This position is for an immediate opening and will be based in either Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, or Washington, D.C. FIRE operates on a hybrid work schedule that allows for a mix of in-the-office and remote work for eligible employees. This employee will be required to be in the office on court filing days. Fully remote work will not be considered for this position.

FIRE is seeking a full-time paralegal with at least three years of experience to support all phases of our strategic litigation. FIRE paralegals have meaningful responsibilities with real-world impact: By helping attorneys win cases, they protect First Amendment rights for all Americans.

Candidates should be exceptionally detail-oriented, proactive, able to work independently, and technologically proficient. Candidates should also have demonstrated experience working in a fast-paced environment and strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects at a given time.

About FIRE:

Founded in 1999, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. Because colleges and universities play a vital role in preserving free thought within a free society, FIRE places a special emphasis on defending the individual rights of students and faculty members on our nation’s campuses. Please visit www.thefire.org to gain a sense of our work and mission.

Position Description:

FIRE is seeking an entrepreneurial and highly organized paralegal to provide support to its Litigation case teams. While this employee reports directly to the Vice President of Litigation, paralegals will regularly provide support to attorneys across FIRE’s Litigation team. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting attorneys in factual investigation of potential cases.

• Managing and serving court filings, including reading and interpreting court rules to ensure compliance with applicable rules. 

• Managing the litigation calendar by calculating, calendaring, and tracking dates for hearings and deadlines for all court filings in assigned cases.

• Organizing and maintaining paper and electronic case files.

• Preparing summonses, motions, declarations, and proposed orders.

• Preparing tables of content and authorities, cite-checking, and proofreading legal briefs and other documents.

• Assisting attorneys with discovery.

• Managing preparation and logistics for depositions, pretrial hearings, court conferences, and trials.

• Managing technology (Trial Pad, Trial Director, etc.) during trial and evidentiary hearings.

• Managing public-records requests.

• Assisting in training and managing Litigation support staff. 

Work on weekends and evenings should be expected in accordance with the demands of litigation. Although projected to be rare, this employee may be required to be available in the event of an emergency.

Qualifications:

A successful candidate will have exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, a good work ethic, self-motivation, and the ability to work independently. Most importantly, the candidate must strive for perfection when executing job functions. Further, a candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• Exceptional organizational skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and the ability to successfully manage multiple assignments with efficiency and excellence in a fast-paced environment.

• Superior attention to detail.

• Expertise in preparing legal documents for filing and service in federal courts.

• Proficiency with e-discovery.

• Proficiency in cite-checking and proofreading legal documents.

• Proficiency using a Mac Operating System.

• Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, and related programs.

• Proficiency with LexisNexis, Westlaw, and other legal research services.

• Strong interpersonal communication skills (phone and email courtesy and the ability to properly manage sensitive information to maintain confidence of clients).

• Knowledge of FIRE’s mission and a willingness to advocate for that mission.

Experience with Net Documents, Rocket Matter, Lexbe, Salesforce, or Monday.com is a plus.

Salary and Compensation:

Starting salary is negotiable and depends upon experience and education level. FIRE conducts periodic evaluations where employees may receive raises or bonuses for outstanding and excellent work. FIRE also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid comprehensive health, dental, and life insurance, a Section 125 Flexible Spending Account option, matching 403(b) retirement contributions, and a generous paid time-off plan.

Applications:

Applicants should provide a resume, cover letter, writing sample, salary requirements, and contact information for at least two professional references. All applications are confidential. Please address applications to Cait Scanlan, Chief People Officer.

FIRE is an equal opportunity employer.

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