Paralegal - Associate, Staff, or Senior (DOE)

Center for Biological Diversity•Portland, OR

17d•$54,000 - $81,000•Remote

About The Position

The Center for Biological Diversity, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, believes the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence of a vast diversity of wild animals, plants and people. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law, advocacy and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that humans, other species and all communities need to survive and thrive. We want those who come after us to inherit a world where the wild is still alive. The Center for Biological Diversity’s Environmental Health program works to protect imperiled wildlife and their habitats using science, law, advocacy, and creative media. The Paralegal will provide legal secretarial and administrative support to the Environmental Health program attorneys, with an emphasis on litigation support. The working environment is fast-paced, dynamic, and collaborative.

Requirements

Paralegal/litigation experience:
Associate: 0 -2 YOE
Staff: 2+ YOE
Senior: 8+ YOE
A minimum of one to three years of paralegal/litigation experience.
Paralegal certification preferred, but significant experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, or significant legal expertise is acceptable in lieu of a paralegal certificate.
Ability and willingness to complete legal secretarial tasks.
Strong understanding of court and administrative dockets, rules, and regulations.
Knowledge of Bluebook and/or ALWD; familiarity with similar legal style manual preferred.
Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
Track record meeting deadlines and strong time management skills.
Experience multi-tasking efficiently and effectively working on a diverse team.
Strong work ethic, problem-solving skills, and ability to learn new tasks quickly.
Strong understanding of court and administrative dockets, rules, and regulations, particularly Federal District Courts.
Demonstrated competency and interest in working with people with different social identities than themselves (including race, gender, sexual orientation, age, class, and disability), and commitment to the Center’s JEDAI principles (see below).
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Pro, and willingness to learn new software and other programs as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience with legal technology and case management software preferred (e.g., MyCase, RocketMatter, Clio, CaseMap).
Experience with Microsoft Teams, Microsoft One Drive, and Zoom preferred.
Experience with Lexis and/or Westlaw preferred.
Demonstrated commitment to environmental protection preferred.

Responsibilities

Preparing legal documents, including checking citations, completing tables of contents and authorities for briefs, proofreading, formatting, and ensuring compliance with court rules in a variety of federal jurisdictions
Serving legal documents by Certified Mail, preparing courtesy/chambers copies, corresponding with vendors and Clerks' offices, and related tasks
Assisting with maintaining the Center’s and programs’ litigation-tracking databases and calendar management of court filings, administrative actions, and internal deadlines
Preparing and indexing administrative records and appendices/excerpts of records in litigation
Preparing billing spreadsheets
Conducting factual and legal research and drafting, and document review
Working with attorneys to review, organize, and summarize factual documents, and pulling documents from PACER and other court databases
Finalizing and submitting petitions and comment letters, including retrieving online references
Maintenance of legal library, including updating of court rules and reference materials
Maintenance and updating of electronic databases and systems for filings, program campaigns, program management, and other program actions
Providing general administrative and clerical support for the program as needed.
Assisting with preparation for events such as public presentations, rallies, and hearings
Handling and tracking payments for incurred expenses, which may include filing fees, bar dues, CLE registration, and submit monthly expense reports to Accounting
Calendar and otherwise manage deadlines
Coordinating legal filings using PACER/ECF throughout multiple federal jurisdictions
Performing other job-related duties as assigned
Performs at a high professional level
Substantive research and analysis to further litigation, policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, and media outreach
Occasionally drafting legal filings.

Benefits

Fully paid medical premiums for staff, and greatly discounted for families.
Fully paid dental and vision premiums for staff and their families.
Generous employer contribution to HSA and HRA’s.
Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) provided for reimbursement of eligible wellness expenses.
Center paid premiums for Short Term and Long-Term Disability provided for all staff.
Center paid premiums for Basic Life Insurance for all staff.
Discounted premiums for pet discount program.
403(b) plan with employer match and increasing employer paid contributions.
Generous time off policies, including 13 paid holidays per year and 5 “personal” days awarded each year.
Vacation accrual starts at a rate of 15 days annually, but it may be higher commensurate with experience, and paid sick days accrue at a rate of 10 days per year.
Center Paid Time Off for parental leave, personal leave, caretaker leave and even pet caretaker leave.
After 5 years of service, all employees receive a 12-week paid sabbatical.
Relaxed work atmosphere and dress code.