Paralegal, US Advocacy & Litigation

Paralegal

Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center is seeking a Paralegal for its U.S. Advocacy and Litigation program based in Washington, DC or New York City.

The U.S. Advocacy and Litigation team partners with grassroots human rights defenders to reduce mass incarceration in the United States. We fight human rights abuses in both the criminal and immigration legal systems, using litigation in federal courts and international human rights bodies, legislative advocacy with local, state, and federal governments, and human rights reporting and education campaigns. Our work seeks to end racial discrimination in law enforcement, torturous and cruel conditions of confinement in jails and immigration detention centers, and extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions carried out by U.S. police and immigration authorities.

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative support to the U.S. Advocacy and Litigation team, including, but not limited to:
• Maintaining and organizing electronic and hard copy filing systems, including the legal case management system and other programmatic files;
• Formatting legal documents in accordance with local federal court and chamber-specific rules, including creating tables of contents and authorities;
• Filing court documents using the federal court PACER system;
• Preparing and mailing paper court documents, including briefs with the federal Courts of Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court, administrative agencies, and service of legal documents on opposing parties;
• Developing, implementing, and maintaining program systems and office protocols;
• Managing payments and expenses for partners and any external vendors/contracts;
• Supporting event planning in the execution of virtual/in-person programmatic activities such as workshops, trainings, and detention center visits;
• Assist with strategic litigation efforts of the U.S. Advocacy and Litigation team by:
• Drafting court orders, client declarations, and other case-related filings;
• Supporting later-stage brief preparation through cite-checking, Bluebook formatting, and compiling tables of contents and tables of authorities;
• Conducting client interviews and intake calls to gather case facts and assess legal needs;
• Preparing materials for and leading Know Your Rights presentations for detained individuals to support pro se legal advocacy;
• Conducting large-scale document review and analysis for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation matters.
• Support communications with internal and external partners
• Liaise between the team and the Communications Dept. to advance advocacy activities that complement the program's work;
• Coordinating with the Communications team in the drafting of posts, case updates, website updates, case summaries, social media posts, and other materials in support of the team's ongoing casework;
• Assist in releasing a bi-monthly newsletter, including drafting and collecting content for external communications with a broader audience;
• Assist development staff in updating institutional supporters on work of the U.S. Advocacy and Litigation team.
• Support as needed ongoing external partner communications such as: ACLU of Louisiana, Justice for Migrant Families, Haitian Bridge Alliance, and many more.
• Manage the internship and fellowship programs for the U.S. Advocacy and Litigation teams, including:
• Collaborate with HR team to update recruitment materials and developing and managing recruitment timelines;
• Screening applications and scheduling interviews;
• Providing program-specific onboarding materials for new team members.

Qualifications:

• At least one year of experience in program/office administration, customer/client support, and/or event planning;
• Awareness and interest in non-profit space, current events, and issues relating to human rights around the world;
• Demonstrated experience working on online platforms such as Zoom and Google Suite;
• Strong organizational skills – you're a planner, you maintain your own to-do lists, can juggle multiple tasks, and able to shift priorities when things change;
• A resourceful, creative problem-solver – you're comfortable searching for an answer when it's not clearly available and you're comfortable learning on the spot;
• Self-starter who shows strong initiative and is committed to growth and reaching goals;
• Passion for engaging with others – you're able to build positive relationships with colleagues and can collaborate with various community leaders;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated research skills suitable for varied audiences;
• Strong attention to detail and able to scope out errors, including a willingness to own and fix mistakes;
• Exceptional time management, including the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects at once;
• Ability to manage budgets utilizing systems such as Microsoft Excel and online Ramp system;
• Innovative thinking, willingness to voice your opinions, and a strong work ethic are essential;
• Believes in inclusivity when working with colleagues with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Preferred but not required qualifications:

• Working proficiency/fluency in Spanish;
• Demonstrated experience working in non-profit, human rights, or legal space;
• Previous experience with federal court filings.

Benefits and other Perks:

• We value your health: Kennedy Human Rights covers 100% of individual-only costs of our platinum medical, dental, vision benefits and subsidize the cost for dependent coverage;
• We understand the importance of financial planning and saving we provide: An automatic contribution of 7% of your salary after your first year of employment; A College Saveup/Loan PayDown program with an automatic $200/monthly contribution for any current loans or future loans; An automatic monthly cell phone & internet speed stipend of $125/monthly to offset any phone & internet expenses;
• We value your growth: Kennedy Human Rights provides an annual $1,000 professional development stipend to all full-time staff to use towards any courses, conferences, or training that would further one's professional learning and development. As well professional development days/hours to complete these courses.
• Flexibility and independence to help manage your work and home life: Staff have the ability to work from home or telecommute 3-4 days a week. Employees receive a $1,000 benefits card each calendar year to use towards food and home & life purchases to help support work from home needs. You also receive a one-time $500 remote supplies fund that staffers can use at their discretion to have work from home space that is comfortable & workable when you need it. We hold weekly Summer Fridays between Memorial Day to Labor Day where our offices close half day each Friday so you can enjoy some extra long weekends.
• We love to celebrate human rights advocates and our hard work! We do so by hosting award ceremonies, galas, summer outings, holiday parties, potlucks, domestic and international staff retreats, and spur-of-the-moment social outings.

How to Apply:

• Submit your resume, cover letter, and writing sample to View email address on click.appcast.io with "Your Name + Paralegal" in the subject heading.
• In your cover letter, please include how you heard about this role and why you're interested in this position.
• We know AI tools are part of how many people work and write today. That said, what we're really hoping to read is you: your real experiences, your genuine interest in this work, and your own voice. The cover letter especially is our first chance to get to know you. Generic applications are hard to act on – specific, honest ones are what get our attention.
• Ideal writing samples will focus on a social issue of your choice.

No phone calls please. Kennedy HRC will contact qualified candidates directly.

The Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center is an equal opportunity employer and believes we are stronger and more effective by working internally and externally with people of all abilities, diverse backgrounds, and a range of perspectives, particularly those who have historically been marginalized or underrepresented. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We do not discriminate in our hiring practices and