos regarding research.

• Maintain litigation calendar, including:

• Monitoring, computing, and scheduling court and agency deadlines based on court orders and other sources; and

• Organizing meetings and events.

• Maintain digital and physical files, including:

• Case pleadings, general litigation documents, and general correspondence; and

• Case document production (Logikcull).

• Work with attorneys to prepare client communications, including retainer agreements, litigation hold letters, and joint defense agreements.

• Become familiar with relevant court rules.

• Monitor Federal Register, Court, and/or other web sites as requested by attorneys.

• Assemble and oversee (re)production of documents, exhibits, and other materials for court or administrative agency filings, service, hearings, depositions, and/or oral arguments.

• Assist with the development of standing declarations by researching locations of potential declarants and corresponding with declarants.

• Assist fellow litigation assistants both organization-wide and within the Northeast and DC offices as needed.

• Submit FOIA inquiries and review and summarize responsive documents as needed.

Administrative (30%):

• Work with IT Department to identify and resolve computer and technical problems.
• Take notes at case and community meetings.
• Help prepare for events, such as coalition meetings and webinars.
• Schedule meetings with team and external partners.
• Support the hiring process, including assistance with onboarding.

General:

• Other tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 0-3 years of office experience
• Demonstrated, strong administrative skills
• Paralegal experience or training a plus but not required.
• Interest in and knowledge of environmental, social justice, or public interest issues a plus.
• A can-do attitude, meticulous attention to detail, and an unrelenting commitment to high performance standards.
• Excellent research, analytical, writing, and computer skills (word processing, databases and spreadsheets, Internet, etc.).
• The ability to organize, set priorities among multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and function calmly under pressure.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team, including with remote staff, and to maintain confidential information.
• Flexible, punctual, highly reliable, and available for occasional evening and weekend work. Ability to work for extended periods on the computer as needed to meet filing deadlines.
• A team player who will enthusiastically take on tasks that range from intellectually challenging to routine administrative work. Ability to work independently to identify, analyze, and complete tasks.
• Ability to multitask, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work overtime on an as needed basis.
• Excellent computer skills (Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office Suite preferred).
• Excellent command of spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrate an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Ability and desire to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
• High levels of emotional intelligence.

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. 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 reflects FY 23 salary ranges.

**Salary Range in New York City: $67,800 – $75,300

**

To Apply:

Interested applicants should submit the following via Jobvite:

• Resume.
• One to two page cover letter that addresses each of the following: (1) aspects of your background that are relevant to the qualifications listed above; (2) why you are drawn to Earthjustice’s mission and whether there are particular legal, environmental, or justice issues that inspire you; and (3) how your time at Earthjustice would contribute to your career aspirations.

For this position, we are looking to hire a candidate who is available to start in January 2022. Preference will be given to candidates who apply by December 4, 2022. After that, applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

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 given 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.