Litigation Assistant / Legal Practice Assistant, Gulf Regional
Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund - Houston, TX
posted 2 days ago
About the position
Earthjustice is the nation's leading environmental law organization. Wielding the power of law, Earthjustice partners with our clients to take on the most critical fights of our time - fights to protect the incredible biodiversity and wild places of the planet; to avert climate disaster by transitioning society away from fossil fuels toward clean energy; to safeguard the right of all people to a healthy environment. 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, Bozeman, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Tallahassee, and Washington, D.C. Earthjustice's new Gulf Regional Office will work across all three of our core program areas - healthy communities, climate and energy, and lands, oceans and wildlife. In collaboration with our clients and partners, we will fight for clean air and water and to combat unjust pollution burdens; we will fight for an equitable clean energy transition and for climate solutions that work for everyone; and we will fight to protect the magnificent lands, waters and wildlife in the Gulf. Earthjustice has a significant body of work in the Gulf and this new office will expand our capacity in this critical region. The Litigation / Legal Practice Assistant is an exciting opportunity for a creative administrator to use their skills, the power of law, and the strength of partnership to help deliver meaningful results for the Gulf region. This position is located in Houston but supports the litigation and administrative work throughout the Gulf region. We are seeking an advocate who is looking to materially contribute to our environmental work. We offer professional development and paralegal / legal training. Our team encourages you to apply even if you don't meet every qualification.
Responsibilities
- Provide litigation support to multiple attorneys in document preparation, service, and filing of court documents, including electronic filings and service to opposing counsel.
- Assist attorneys with hearing preparation including preparing and reviewing discovery documents, creating exhibits, and conducting research.
- Ensure all court filing rules are being met, the accuracy of service list and timely filing and service of court documents.
- Organization and maintenance of case files including scanned pleadings, research files, exhibits, general correspondence, and contracts.
- Create, organize, and maintain document templates.
- Compute, calendar, and help to ensure compliance with court deadlines; maintain litigation docket.
- Participate in conference calls and meetings and communicate with courts, opposing and allied counsel, clients, experts, and government officials, as needed and approved by attorneys.
- Search for and retrieve legal documents from agencies, libraries, and internet sources.
- Edit, cite-check, proofread, format, assemble, serve, and file legal documents in accordance with relevant court, agency, and case-specific requirements.
- Provide support required to comply with organizational requirements for initiation of new matters and maintenance of internal litigation database.
- Provide drafts of procedural form pleadings (e.g., notice of appearance, pro hac vice applications, etc.).
- Assist with attorney admissions, registrations, renewals and maintaining e-filing accounts.
- Assist attorneys in preparing for and appearing in court and administrative proceedings, including evidentiary hearings, trials, and oral arguments.
- Provide general administrative assistance (taking meeting minutes, updating litigation database, communications with agencies and courts, monitoring court rules, and other office tasks).
- Assist with onboarding for incoming staff, clerks, and volunteers.
- Attend community meetings to assist in advocacy or litigation support.
- Investigate community complaints as needed.
- Answer phones, handle incoming and outgoing mail/FedEx, greet visitors, ensure adequate office and mailing supplies.
- Respond to and screen cold calls/emails requesting information or representation.
- Help trouble-shoot hardware and software issues. Assist with operation and maintenance of office equipment (copier, printers, videoconferencing equipment).
- Schedule and coordinate meetings, conference room and video-conferencing equipment, planning and arranging of office events, and travel arrangements.
- Foster office morale and inclusive work environment.
- Assist with managing shared work space for all Earthjustice events, including those related to development, board meetings, or client related events etc.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of experience.
- 0-2 years' experience.
- Litigation/Paralegal experience or training is a plus.
- Fluency in Spanish is a plus.
- Willingness to complete paralegal certification a plus.
- GIS training; science background; social justice, environmental, or public health policy or advocacy experience preferred.
- Excellent editorial, proofreading, and computer skills (word processing, Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Acrobat, databases and spreadsheets, etc.).
- Ability to set priorities among multiple assignments, to meet deadlines, and to function effectively and calmly under pressure.
- Strong research and organizational skills a must; attention to detail required for court filings and litigation support.
- A can-do attitude, with an ability and willingness to dive into unfamiliar areas, such as when filing court papers in a new venue.
- Flexibility, punctuality, reliability, and integrity; a team player, who willingly performs necessary tasks.
- Availability for occasional travel and work outside normal working hours.
- Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations.
- Contributes to the creation of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
- Interest in and commitment to environmental protection. Knowledge of environmental issues a plus.
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive
- Extremely congenial work environment
- Casual dress code
- Qualifying employer for purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
