General Position Overview

The Climate Law Institute wages innovative legal and grassroots campaigns to protect people, wildlife, and ecosystems from climate change and the fossil fuel industry. Our team works for the successful adoption and implementation of law and policy to eliminate greenhouse gas pollution and speed a just transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy.

The Paralegal will provide paralegal, legal secretarial and administrative support to a dynamic team to support litigation, policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, and media outreach. The working environment is fast-paced, exciting, and supportive.

The position is full time and will be located in our Oakland, CA or Washington, D.C. office. We will also consider candidates wishing to work remotely.

Main duties

• Preparation of legal documents, including cite checking, completing tables of contents and authorities for briefs, proofreading, formatting, filing, and ensuring compliance with court rules in a variety of state and federal jurisdictions.
• Filing and serving legal documents and maintenance of legal dockets, including e-filing, serving documents by certified mail, making courtesy/chambers copies, corresponding with vendors and Clerks' offices, and related tasks.
• Assistance with maintenance of the Center’s and program’s litigation-tracking databases and calendar management of administrative actions, internal deadlines, and court filings.
• Preparation and indexing of administrative records and appendices/excerpts of record in litigation.
• Conducting some factual and legal research, such as working with attorneys to review, organize, and summarize discovery documents, and pulling documents from PACER and other court databases.
• Finalizing and submitting comment letters, including retrieval of online references.
• Maintenance of legal library, including updating of court rules and reference material.
• 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 Climate program as needed, such as assisting with the planning and handling of internal and external meetings, travel, and conference arrangements.
• Provide support for the Climate campaigns and organizing as needed, such as assisting with event coordination such as public presentations, rallies, and hearings.

Essential qualities, qualifications, and skills:

In assessing candidates, we will be looking for:

• A minimum of three years paralegal/litigation experience.
• Ability and willingness to complete legal secretarial tasks.
• Willingness to complete general administrative and clerical tasks.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Adobe Pro, and Microsoft Word, and willingness to learn new software and other programs as needed. Experience with Microsoft Teams, Microsoft One Drive, and Zoom preferred.
• Strong understanding of court and administrative dockets, rules, and regulations.
• Excellent writing, editing, and communication skills; strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Experience multi-tasking efficiently and effectively working on a team.
• A strong work ethic and a demonstrated commitment to environmental protection.
• 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).
• Paralegal certification preferred.

Salary Range: $55,000-$67,000 dependent on experience

Benefits Package

Benefits Package:

• Paid generous medical, dental, and vision plan.
• Generous paid vacation and time off.
• Paid short- and long-term disability.
• 403(b) plan with opportunity for match.
• Informal and collegial work atmosphere.

Application process

Please apply online by uploading a cover letter, a résumé, a writing sample, and three to five references with your application. The position will remain open until filled. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The Center for Biological Diversity deeply values justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

We are committed to sustaining and promoting both biological and cultural diversity. We welcome, embrace, and respect diversity of people, identities, and cultures. We are committed to fostering an organizational culture of diversity and inclusion. The Center believes staff and board diversity is critical to saving life on Earth.

We are an equal opportunity employer.