Paralegal

Knightcolumbia; New York (NY); On-site; USD 72,368 - 87,200; Full time

Job summary

The Knight First Amendment Institute seeks an early-career paralegal to support its groundbreaking free-speech litigation. The full-time role is based at Columbia University in New York City, providing litigation, research, and administrative support to the Institute’s program.

Responsibilities include maintaining case files, cite-checking filings, proofreading and filing documents, FOIA work, and tracking deadlines. Excellent research and writing skills are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Outstanding organizational, interpersonal, and time-management skills.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently, as well as collaboratively within a team, while maintaining collegiality, efficiency, and professionalism.
• Excellent research and writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide litigation, research, and administrative support to the Institute’s litigation program and staff.
• Maintain case files, correspondence files, and internal docket and tracking systems, including the Institute’s internal docket, FOIA-request tracking sheets, case summaries, and calendar of litigation deadlines and court dates.
• Cite-check legal and related filings per the Bluebook legal citation style guide.
• Proofread, produce, file, and arrange for service of legal documents.
• Research court rules and procedures.
• Conduct factual research in support of litigation and FOIA requests.
• Log and review documents produced in response to FOIA requests.
• Produce reports of attorneys’ hours using the Institute’s time-tracking software.
• Track expenses and case costs, prepare expense reports, and maintain database of all litigation expenses, including travel and case costs.
• Check in regularly with attorneys on project deadlines and prompt as needed.
• Maintain the Institute’s litigation program webpage, case webpages, and online FOIA reading rooms.
• Perform related duties & responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Time-management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

The Knight First Amendment Institute defends the freedoms of speech and the press in the digital age through strategic litigation, research, and public education. Our aim is to promote a system of free expression that is open and inclusive, that broadens and elevates public discourse, and that fosters creativity, accountability, and effective self-government.

Since its establishment in 2016, the Institute has filed precedent-setting litigation, undertaken major interdisciplinary research initiatives, and become an influential voice in debates about the freedoms of speech and the press in the digital age. Its active litigation docket includes cutting-edge cases relating to transparency, surveillance, and social media. Through its research program, the Institute has published a series of influential essays focused on emerging threats to the system of free expression. It has also hosted public events on new technology and public discourse, data journalism and the law, the First Amendment and inequality, whistleblowers, leaks, and national security journalism.

The Knight Institute seeks an early career professional to support the Institute’s litigation work as a paralegal. The paralegal will be responsible for providing litigation and administrative support to the Institute’s groundbreaking free-speech litigation. The paralegal position is a full-time position based at Columbia University in New York City.

Responsibilities

• Provide litigation, research, and administrative support to the Institute’s litigation program and staff.
• Perform general clerical and administrative duties, including copying, scanning, filing, and mailing.
• Maintain case files, correspondence files, and internal litigation tracking systems, including the Institute’s internal docket, FOIA-request tracking sheets, case summaries, and calendar of litigation deadlines and court dates.
• Cite-check legal and related filings per the Bluebook legal citation style guide.
• Proofread, produce, file, and arrange for service of legal documents.
• Research court rules and procedures.
• Conduct factual research in support of litigation and FOIA requests.
• Log and review documents produced in response to FOIA requests.
• Produce reports of attorneys’ hours using the Institute’s time-tracking software.
• Track expenses and case costs, prepare expense reports, and maintain database of all litigation expenses, including travel and case costs.
• Check in regularly with attorneys on project deadlines and prompt as needed.
• Maintain the Institute’s litigation program webpage, case webpages, and online FOIA reading rooms.
• Perform related duties & responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Outstanding organizational, interpersonal, and time-management skills.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently, as well as collaboratively within a team, while maintaining collegiality, efficiency, and professionalism.
• Excellent research and writing skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous paralegal or legal-administrative experience.
• An interest in issues relating to the freedoms of speech and the press, a strong academic record, and superior research, analytical, writing, and interpersonal skills.

Salary Range

• $72,368 - $87,200

How To Apply

Candidates must apply through the Columbia University Careers sitehere . Applications should include:

• A cover letter explaining your interest in the paralegal position, including a description of any relevant life or work experience.
• Your resume.
• A list of two references.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Additional information may be requested during the application process.

The posting will remain open until filled, and we’ll begin reviewing applications on August 1, 2026.