Paralegal - Free-Speech Litigation & Research

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 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.