Position: Policy Assistant & Paralegal
Department: Legal
Office Location: Washington, D.C.
Type:Per Lambda Legal’s Work From Home (WFH) Policy, Work From Office (WFO) and WFH options are available with supervisor approval. (see schedule note* below)
Report To: Senior Attorney
Union Status: G2 (on a scale of G1-G9)
Annual Salary Range: $51,894 – $60,159
Travel: This position will require occasional travel.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt / Full-Time
*Schedule Note: This role is subject to a fairly unpredictable local travel schedule that will, at times, involve duties such as traveling in-person to Congressional offices on Capitol Hill, supporting in-person advocacy activities in locations throughout the D.C. metropolitan region, attending public education events, coalition meetings, rallies etc. These away-from-home and away-from-office activities are driven by context (coalition meetings, lobbying, Supreme Court decisions, bills coming up for a vote, agency meetings, Congressional hearings/briefings, rallies, unpredictable legal filings, etc.). Based on the needs, advance notice will vary. Additional WFO (on-site, in office) responsibilities include opening confidential legal mail, producing briefs and briefing materials, filing legal documents, and other litigation-focused tasks; as well as policy-focused tasks such as preparation for in-person testimony, producing lobbying packets, finalizing and submitting written testimony and agency comments, and support for in-person coalition meetings.
Who We Are
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC.
We believe that advancing legal rights for the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. In light of this reality, we prioritize awareness and proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects.
Policy Assistant & Paralegal
The Policy Assistant and Paralegal assists attorneys with legal and other research; drafts, prepares and files documents in federal and state legislative bodies and offices, administrative, agencies, and courts; and works within coalitions and with clients to advance Lambda Legal’s cutting-edge policy advocacy, impact litigation, and educational work.
This role supports the work of multiple attorneys on a wide array of issues within Lambda Legal’s mission.
Responsibilities
Policy Work
- Prepare and file public policy advocacy materials, including administrative comments, substantive advocacy letters, and other similar documents.
- Perform research, track legislation and regulations, monitor activity in the Federal Register, and search the Congressional Record
- Contact court personnel, government offices, other attorneys and advocates, and others as appropriate
- Assist in maintaining client and governmental relationships
- Work collaboratively with other paralegals
- Prepare presentations and other educational materials
- Other duties as assigned
Litigation Work
- Provide legal and administrative support to attorneys including, but not limited to, the production of reports, legal pleadings, and briefs (including proofreading and cite-checking)
- Help to ensure compliance with all applicable court rules and maintain case files and other organizational systems
- Draft correspondence
- Provide general administrative support to members of the Legal Department
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially and gender-diverse environment and to contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves.
- Willingness to develop specialized knowledge about the legal system and legal documents necessary to perform duties in a law office setting is essential; and prior legal support work, which may include support for federal legislative and policy advocacy, is highly desired
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Highly motivated, detail-oriented, well-organized, and dependable
- Strong collaborative team player with ability to work well under pressure
- Knowledge of issues facing transgender and nonbinary people and/or prior experience working with transgender and nonbinary people preferred, not required
- Microsoft 365 (specifically Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
- Adobe Acrobat
- Westlaw or LexisNexis preferred, training available
- Electronic court filing systems (including Federal Judiciary’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system)
- Experience with iManage preferred (or other law-firm storage applications)
- FiscalNote, a plus but training available
- Previous paralegal or public policy experience is preferred
Benefits
Benefits include Short- and Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Medical Insurance (Telemedicine included), Dental Insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program – all at no cost for the employee-only premium. Employees may obtain additional coverage for themselves and/or their families including Vision Insurance at a low cost. They also may enroll in a pre-tax Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Account, and Commuter Transit Account. Lambda Legal offers a 403(b)-Retirement Plan with a percentage match from Lambda Legal as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement between Lambda Legal management and the Lambda Unites bargaining unit. Paid time off includes the opportunity to accrue up to 15 days of vacation, 3 personal and 12 sick. Lambda Legal observes 10 holidays per year and is supportive of observance of religious holidays.
Read more about Lambda Legal’s work on our blog, Twitter, and Instagram.
Lambda Legal believes in creating a more equitable playing field for applicants and values the depth of relevant skills built through successful education, work, and life experiences. If your background and skills are a close match for this position, you are strongly encouraged to apply.
Lambda Legal is committed to further building and maintaining a staff that reflects the full range of LGBTQ+, HIV-affected and allied communities, and is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Lambda Legal encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and gender-diverse people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, people living with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals living with HIV are all encouraged to apply.