Legal Assistant

The Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that empowers communities and protects public health and the environment by investigating polluters, holding them accountable under the law, and strengthening public policy.

Comprised of former EPA enforcement attorneys, public interest lawyers, analysts, investigators, and community organizers, EIP has three goals:

1. To illustrate through objective facts and figures how the failure to enforce or implement environmental laws increases pollution and harms public health;
2. To hold federal and state agencies, as well as individual corporations, accountable for failing to enforce or comply with environmental laws; and
3. To help local communities obtain the protections of environmental laws.

Position Overview

The EIP is seeking a full-time Legal Assistant to advance environmental protections under federal and state environmental laws in its Washington, DC office. The Legal Assistant will support EIP’s attorneys with case development, administrative filings, and litigation. EIP advocates for environmental protection and public health through legal, research, and communication strategies. The Legal Assistant will work with our attorneys on both litigation tasks (for example court filings) and also on non-litigation tasks (for example, research and data analysis).

Responsibilities

The Legal Assistant will be expected to:

• Proofread, edit, check facts and legal citations
• Format legal filings, including preparation of tables of authority, tables of contents, and exhibits, ensuring all court rules are met
• Compile, organize, and track discovery, docket filings, and other relevant case documents
• File and serve legal documents as required, whether electronically, by mail, or in person
• Help prepare for and assist attorneys during depositions, hearings, trials, oral arguments, and presentations, as needed
• Calculate and track court deadlines
• Assist with case development, including but not limited to: drafting, submitting, and tracking public information requests; reviewing documents; gathering, compiling, and analyzing facility-level data; and conducting compliance audits
• Assist in the preparation of public reports and whitepapers
• Travel as needed
• Other tasks as assigned

Qualifications

Required:

• Work in the DC area; ability to head into the DC office and travel to local DC and Maryland courthouses to handle any necessary mailing, printing, and filing tasks as they arise.
• Detail-oriented, exceptionally well-organized, able to multitask and manage competing priorities with internal and external deadlines, proactive, and a quick and independent learner.
• Well-versed in using Windows PCs, the internet and web browsers, Microsoft Office programs (Word, Outlook, Power Point, and Excel).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and ability to work well under pressure.
• A four-year undergraduate degree in political science, public policy, pre-law, environmental studies, English, history, sociology, or a related field is preferred.
• Previous legal support or paralegal experience is a plus but not required. Previous nonprofit or government experience is also a plus.

Note: The ideal addition to our team will be driven, inquisitive, and passionate about environmental protection.

Compensation/Hours: This position is for full-time employment. Pay commensurate with experience.  Benefits include health insurance, 401K eligibility, a competitive nonprofit salary, a generous vacation and sick leave policy, and a friendly, supportive work environment.

To Apply:

Please click "Apply" below to email PDF copies of the following materials to Sylvia Lam, and include your last name and “Legal Assistant Application” in the email subject line:

1. a cover letter
2. resume
3. a list of three references
4. school transcript (unofficial is sufficient) for those with less than two years of relevant post-college work experience

Note: If you are selected for an interview, our hiring team may ask you to submit a short writing sample or complete a brief editing or written exercise.

Supporting environmental and racial justice, we strive to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace, rooted in openness and collaboration.  We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, age, or disability. Come join us!