Paralegal

Lambda Legal•New York, NY

27d•$59,053 - $86,723•Hybrid

About The Position

Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Our clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal also has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC. We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization. The Paralegal assists attorneys with legal and other research; drafts, prepares and files documents in federal and state legislative bodies and offices, administrative, agencies, and courts; and works within coalitions and with clients to advance Lambda Legal’s cutting-edge policy advocacy, impact litigation, and educational work. This role supports the work of multiple attorneys on a wide array of issues within Lambda Legal’s mission.

Requirements

1-2 years prior paralegal experience required.
Willingness to develop specialized knowledge about the legal system and legal documents necessary to perform duties in a law office setting is essential; and prior legal support work, which may include support for federal legislative and policy advocacy, is highly desired.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Highly motivated, detail-oriented, well-organized, and dependable.
Strong collaborative team player with ability to work well under pressure.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (specifically Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat.
Electronic court filing systems (including Federal Judiciary’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system).
Proficiency with Westlaw preferred (experience with LexisNexis is acceptable).
Experience with iManage preferred (or other law-firm storage applications).
Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially- and gender-diverse environment and to contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere.
Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of issues facing transgender and nonbinary people and/or prior experience working with transgender and nonbinary people preferred, not required.
Prior work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and/or people living with HIV is highly desirable.
Experience working with other historically marginalized communities (in a professional or volunteer capacity) is also desirable.

Responsibilities

Provide legal and administrative support to attorneys including, but not limited to, the production of motions, legal pleadings and briefs (including proofreading and cite-checking).
Prepare legal advocacy materials, including administrative comments, substantive advocacy letters, and other legal filings.
Perform legal and non-legal research, track legislation, monitor activity in the Federal Register, and search the Congressional Record.
Help attorneys to ensure compliance with all current applicable court rules, maintain and create case files, legal department databases, and other organizational systems, and other professional rules of responsibility.
Attend case meetings and assist with note-taking client interviews as appropriate.
Assist with case discovery which may include document collection and review.
Assist with expense reports and other legal admin tasks.
Draft correspondence.
Contact court personnel, other attorneys and advocates, and others as appropriate.
Assist in maintaining client relationships.
Work collaboratively with other paralegals.
Provide general administrative support to members of the Legal Department.
Prepare presentations and other educational materials.
Support coalition-building and partnership activities, including coordinating meetings, preparing agendas and materials, taking notes, and tracking follow-up items.
Communicate regularly with coalition members, community-based organizations, advocates, legal partners, and other stakeholders to support ongoing advocacy efforts.
Participate in coalition and partner meetings and represent the organization professionally and respectfully in interactions with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical benefits that begin on your start date
Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date)
Short & Long-Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date)
403(b) Retirement Plan (employer contribution and matching program begins after 90 days of employment)
Paid Vacation (15 Days)
Sick Leave (12 Days)
Personal Leave (3 Days)
Religious Observance Leave (3 Days)
Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave
Floating Holiday (1 Day)
12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures
Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits
Health Reimbursement Account
Annual professional development funds
$50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement
Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
Premium subscription to the Calm App
Paid sabbatical after 7 years of service at Lambda Legal (4 weeks for non-exempt positions and 8 weeks for exempt positions)