Supervising Litigation Paralegal

over 1 year ago
Full time role
Chicago, IL, US... more
Chicago, IL, US... more

Company

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We ...

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Job Description

Supervisory Litigation Paralegal, Fossil Fuels Program

Earthjustice’s Fossil Fuels Program seeks applicants for a Supervising Litigation Paralegal to join us in using the power of the law to protect communities and our environment from an onslaught of new oil and gas development. The position will provide litigation paralegal services, including legal advocacy assistance, factual research, and drafting, will supervise the litigation assistant(s) and litigation practice associate, and play a lead role in ensuring the overall effectiveness of litigation support in the Fossil Fuels Program. The Supervising Litigation Paralegal will report to a Supervising Senior Attorney or Managing Attorney.

The position will be based preferably in our New Orleans, Houston, San Francisco, or Chicago offices, although applicants seeking to work in other locations where Earthjustice has an office will also be considered.  Our ideal candidate would be available to start as soon as possible.

At a time when we desperately need to reduce greenhouse emissions to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, the oil and gas industry continues its attempts to aggressively expand fossil fuel infrastructure, locking us into decades of future fossil fuel use and directly harming the communities already hardest hit by climate disruption. Earthjustice’s Fossil Fuels Program is confronting this massive build-out. We use litigation, administrative advocacy, and partnership to advance an end to U.S. oil and gas extraction and production, stop new infrastructure (e.g. petrochemical facilities, export terminals and pipelines), and advance equity and justice. The Supervising Litigation Paralegal would support our work across regions in the Gulf South and Ohio River Valley. 

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, Juneau, Seattle, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Denver, Bozeman, Chicago, Tallahassee, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. We plan to open a Houston office in 2022.

Earthjustice staff will be working two days a week in the office. After six months, the Executive Leadership Team will evaluate whether to adjust our hybrid work plan.

Responsibilities

Paralegal (85%):

  • 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 and draft declarations related to standing.
  • 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 pleadings, including motions, status reports, procedural pleadings, etc. Draft other case-related documents, including comment letters, FOIA and public records requests, FOIA appeals, etc. 
  • Edit, cite-check, Bluebook, proofread, format, assemble, serve, and file legal documents in accordance with relevant court, agency, and case-specific requirements.
  • 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 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.

Supervisory and Other Duties (15%):

  • Serve as a direct supervisor for at least one litigation assistant and litigation support staff in the Fossil Fuels Program, including delegation and oversight of litigation support assignments.
  • 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 direct reports in career advancement by identifying and encouraging appropriate training and professional development opportunities and creating development plans. 
  • Advance a learning culture by providing direct reports with consistent performance feedback – both positive and constructive, acting as a coach and mentor, and helping to ensure that case teams are debriefing after completion of significant stages of projects. 
  • 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.
  • At least 5 years of experience in a related litigation position.
  • Paralegal certification or equal mastery of skills.
  • Familiarity with environmental and social justice issues preferred.
  • Supervisory experience
  • Excellent management skills, including the ability to foster effective communication, collaboration, decision-making, and mutual respect.
  • Ability to work independently to identify, analyze, and complete tasks.
  • Outstanding organizational skills.
  • Outstanding problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage complex information.
  • Excellent research and analytical skills, including the ability to understand legal, factual, scientific, technical, economic, historical, and policy aspects of issues and synthesize this knowledge in a coherent and non-technical fashion.
  • Ability to handle a varied workload and prioritize as needed.
  • In-depth understanding of legal practice relevant to our work, including the rules and procedures in venues where office or program practices.
  • Expert user of software and other technology used to support litigation and program work.
  • 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.

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. Earthjustice is an equal opportunity employer and highly values diversity.

Salaries at Earthjustice are determined by experience level and working location.

San Francisco, CA: $95,400 - $106,000

Houston, TX or New Orleans, LA: $81,100 - $90,100

Chicago, IL: $90,600 - $100,700

To Apply

Applicants should submit via Jobvite:

  • Resume
  • Cover letter

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.

#LI-Hybrid
"Lead Paralegal" "Supervising Paralegal" 

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