What are the responsibilities and job description for the Paralegal - Opportunity Under Law position at National Legal Aid & Defender Association?
Position Description
ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL
Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.
Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law.
Public Counsel has a staff of approximately 170. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.
About Opportunity Under Law
OUL brings community-based impact litigation to eliminate barriers to opportunity. We represent individuals and communities confronting structural injustice and discrimination In areas like education, housing, and immigration. Many of our cases arise from Public Counsel’s representation of individual clients who face persistent injustices. By working closely with the organization’s direct services programs and across its subject areas, OUL is uniquely positioned to bring meaningful impact cases in California and beyond, work closely with affected communities, and communicate broadly to advance public discourse. Our cases strategically pursue novel claims to address intersectional issues and secure landmark victories in doctrinal areas commonly regarded as off limits for civil rights advocacy.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Program Manager, the Paralegal provides litigation support for Public Counsel’s impact litigation team. In partnership with the Program Manager, the Paralegal helps manage OUL’s litigation deadlines and provides high-quality litigation support to advance the goals of the clients and communities Public Counsel serves. A key member of OUL’s team, the Paralegal will work on OUL’s existing complex federal and state impact cases and will assist in the development of new impact litigation opportunities to promote civil rights and economic and racial justice in collaboration with the Director of Litigation, OUL Managing Attorney & project staff, Public Counsel’s other projects, and volunteer attorneys. The paralegal will support impact litigation teams with case preparation, client communication, document management, and litigation support. The position may involve some off-site work to engage in investigation and litigation support.
The Paralegal Will Provide Critical Litigation Support To OUL’s Existing Impact Litigation And Help Develop New Litigation Brought By OUL And Specifically Will
Conduct trauma-informed interviews of individuals and draft declarations and complaint narratives, and other legal documents as assigned
Conduct community and plaintiff-class outreach and fostering relationships with community-based organizations
Prepare and finalize legal documents for filing, including formatting, cite checking in accordance with the Blue Book, and creating tables of contents and authorities
File legal documents in state and federal courts
Research local court rules on filing and service practices
Assist with discovery, including document review and production
Assist with trial, including preparing binders and exhibits
Attend litigation team meetings
Assist with fact and expert investigation into ongoing and potential litigation
support coordination with pro bono volunteers, including co-counsel
Assist with internal project management and coordination between the litigation team and other Public Counsel projects and departments
Provide administrative support to the litigation team, including maintaining litigation calendars, scheduling meetings, document management, and time records for fee requests
Perform other duties as assigned
ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL
Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.
Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law.
Public Counsel has a staff of approximately 170. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.
About Opportunity Under Law
OUL brings community-based impact litigation to eliminate barriers to opportunity. We represent individuals and communities confronting structural injustice and discrimination In areas like education, housing, and immigration. Many of our cases arise from Public Counsel’s representation of individual clients who face persistent injustices. By working closely with the organization’s direct services programs and across its subject areas, OUL is uniquely positioned to bring meaningful impact cases in California and beyond, work closely with affected communities, and communicate broadly to advance public discourse. Our cases strategically pursue novel claims to address intersectional issues and secure landmark victories in doctrinal areas commonly regarded as off limits for civil rights advocacy.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Program Manager, the Paralegal provides litigation support for Public Counsel’s impact litigation team. In partnership with the Program Manager, the Paralegal helps manage OUL’s litigation deadlines and provides high-quality litigation support to advance the goals of the clients and communities Public Counsel serves. A key member of OUL’s team, the Paralegal will work on OUL’s existing complex federal and state impact cases and will assist in the development of new impact litigation opportunities to promote civil rights and economic and racial justice in collaboration with the Director of Litigation, OUL Managing Attorney & project staff, Public Counsel’s other projects, and volunteer attorneys. The paralegal will support impact litigation teams with case preparation, client communication, document management, and litigation support. The position may involve some off-site work to engage in investigation and litigation support.
The Paralegal Will Provide Critical Litigation Support To OUL’s Existing Impact Litigation And Help Develop New Litigation Brought By OUL And Specifically Will
Conduct trauma-informed interviews of individuals and draft declarations and complaint narratives, and other legal documents as assigned
Conduct community and plaintiff-class outreach and fostering relationships with community-based organizations
Prepare and finalize legal documents for filing, including formatting, cite checking in accordance with the Blue Book, and creating tables of contents and authorities
File legal documents in state and federal courts
Research local court rules on filing and service practices
Assist with discovery, including document review and production
Assist with trial, including preparing binders and exhibits
Attend litigation team meetings
Assist with fact and expert investigation into ongoing and potential litigation
support coordination with pro bono volunteers, including co-counsel
Assist with internal project management and coordination between the litigation team and other Public Counsel projects and departments
Provide administrative support to the litigation team, including maintaining litigation calendars, scheduling meetings, document management, and time records for fee requests
Perform other duties as assigned