Legal Assistant And Paralegal

The general hourly range for this position is $25.00-$30.00. Salary offers will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, skills, training and education.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s most effective animal protection organization, is seeking a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and the Animal Protection Law (APL) department. In this position you will provide primary legal administrative support for the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) and the Animal Protection Law department (APL) by performing varied duties that require a high degree of attention to detail, judgment, and confidentiality.
You will be responsible for:
Serving as Legal Assistant and Paralegal for both OGC and APL departments, including:

• Under attorney supervision, manage legal compliance for the organization and its affiliates, including but not limited to handling state registration renewals and overseeing registered agent filings.
• Manage trademark registration and renewal process.
• Manage/track outside counsel billing and pro-bono hours/ review, prepare, and submit attorney bills and vendor invoices for payment (OGC & APL).
• Manage litigation holds.
• Manage Westlaw relationship & law library.
• Maintain legal filing systems and manage off-site storage.
• Conduct basic factual, legal, and procedural research in support of current litigation and other legal projects.
• Draft basic motions and proposed orders for attorney review; copy-edit and cite check litigation filings.
• Draft and format simple agreements and similar documents (e.g., grant agreements; policies; simple contracts for attorney review; provide initial review of staff-prepared drafts of agreement or third-party proposed agreements to highlight areas requiring attorney review.
• Assemble documents for litigation, presentation to government agencies, other attorneys’ offices, etc.; maintain copy shop relationship-coordinate traffic between APL and copy shops; assist with filing documents for litigation, regulatory actions, and other matters.
• Assist legal department with support of Organizational initiatives.

Performing a variety of administrative duties including, but not limited to

• Serving as the OGC & APL SharePoint Intranet page administrator;
• Managing intern and volunteer records in the volunteer hub;
• Opening, sorting, and distributing mail and email;
• Scheduling and setting up meetings;
• Assisting OGC & APL staff in preparing documents, reports and presentations;
• Ordering and maintaining supplies;
• Compiling and updating standard operating procedure manuals; performing data entry; and receiving and managing visitors to the department;
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred;
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience supporting litigation and transactional matters, either in a law firm or as part of an in-house legal department. Paralegal certification desired;
• Ability to work independently, accurately process multiple assignments from multiple staff, frequently under the pressure of immediate deadlines and changing priorities;
• Strong research and writing skills. Knowledge of Westlaw required;
• Strong communication skills, including an ability to effectively interact with executives inside and outside the organization, to use discretion, and to maintain confidentiality;
• Familiarity with researching local, state, and federal court rules;
• Knowledge of the Bluebook;
• Excellent organizational and detail-management skills;
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Strong record management and document-production skills;
• Interest in animal protection preferred;
• The ability to handle and maintain confidential and sensitive information.

This position is in the DC Metro Area.
Please submit your resume and cover letter in one document.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability, marital or parental status or protected veteran status. EOE