Greenfire is looking to hire an Associate Attorney with a minimum of 4 years of litigation experience in California.
Job Description: Greenfire Law, PC is a public interest law firm handling litigation and policy work on behalf of citizen plaintiffs or non-profit groups specializing in environmental law, animal law, land use, open government, and telecommunications. Though located in Berkeley, California, we regularly litigate state and federal court cases and administrative proceedings in California and across the United States. We are seeking an associate attorney with a minimum of four years of litigation experience in California for immediate hire. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about the opportunity to work for a small firm, which provides a certain level of independence. Candidates should be mature enough to work independently but also ask for help when needed.
Responsibilities
- Develop new cases in close collaboration with citizen and non-profit clients, which include responsibility to conduct factual investigations; develop legal theories; draft pleadings and briefs; and otherwise manage new and existing cases in state or federal courts and administrative agencies.
- Assist in representation of clients in complex cases involving the full range of litigation tasks, including factual investigation, legal research, discovery, briefing, witness preparation, trials, and oral advocacy, and otherwise manage new and existing cases in state or federal courts and administrative tribunals from beginning to end.
- Collaborate in team problem solving, litigation strategy, project management and trial work.
- Supervise the work of fellows, interns, and litigation assistants
- Cultivate new allies and engage in partnerships with, and representation of, community groups, workers, organizations, coalitions, and others.
- Support and contribute to a positive, respectful, supportive, and collegial work environment.
- Participate in training and professional development opportunities appropriate to the role and the organization.
Qualifications
- Admitted to the Bar of the State of California with at least four years of experience litigating cases, one or more of which can include clerkship experience.
- Willing and able to work in Berkeley, though remote applicants will be considered.
- Attorneys with substantial litigation experience and the ability to litigate cases from beginning to end, independently if necessary are also welcome to apply. We expect that in most cases a candidate meeting this requirement would have at least six years litigation experience, but candidates with fewer years of experience are welcome to apply so long as they meet this functional requirement.
- Excellent litigation skills, including legal research, writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills.
- Ability to manage a litigation docket effectively, including ability to work independently and to prioritize tasks and deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well collegially both inside and outside the organization.
- Ability to work independently and in collaboration with client partners and in leading a litigation team.
- Strong and demonstrated initiative, good judgment, creativity, flexibility, and work ethic.
- Ability and willingness to travel as needed, including for case work, court appearances, and meetings with clients and partners.
- Commitment to serving the public interest and a passion for the role of public interest litigation in the environmental movement.
- An ability and commitment to help create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
- Willingness and ability to effectively supervise and mentor early career staff in connection with litigation and advocacy projects, and to help foster an inclusive and nurturing work environment.
Compensation: Salary within the range of $90,000 to $130,000 and includes payment of bar dues and CLE allowance. The firm offers health insurance and a retirement plan.
Applications submitted through recruiters will not be considered.
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to us at administrative@greenfirelaw.com and include “Associate Position Applicant” in the subject of the email. Please be prepared to provide a writing sample and references upon request.
Greenfire is looking to hire a Senior Paralegal with 5 years of experience.
Job Description: Under general supervision, a Senior Paralegal is responsible for complex cases, legal and factual research, and supporting attorneys in complex litigation. The Senior Paralegal must be able to draft and analyze legal documents and perform tasks that require advanced legal knowledge of specific subject areas, such as conducting client interviews, researching legal and factual information, collecting, compiling, and reviewing voluminous records, and utilizing technical information. The Senior Paralegal may also be responsible for organizing office procedures relating to other support staff. The Senior Paralegal will work independently to support at least five attorneys and will supervise a legal secretary who does handles office mail and the firm litigation calendar.
Distinguishing Characteristics: This is an experienced, advanced, journey level classification performing legal assignments with a high degree of autonomy. The Senior Paralegal will be assigned to more complex cases in different courts and other judicial and quasi-judicial forums (i.e. trial and appellate levels of state and federal court, tribal court, other state courts, mediation, arbitration, and others). The Senior Paralegal will also be responsible for legal and factual research and will be supporting attorneys in advancing case strategy. The work performed requires knowledge of advanced legal concepts, principles, terminology, procedures and the extensive use of legal reference material.
