Paralegal – Nonprofit Litigation Practice

Hawthorne Lane; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawthorne Lane, a nonprofit Washington, DC litigation firm, seeks a motivated Paralegal with civil litigation experience. You will conduct in-depth legal research, manage discovery and case files, and perform rigorous Bluebook cite-checking for court filings.

This role offers exposure to complex casework and significant brief preparation as you plan to attend law school in the coming years. You will oversee master calendars, ensure deadlines are met, and support both civil and criminal dockets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a top university with a minimum 3.5 GPA and at least one year of Biglaw litigation experience.
• Candidates who are law school bound in a few years are encouraged to apply.
• Excellent cite-checking and Bluebook formatting skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Maintain master calendars, court schedules, and case tracking to meet deadlines.
• Perform meticulous Bluebook cite checks on filings.
• Assemble Tables of Authorities and Tables of Contents for submissions.
• Organize and retrieve electronic case files in document management platforms.
• Provide agile paralegal support across civil and criminal dockets.

Skills

Biglaw litigation experience

Attention to detail

Written and analytical communication

Team player

Legal research

Education

Bachelor's degree with 3.5 GPA or higher

Tools

Bluebooking

Tables of Authorities

Tables of Contents

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Document management systems

Job description

A nonprofit Washington, DC litigation firm is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Paralegal with prior experience in civil litigation to support their fast-paced legal team. In this role, you will be instrumental in conducting in-depth legal research, managing discovery and case files, and performing rigorous Bluebook cite-checking and formatting for court filings. The ideal candidate brings a high degree of precision, strong written and analytical communication skills, and a genuine commitment to their mission-driven work. This position provides substantial, direct exposure to complex casework and substantive brief preparation, making it an exceptional launching pad for an ambitious professional planning to attend law school in the next few years.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain rigorous oversight of master calendars, court schedules, and case tracking systems to ensure all deadlines are met.
• Perform meticulous cite checks on legal filings to guarantee factual accuracy and strict adherence to Bluebook standards.
• Assemble and structure polished tables of authorities and tables of contents for court-bound submissions.
• Organize, maintain, and retrieve electronic case files and records within the firm’s document management platforms.
• Deliver agile operational and paralegal support to keep active legal matters moving smoothly, partnering closely with team members across the firm to advance casework and operations across both civil and criminal dockets.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Firm culture is highly collaborative, intellectual, driven, and eager to work hard towards a common goal.
• This role offers the opportunity to take on meaningful projects, make a lasting impact, and collaborate directly with industry-leading legal professionals.
• Employees enjoy competitive compensation commensurate of experience, including overtime pay, as well as strong benefits.
• Hybrid work schedule offers flexibility to work from home two days a week.

What We’re Looking For:

• Legal ambition. You hold a bachelor’s degree from a top university with a minimum 3.5 GPA and have at least one year of Biglaw litigation experience. Candidates who are law school bound in a few years are highly encouraged to apply!
• Paralegal pro. You have extensive experience and familiarity with Bluebooking, cite-checking, preparing Tables of Contents and Tables of Authorities, and utilizing Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and various document management tools.
• Meticulous. You have exceptional organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail. This environment is fast-paced, high-stakes, and allows no margin for error.
• Part of something bigger. You are a team player and eager to be in an environment that is mission oriented.

The salary listed reflects the anticipated compensation range for this position. Actual compensation will be determined based on relevant experience, qualifications, location, business considerations, and internal equity. Final offer amounts are determined at the employer’s discretion.

Essential to Hawthorne Lane’s success is our ability to attract talent from a range of backgrounds. Our network reflects the diverse community around us, and we believe in a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed. Applications will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.