NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

NRDC is seeking a Litigation Paralegal to work with the Litigation Team in our New York City, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, or Santa Monica office. 

Position Summary 

NRDC is seeking a Litigation Paralegal to work with the Litigation Team out of our San Francisco or New York offices (preferred), or our offices in Chicago, Washington DC, or Santa Monica. The Litigation Paralegal is responsible for providing comprehensive administrative and litigation support in all phases of the litigation process, including but not limited to document and project management, research, coordination and preparation of briefs and legal documents, review and processing of discovery, and contributing to teamwide litigation support processes.  

The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).  

Litigation support duties (70%): 

Under supervision of and with training as appropriate from Litigation Team attorneys and/or other Litigation Team members: 

• Format, proofread, and fact-check documents to be filed in court; generate tables of contents and authorities, assemble exhibits, appendices and other materials for filings. 
• Arrange service of court filings, email service copies of discovery requests, and send courtesy copies of filings to courts and/or other parties in litigation. 
• Research and summarize court rules. 
• Proofread legal correspondence, such as cover letters and notices. 
• Manage and maintain up-to-date case files and create filesharing drives for external users. 
• Compute and calendar court deadlines. 
• Conduct factual research to advance case development and summarize findings in written memoranda.  
• In coordination with Development Department and attorneys, conduct communications with NRDC members in support of anticipated and pending litigation.  
• Assist attorneys with hearing and deposition preparation and logistics, including preparing document binders, printing exhibits, and creating exhibit lists.  
• Help prepare and format documentation for fee and cost recovery.  
• Generate tables, graphs, and other visual aids to enhance research memos and court documents. Review documents and evidence produced by other parties in litigation; analyze and summarize relevant documents.  
• Track media outlets, websites, and relevant dockets and issues relating to the Team’s litigation.  
• Participate in and take notes during conference calls and meetings.  

Administrative support duties (30%): 

• Process invoices and expense reports and produce reports on case expenses. 
• Assist with hiring and orienting new staff and interns. 
• Schedule meetings, book travel and associated logistics, and assist with organizing retreats.  
• Coordinate signing, tracking, and processing of retainer agreements, other contracts, and document holds.  
• Support office-specific administrative work, including mail distribution and occasional event planning and logistics support.  
• Contribute to teamwide litigation support processes, such as supporting continuing legal education accreditation, and maintaining teamwide files and trackers.  
• Additional non-case-related administrative support as needed. 

The above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position’s responsibility. Other duties may be assigned. If a candidate has less than one year of experience in a paralegal role, they will use the title “Litigation Coordinator” until they have gained one year of experience, to ensure compliance with applicable regulations. Litigation Paralegals based in California must also comply with applicable state requirements for continuing legal education.   

• Commitment to NRDC’s mission and values. 

• Ability and eagerness to learn or hone paralegal skills and processes. 

• Competence with and commitment to diversity and inclusion; ability to be an effective partner with a diverse range of colleagues, leaders and partners. 

• Demonstrated ability to perform or quickly learn new tasks, systems, and technology. 

• Ability to prioritize and efficiently execute multiple tasks, follow institutional procedures, meet deadlines, and work independently and proactively with meticulous attention to detail. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook). 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 

• Strong problem-solving skills. 

• Strong editing, research, and data synthesis skills. 

• Strong research and analytical skills, including ability to understand technical, scientific, political, economic, and policy issues and synthesize this knowledge in a coherent and non-technical fashion. 

• Commitment to accuracy and rigor. 

• Willingness and flexibility to work paid overtime, when needed. 

• Strict adherence to confidentiality requirements and discretion with sensitive information.  

• Strong sense of teamwork, work ethic, and humility; a growth mindset; the ability to maintain composure and sense of humor under deadline pressure.

• Ability to travel as needed to NRDC U.S.-based offices and elsewhere in support of court proceedings nationwide.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. 
• Some paralegal or litigation support experience is preferred but not required. 

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.  

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and is commensurate with skills and experience. Internal equity will be reviewed and considered to determine a final offer. For this position, the salary range is $65,000 to $80,000.  

NRDC operates under a hybrid work model. Employees are required to come to the office 8 days per month. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or local law, new hires will be asked to attest to vaccination, those wishing to do so may request medical or religious accommodations or other exemptions via NRDC Employee Relations. NRDC treats all vaccine-related data confidentially, in keeping with local, state, and federal laws. 

To apply, visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your résumé and cover letter. Due to the high volume of applications, we will contact only those candidates we would like to interview. Please no phone calls, emails, or in-person résumé drop-offs. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to apply soon.  

If you experience technical problems while applying or if you are a person with a disability and need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care at 1-800-889-4422. 

For more about NRDC, visit www.nrdc.org.