Senior Litigation Assistant, Oceans & Northwest Regional Office

Earthjustice solicits a full-time Senior Litigation Assistant to join us in Seattle. The Sr Litigation Assistant will provide administrative and litigation support services to our Oceans Program and Northwest Regional Office. The position will support teams of lawyers who are working around the country to protect oceans and ocean wildlife from threats such as overfishing, offshore oil, and gas drilling, and to conserve old-growth forests, salmon, water quality, clean air, and the communities that call the Pacific Northwest home. Our office is located in the heart of downtown Seattle. Our ideal candidate would be available to start as soon as possible, in office at least two days per week.

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 and supporters to engage 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, Los Angeles, Miami, Tallahassee, Honolulu, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities

The Senior Litigation Assistant will join a team of litigation support staff of three paralegals who provide administrative and litigation support services for attorneys practicing in state and federal courts. This position reports directly to the Supervising Litigation Paralegal in the Oceans Program, and the position will be equally split between the Oceans Program and the Northwest Regional Office.

Tasks may include but are not limited to the following: 

• Preparation and editing of documents for filing, including proofreading, cite checking, Bluebooking, formatting, producing tables of contents and authorities, assembling exhibit lists, etc. 
• Filing and service of paper and electronic filings. 
• Ensuring all court rules are met.
• Creating, organizing, and maintaining case files and contacts.
• Submitting and tracking new matters and board approval requests, litigation updates, maintaining data for matters, etc. 
• Computing and calendaring court deadlines. 
• Assisting in the collection, processing, and review of incoming and outgoing discovery productions. 
• Assisting attorneys with deposition and hearing preparation, including organizing document binders, printing exhibits, creating exhibit lists, communicating with court reporters, etc. 
• Supporting attorneys in gaining admission to courts, registration renewals, and creating and managing e-filing accounts. 
• Cite-checking data figures and numbers. Generating research notes, memoranda, summaries, tables, maps, and other visuals as needed. 
• Drafting basic pleadings and other case-related documents under attorney supervision, including case initiating documents, proposed orders, cover letters, FOIA requests, pro hac vice applications, etc. 
• Communicating with courts, experts, co-counsel, opposing counsel, and government officials as requested by attorneys. 
• Tracking relevant dockets and issues related to the work of the Oceans Program and the Northwest Regional Office via the Federal Register, agency web sites, various distribution lists, media outlets, etc. 
• Participating in conference calls and meetings when relevant to the position and/or assigned projects. 
• Operating all office equipment (copier, Stamps.com equipment, fax machines, etc.). 
• Engaging in general administrative support (e.g., receiving packages, scanning mail, managing office supplies, taking notes, greeting visitors). 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. 
• Two-plus years of paralegal or legal assistant experience in a litigation setting. 
• Interest in and knowledge of environmental or social justice issues is a plus. 
• A can-do attitude, meticulous attention to detail, and an unrelenting commitment to high performance standards.
• Excellent research, analytical, writing, and computer skills (word processing, databases and spreadsheets, Internet, etc.). 
• Knowledge of the entire Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat.
• The ability to organize, set priorities among multiple assignments, meet deadlines, and function calmly under pressure.
• The ability to work effectively with remote staff and to maintain confidential