Examples of Essential Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Performs legal research, including statutory analysis, review of case law and legislative history, and cite checking.
- Performs factual research, including analysis of public records and secondary sources to support attorneys handling complex litigation.
- Managing data in large spreadsheets under supervision of attorney in charge of case.
- Prepares initial drafts of pleadings incorporating legal and factual research.
- Drafts legal documents including notices, subpoenas, interrogatories, declarations in support of motions, proposed orders, research memoranda, proposed rules, proposed orders, proofs of service, and correspondence.
- Filing pleadings in various tribunals, including directing in person filing (rare) and electronic filing (common).
- Assists with locating and contacting witnesses, arranges for the interview and evaluation of witnesses, drafts witness declarations in proceedings and pretrial statements and assists with the preparation of witness testimony.
- With the assistance of legal secretary, compiles and organizes trial notebooks, exhibits, files and other materials and documents.
- Coordinates the scheduling of witnesses, answers witness questions, communicates with witnesses regarding the status of their case/trial, coordinates witness travel and expenses, and assists with witness issues, exhibits and note taking.
- Prepares initial drafts of formal discovery requests and responses, including special interrogatories, requests for admissions, production demands, deposition notices and motions to compel for the attorney, and organizes information in order to respond to such discovery requests.
- Prepares summaries of depositions, court transcripts and witness testimony.
- Monitors and tracks criminal and civil cases in California and other jurisdictions; and investigates, gathers and reviews case documentation and information.
- Performs a number of other similar or related duties, which may not be specifically included within this job description, but which are consistent with the general level of the job and the responsibilities described.
Employment Standards
Knowledge of:
- Advanced principles, concepts and methodology of legal proceedings and legal research.
- Principles of legal writing and legal terminology.
- Structure and procedural rules of state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels.
- The State Bar Act, State Bar Rules, Rules of Conduct and other relevant laws as they apply to the performance of major duties and responsibilities of the position (to be obtained during the introductory period).
- Problem identification, analysis, and evaluation.
- Advanced principles of effective writing and verbal presentation.
- Business math for completing non-technical calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Modern office practices and procedures, including the use of standard computer software such as Microsoft Office and case management system applications. The successful applicant will have a high level of proficiency in using Microsoft Word, including Styles and Table of Authorities, Excel, as well as Adobe Acrobat pdf editing software.
- Computerized legal research system(s), such as Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, and CEB.
- Clio case management software with Google Drive integration.
Ability to:
- Prepare legal documents including discovery requests, motions, and summary dispositions.
- Extract and organize information from a variety of sources and software platforms.
- Organize work, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
- Maintain confidentiality of firm documents and records.
- Carry out duties in accordance with policies, procedures, and scope of responsibility.
- Gather, analyze, and interpret data and information.
- Review and analyze complex written documents and problems.
- Establish and maintain effective and productive work relationships.
- Communicate clearly and effectively in person, telephone, and in writing.
- Write effectively, in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner, using proper grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation.
- Travel by air and automobile as required.
Requirements
Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in a field that develops the skills required for the functions and responsibilities of the position.
Experience: Five (5) years’ experience as a paralegal.
License, Certificate, Registration Requirements:
- Certification of completion of an approved paralegal program.
- Mandatory continuing legal education: completion of four hours of legal ethics classes and four hours of general law classes every two years.
Physical Requirements:
- Visual capability and digital dexterity to operate a computer and other standard office equipment.
- Make fine visual distinctions upon proofreading written documents and viewing information on a computer screen.
- Digital dexterity to assemble, retrieve, and replace files.
- Frequent repetitive motion; frequent writing; frequent grasping, holding and reaching.
- Frequent hearing and talking, in person and on the phone.
- Sit for extended periods of time.
* Upon demonstrated satisfactory performance, the Senior Paralegal may work remotely one day per week.
Benefits
Greenfire Law offers a competitive salary within the range of $85,000-$120,000, 401(k) matching plan, health insurance, and paid time off.
Application
Send cover letter, reference list, and resume or CV to jblome@greenfirelaw.com. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
