Government Watchdog (American Oversight) Hiring Paralegal

[American Oversight]

American Oversight is a nonprofit organization dedicated to holding the executive branch accountable to the people. Through open records requests and the power of the courts, we work every day to promote accountability; to uncover corruption, malfeasance, or other misconduct; and to expose federal and state governments to public scrutiny. As a result of our lawsuits: the Trump administration shut down its sham voter fraud commission when faced with the prospect of transparency; the public learned that Scott Pruitt used the EPA for his personal benefit and outsourced policy to polluters and chemical companies; the Department of Justice admitted that the President lied about being wiretapped at Trump Tower; and a judge ordered the State Department to release records related to Giuliani’s activities in Ukraine that the agency had refused to turn over to Congress.

Litigation and legal work are central to our efforts, and we are looking for a highly motivated paralegal to join our rapidly growing team.

The ideal candidate will have at least one year of work experience, be comfortable managing complex organizational systems, and have an interest in American Oversight’s mission of promoting government transparency and accountability. Some familiarity with the operations of the federal government would also be helpful, but is not required.

We are a small team in a fast-paced environment. Collegiality and the ability to work effectively on multiple projects, balance priorities, and excel in a team-based environment are essential. The Paralegal reports to the Chief Counsel.

This position is based in downtown Washington, DC, and is easily accessible by multiple metro and bus lines.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Assist lawyers with all phases of litigation case support, including conducting legal research, editing and cite checking legal briefs.
• Coordinate service of process and/or case filings.
• Organize and maintain internal case files.
• Review and research current events to spot potential issues for investigation.
• Assist both legal and investigations team with document review and factual research.
• Assist both legal and investigations teams with drafting and filing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and state-level open records act requests.

QUALIFICATIONS

• An interest in American Oversight’s mission of government transparency and accountability.
• At least one year of work experience.
• Detail-oriented.
• Strong organizational abilities.
• Ability to work proactively to solve problems.
• Ability to work collaboratively and in coordination with multiple teams.
• Ability to work with little supervision.
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
• Outstanding communications skills.
• Familiarity with a variety of computer systems, including word processors and spreadsheets.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

American Oversight is proudly an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse team. People of color, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and/or veterans are encouraged to apply.

The salary range for this position is $45,000 to $60,000, commensurate with experience. Generous and comprehensive benefits package available.

Also, we are biased, but we think American Oversight is a great place to work! Take a look at the testimonials from members of our wonderful team here.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a 1-page cover letter describing your relevant experience and interest along with your resume to jo...@americanoversight.org with “Paralegal” in the subject line. Please indicate in your submission email how you heard about this opening.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and will complete our first round by February 7, 2020.