Litigation Paralegal, DC Regional

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 to engage on 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.

Earthjustice’s DC Regional Program works to protect community health from pollution. We use litigation, administrative advocacy, and partnership to advocate for more-protective national air quality standards, national protections against hazardous air pollutants, prevention of chemical disasters at industrial facilities, clean waterways, and more, all with an eye toward advancing equity and justice.

This position provides paralegal and administrative support for the litigation and advocacy activities of the DC Regional office. The location for this role is Washington, DC. The Litigation Paralegal will: provide litigation paralegal services, including legal advocacy assistance, factual research, and drafting; assist in case development and management; help ensure the overall effectiveness of litigation support in the DC Regional office, including developing policies and best practices for litigation support; and training and developing more junior litigation assistants. The Litigation Paralegal will report to a Supervising Senior Attorney.

This position is located in Washington, DC, with some program support requiring office presence.

Responsibilities

Paralegal and Factual Support (90%):

• Edit, cite-check, Bluebook, proofread, format, assemble, serve, and file legal documents in accordance with relevant court, agency, and case-specific requirements.
• Perform and coordinate case management tasks, including preparing retainers, litigation holds, conflict checks; ensuring compliance with litigation holds, protective orders, and e-discovery requirements; tracking and computing deadlines;
• Assist in case development, including conducting interviews;
• Research, organize, and analyze legal and factual information and technical data; generate literature reviews, notes, memoranda, and summaries; develop tables, graphics, and other visual aids.
• Support all aspects of discovery, including conducting document review, communicating with other parties regarding productions, and preparing deposition summaries and/or requests for and responses to discovery, etc.
• Support all aspects of administrative record and FOIA reviews, including as appropriate document review, preparing summaries, communicating with agency staff regarding the production, etc.
• Coordinate logistics for trials, administrative hearings, or other proceedings.
• Participate in conference calls and meetings and communicate with courts, experts, and other parties, as part of regular or assigned responsibilities or as approved by attorneys.
• Engage in advocacy and community outreach efforts. Help steward and develop relationships with community partners and clients.
• Draft basic procedural pleadings, including motions, status reports, etc. Draft other case-related documents, including comment letters, FOIA and public records requests, FOIA appeals, etc.
• Track and report agency activities, scientific developments, news, and docket updates related to the office’s practice.
• Retrieve legal documents from agencies, libraries, and internet sources.
• Maintain 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.
• Maintain litigation calendars and schedule meetings and other work-related activities on request from attorneys and other program staff.

Administrative and Other Support (10%):

• Conduct new employee training and orientation for litigation assistants and paralegals.
• 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.
• Assist litigation assistants in career advancement by identifying and encouraging appropriate training and professional development opportunities and creating development plans.
• Advance a learning culture by acting as an informal mentor or advisor.
• Help ensure the advancement of Earthjustice’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and values.
• Promote a respectful and inclusive work environment for the team and model respectful and inclusive behavior.
• Communicate regularly with the team and encourage staff to raise concerns and to provide ongoing feedback.
• Facilitate staff engagement with one another to strengthen teamwork, interaction, and collaboration. Create or identify strategic opportunities for team building.
• Other tasks as assigned and as needed.

Qualifications:

• College degree preferred.
• Three plus years of experience in a related litigation position.
• Paralegal certification or equal mastery of skills.
• Expert user of software and other technology used to support litigation and program work, including Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, and PACER/ECF.
• In-depth understanding of legal practice relevant to our work, including the rules and procedures in venues where office or program practices, primarily federal courts and in particular the federal courts located in the District of Columbia.
• Ability to work independently to identify, analyze, and complete tasks.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving skills, and verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage complex information.
• Ability to handle a varied workload and prioritize as needed.
• Awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
• Excellent management skills, including the ability to foster effective communication, collaboration, decision-making, and mutual respect.
• Familiarity with environmental and social justice issues preferred.
• Support for Earthjustice’s mission.

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive. We also offer a 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.

Compensation is based on experience and location.

Washington, DC: $82,300 - $91,400

To Apply

Applicants should submit via Jobvite by January 3**, 2023**:

• Resume
• Cover letter

Applications, including those submitted after January 3, 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.