Assistant to the Supreme Court and Appellate Group

Williams & Connolly LLP; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Williams & Connolly LLP seeks an Assistant to the Supreme Court and Appellate Group to support our appellate practice in Washington, DC. The role offers exposure to high-stakes litigation and opportunities to develop legal research and briefing skills.

The ideal candidate is a college graduate with an interest in appellate litigation, who can manage multiple tasks, travel for out-of-state matters, and work within a collaborative professional environment on a hybrid schedule.

Qualifications

• College graduate with strong interest in appellate litigation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational abilities.
• Willingness to travel for out-of-state arguments/trials.
• Ability to multitask and work under tight deadlines.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.

Responsibilities

• Screen cert petitions for circuit splits and potential merits openings.
• Monitor call for response orders for case openings.
• Conduct amici research and track outreach.
• Assist with factual research.
• Prepare initial drafts of legal briefs and related documents for attorney review.
• Proofread appendices for accuracy and formatting.
• Maintain and update case information and calendars.
• Record related cases and developments in other circuits.
• Draft chronology of factual and procedural history for oral argument prep.
• Assemble and highlight oral argument binders.
• Track and summarize litigation issues.
• Manage all case materials and electronic files.
• Prepare for and attend arguments.
• Assist with administrative duties in trial court litigation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Attention to detail

Judgment & problem-solving

Multitasking

Flexibility & overtime

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Williams & Connolly LLP, is currently seeking an Assistant to the Supreme Court and Appellate Group to join the Supreme Court and Appellate practice and work alongside our talented attorneys and legal professionals. The ideal candidate is a college graduate with a strong interest in appellate litigation. Candidates may have future plans to attend law or graduate school or be looking to build a career with well-respected, top professional legal team. The Assistant to the Supreme Court and Appellate Group will play a key role in circuit monitoring, managing amici curiae coordination, and assisting with case preparation from research to oral argument. Under the direction of the attorneys and Director of Paralegals, primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Screen all docketed certiorari (cert) petitions for asserted circuit splits, identifying potential openings for merits cases;
• Monitor and screen all call for response orders for potential case openings;
• Conduct amici research to identify cases for potential outreach, customize outreach letters, and track outreach efforts and coordination;
• Assist with factual research;
• Prepare initial drafts of legal briefs and other litigation-related documents for attorney review and revision;
• Proofread appendices for accuracy, formatting and completeness;
• Monitor and track ongoing litigation matters, maintaining accurate and up-to-date case information;
• Record related cases and legal developments in other circuits that may impact ongoing or future litigation;
• Draft chronology of factual and procedural history of the case to assist with oral argument preparation;
• Assemble and highlight oral argument binders;
• Track and summarize litigation issues of relevance;
• Manage all case materials, including all electronic files and database applications;
• Prepare for and attend arguments and proceedings;
• Assist with administrative duties in connection with certain trial court-level litigation; and
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Requirements

The ideal candidate is required to have a minimum:

• The ability to travel during out-of-state arguments and/or trials;
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Strong attention to detail;
• Sound judgment and problem-solving abilities; and
• Proficient in the use of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat; as well as the aptitude for learning new software.

Applicant must be customer service oriented with experience multitasking and working under tight deadlines. Flexibility to work overtime, weekends and holidays, as well as travel is required.

Work is performed in a professional office environment and requires the following:

• Prolonged periods using a sit-to-stand desk and working on a computer.
• Repetitive movements, including typing on a keyboard and using a mouse.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25lbs.
• Employee must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without a reasonable accommodation.

After successfully completing the introductory period, the candidate will be eligible to work the department's approved hybrid schedule.

This is a non-exempt position. The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $70,000. The final offer amount is dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, years of experience, education, and other relevant skills and qualifications. Williams & Connolly LLP offers competitive compensation and benefits packages.