Legal Assistant

Job Title: Legal Assistant Department: Legal Location: Oakland, CA   Reports To: Managing Paralegal Supervises: None

Context: At the Sierra Club, we believe in the power of interdependence. Together, we remain committed to the fight for a healthy climate built on a foundation of environmental, racial, economic, and gender justice – a future where all people benefit from a healthy, thriving planet and a direct connection to nature. As the climate crisis and deeply entrenched systemic racism all fuel injustice, we will continue to fight for a bold, transformational agenda that recognizes the interconnectedness between our planet, our humanity, and our future. By recognizing that our destinies are tied, we continue to name that all things are fundamentally connected, and the overlap between ecology, race, gender, and representative government will move to either advance our collective humanity or to oppress it. Sierra Club has close to 800 staff across the country and a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.

Scope: Sierra Club is seeking a Legal Assistant to join its national legal team as a Legal Assistant for Sierra Club’s Environmental Law Program (ELP). The Legal Assistant will provide litigation support to advance the mission of the Environmental Law Program and Sierra Club campaigns, conduct legal and factual research, and manage programmatic aspects of ELP.

Job activities include but are not limited to:

• Litigation

• Collaborates with attorneys, paralegals, and other ELP staff to complete the critical, precise tasks of litigation, including editing, formatting and otherwise preparing legal documents, communicating with court clerks, and filing and serving documents properly and on time.

• Interviews potential standing declarants and drafts standing declarations under the supervision of attorneys.

• Drafts and submits Freedom of Information Act and Public Records Act requests under the supervision of attorneys.

• Campaign/Research

• Monitors and reports all relevant public information regarding permitting, public notices, and media relating to current and potential legal actions relating to coal plants and other priority targets of Sierra Club campaigns.

• Conducts miscellaneous research and prepares reports in support of Sierra Club campaigns.

• Tracks and records the status of litigation, rulemakings, etc. to enable access to legal and technical resources by the network of attorneys and allied organizations collaborating on Sierra Club campaigns.

• Administrative

• Performs a range of administrative and clerical duties which include scheduling, invoice processing, reimbursements, travel logistics, copying, collating, faxing, supply ordering, filing, event planning and organizing for ELP, mail pickup, and managing various spreadsheets for general program information.

• Standard Overtime

• This position requires occasional overtime to meet special deadlines, projects, other staff absences, or emergencies. Under these circumstances, overtime will rarely exceed 5 hours per week or 15 hours on a monthly basis.

The successful candidate must demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to perform multiple tasks and adhere to deadlines.
• Computer skills: Experience with Microsoft Office (including strong familiarity with Excel and Word). Familiarity with G-suite plus general computer literacy and solid internet research skills required.
• Solid research, writing, oral communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills required.
• Ability to do precise, careful work needed for courtroom filings, attorney admissions, and correspondence with courts, external parties, etc.
• Ability to work successfully in teams and under their own initiative, to handle multiple assignments simultaneously, and to make timely decisions.
• Committed to evolution. You are committed to continuously deepening and evolving your own understanding of systems of oppression through study, openness, and humility. And you easily recognize your own relationship to privilege and power, examining and shifting your behaviors as appropriate.
• Uplifting and additive. You see mistakes as opportunities for growth; problems as catalysts for solutions, and inspire others along the journey. You carry a constructive approach, can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and authentic kindness wherever you go.

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate the following skills, experience and competencies:

• Knowledge of energy and climate data sources and familiarity with government climate/energy policy and litigation procedures.