Policy Assistant & Paralegal

Lambda Legal•Washington, DC

3d•$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 Policy Assistant and Paralegal primarily supports Lambda Legal's public policy work across federal and state processes. Core responsibilities include tracking legislation and bills, helping stand up model policy initiatives, preparing and filing advocacy materials such as letters and comments, and managing data and reporting on policy metrics nationwide to advance Lambda Legal’s cutting-edge policy advocacy, impact litigation, and educational work. While policy work is the core focus, this role may also be called upon to support litigation efforts as needed, including legal research and court filings. This role supports the work of multiple attorneys on a wide array of issues within Lambda Legal’s mission.

Requirements

Ability to build and maintain systems and processes to organize materials and improve efficiency
Previous experience tracking legislation and bills at the federal and/or state level
Experience creating reports, presentations, and other materials for internal and external audiences
Proficient in administrative support tasks, including calendaring, travel coordination, expense reconciliation, and other general duties
Highly organized and detail oriented, with the ability to track and manage multiple workstreams, deadlines, and systems simultaneously
Strong research skills, including the ability to monitor and synthesize information from legislative and regulatory sources
Ability to manage data and compile metrics to support reporting and decision-making
Willingness to develop specialized knowledge about legislative and policy processes, as well as the legal system
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear and accurate correspondence and advocacy materials
Dependable and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative, work independently, and follow through on tasks with minimal oversight
Collaborative and team-oriented, with the ability to work effectively across teams, including paralegals, attorneys, and external partners to advance shared goals and projects
Comfortable communicating and coordinating with a range of stakeholders, including government offices, coalition partners, attorneys, and advocates
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (specifically Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting policy or legislative advocacy work, at the state and/or federal level is highly desired
Prior legal support or paralegal experience
Experience with electronic court filing systems (including Federal Judiciary’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system).
Proficiency in Westlaw or LexisNexis preferred
Experience tracking legislation in tracking programs such as Quorum or FiscalNoteis a plus.
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.
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

Build and maintain infrastructure and systems to organize Lambda Legal’s policy work, including administrative support to develop model policy initiatives
Track and monitor state and federal legislation to help maintain a national view of policy and litigation activity
Prepare and file public policy advocacy materials, including administrative comments, substantive advocacy letters, and other similar documents
Manage policy-related data and compile metrics to support reporting and decision-making
Prepare and distribute newsletters and other regular reports that provide updates on policy work regionally and across the country
Perform research on legislation and regulations by monitoring activity in the Federal Register, the Congressional Record, and using a legislative tracking program
Contact court personnel, government offices, other attorneys and advocates, and others as appropriate
Assist in maintaining client and governmental relationships
Provide administrative support to the Deputy Legal Director of Policy, including calendar management, coordination of travel (including exhibiting at conferences and in-person meetings), budget and expense reconciliation, and preparation of materials for internal and external meetings
Draft correspondence, including emails, letters, comments, and other written materials in support of our policy and advocacy work
Prepare presentations, fact sheets, talking points, and other educational materials to support internal teams, coalition partners, and external audiences
Provide legal and administrative support to attorneys including, but not limited to, the production of reports, legal pleadings, and briefs (including proofreading and cite-checking)
Help ensure compliance with all applicable court rules by maintaining case files and other organizational systems
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)