Title: Paralegal, U.S. Litigation
Department: U.S. Programs, U.S. Litigation
Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has fueled the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of more than $50 million and won the respect of law firms worldwide. Our global pro bono network includes over
2,100 lawyers across
6 continents,
88 countries, and
125 law firms, contributing over
$30 million USD in pro bono legal services annually. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org
The Job: The Paralegal, U.S. Litigation, supports the work of the attorneys on the U.S. Litigation Team, within the U.S Programs Department and reports to the one of the Senior Attorneys on the U. S. Litigation Team. The U.S. Litigation Team conducts impact litigation in state and federal courts across the country to expand people’s access to non-discriminatory, high-quality reproductive health care—including abortion care, maternal health care, and assisted reproduction.
This position is based in New York City in a hybrid model of 3 days in office, 2 days working from home. Covid-19 vaccination is required for all US-based employees of the Center.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Providing paralegal support on cases including: proofreading documents; Bluebooking, cite checking, and preparing tables of contents and tables of authorities for court filings; finalizing briefs, exhibits, and other documents and filing them with the court through electronic filing systems; researching, reviewing, and summarizing court rules.
- Maintaining electronic and paper case files and docket sheets using PACER, state court efiling systems, and iManage’s document management system.
- Booking and coordinating travel for attorneys in the Department; booking occasional travel for clients and partners.
- Processing invoices and reimbursement requests and generating expense reports.
- Training future paralegals.
- Assisting with factual and legal research, as needed.
- Participating in intra-departmental, cross-departmental, and cross-organizational working groups.
- Executing other administrative and document management tasks, upon request.
Qualifications:
- Ideal candidate has a University Degree (baccalaureate or higher).
- 2 years of work experience.
- Paralegal position is ideal for someone looking for approximately 2-3 years of work experience prior to law school, graduate school, or the next step in their career.
- Excellent organizational, written, and communication skills.
- Able to work independently, multitask, and provide quick turnaround on assignments while collaborating as part of a team and maintaining a positive attitude.
- Commitment to both the Center’s mission and racial equity.
Compensation: This position's salary is $31.87 an hour, 35 hours a week, for an estimated annual salary is $58,000.
Union Status: This position will be part of the CRR Union, a shop within Local 2110 United Auto Workers—Technical, Office, and Professional Workers Union.
FLSA Exempt Status: This position is non-exempt.
Benefits:
- Health: The Center pays up to 90%* of the premium for a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage. (* % may differ in various countries).
- Flexibility: The Center currently operates in a hybrid model, requiring staff to work 3 days per week in the office and allowing work 2 days per week from home.
- Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical, and community well-being. The Center provides generous leave, including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend winter holiday time with their loved ones.
- Growth: You will be working with and learning from some of the top legal and operational minds, all passionate about advancing reproductive rights worldwide. You will also be eligible for a stipend to use towards professional growth.
- Global: You will get a front-row seat to the fight for reproductive rights globally. You will have access to Employee Resource Groups to connect to colleagues with similar interests/backgrounds/views.
- Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (*applicable only in US and Kenya).
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights.
Center policy on visa sponsorship for U.S.-based positions: Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by The Center for Reproductive Rights.
