Paralegal

American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Learn more about American University

Department:

Legal & Personnel Affairs

Time Type:

Full time

Work Modality:

Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union:

Excluded

Job Description:

Summary:

The Paralegal is a key member of the Office of General Counsel (OGC) team, providing legal administrative, research, and technical support within the Office of General Counsel. The incumbent oversees the office’s case management system, assists with the maintenance of the office’s web-based resources, conducts legal research, responds to subpoenas and record requests, and provides direct support for the litigation and immigration practice areas.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Administer electronic case management and document systems; monitor case resolution and serve as point of contact for status inquiries from campus clients.  

• Design and organize record keeping systems and ensure maintenance of legal opinion files, litigation files, and subject files. 

• Maintain web-based resources, including the Office of General Counsel homepage and the university’s policy library.

• Assist with factual investigations and provide support for discovery activities; organize case files. 

• Prepare materials in connection with immigration petitions and regulatory compliance matters.

• Perform legal research on a variety of legal issues to include gathering of sources such as statutes, ordinances, court decisions, legal documents, institutional policies, templates, and articles for use in preparing legal documents and as a basis for answering requests for legal opinions.

• Conduct research through Westlaw, the Internet, or other resources; monitor legislative and regulatory activity at the state and federal level.

• Create and compose legal documents, letters, reports, memos, agenda items, graphs, charts, presentations and e-mails; independently answer correspondence not requiring review by the staff attorneys; interpret and explain policies consistent with accepted interpretation.

• Coordinate the receipt and institutional response to subpoenas and record requests. 

• Maintain and respond to inquiries regarding university deeds and easements. 

• Assist with management/tracking of the University’s intellectual property docket, including patents, trademarks, and provide assistance with copyright work involving general licensing matters.

• Participate in committee meetings and in special projects.

• Recommend methods for improvement of office procedures or workflow and initiated approved suggestions; ensure confidentiality and security of office facilities, equipment, and records.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

• 35 hours per week.

• Generally Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm with occasional work outside of normal work hours as required by the needs or operational requirements of the office or University.

• After an initial on-boarding/orientation period, this position may be eligible for a hybrid work modality subject to the needs of the office and AU’s policies.

Salary Range:

• $80,000 to $90,000 annually.

Required Education and Experience:

• Associates degree.

• 3 years of administrative or records management experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Knowledge of legal concepts, familiarity with legal documents, and conducting research.

• High level of comfort with technology; in-depth knowledge of va