Paralegal/Legal Assistant

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant in the Office of General Counsel (OGC). This is an excellent opportunity for a paralegal/legal assistant committed to social justice who is seeking interesting, challenging and meaningful work that will touch the lives of many. You will support NASW members by directing members to appropriate legal resources and providing critical guidance.

Founded in 1955, NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 100,000 members. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies that achieve equity and improve lives. OGC is responsible for legal affairs relating to multiple NASW entities, including the NASW Legal Defense Fund (LDF). We are seeking an enthusiastic, highly organized, and motivated paralegal to work collaboratively with our friendly and dynamic legal team.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Legal Defense Fund (LDF) Helpdesk Support:
• Serve as the primary contact for members who call the LDF Helpdesk;
• Respond to member inquiries via phone, providing courteous and accurate guidance;
• Direct members to appropriate legal resources and escalate complex questions to attorneys as needed;
• Maintain detailed records of call inquires and resolutions;
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment and consistent member support.
• Support attorneys in corporate governance, i.e. preparing for Board meetings and events, drafting meeting minutes and post-meeting correspondence, drafting and editing governance documents;
• Conduct factual and legal research and document review, and collect data for OGC attorneys to prepare reports;
• Review documents and prepare correspondence and exhibits for grievances, complaints, labor negotiations, administrative filings, and litigation;
• Manage projects across OGC, including drafting and transmitting legal correspondence, documents, and governmental filings;
• Assist with creating litigation holds;
• Regularly communicate with internal and external stakeholders and maintain the highest level of confidence;
• Assist with developing educational materials, trainings, and presentations for members and staff, including fact sheets and articles;
• Assist in investigating intellectual property matters and preparing cease and desist letters;
• Prepare and maintain corporate records and documents and monitor business licensing, trademarks, and registrations;
• Play a key role in reviewing and tracking contracts and updating and maintaining contract management system;
• Assist in departmental budgeting;
• Prepare and submit OGC paperwork for processing (e.g., invoices, expense vouchers, supply orders, etc.);
• Maintain and update OGC and LDF filing systems and ensure their confidentiality and security;
• Perform administrative tasks, including monitoring workflow and meeting priorities, tracking deadlines;
• Participate in committees; and
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Required Experience and Knowledge:

• Associate’s degree, paralegal degree or certification, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of three years of relevant work experience (law firm, legal nonprofit, or in-house experience).
• Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and empathetically with a diverse range of individuals.
• Exercise independent initiative and judgment in daily tasks.
• Ability to design and maintain filing systems and workflow.
• Ability to manage highly sensitive, privileged, and confidential information.
• Excellent organization and writing skills.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, planning, and research skills.
• Self-motivated with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to timely manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and follow through to complete projects in a timely and efficient manner.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Word and Outlook, and willingness to continue learning.
• Proficient in scheduling and using video conferencing technology, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
• Experience using online legal research tools such as Westlaw or Lexis.

Preferred Experience and Knowledge:

• Familiarity with using contract management software a plus.
• Familiarity with the social work profession and/or related health and human service/social welfare professions a plus.

Work location:

NASW employees are currently working on a hybrid schedule, with 2 days remote work available. The candidate should be able to commute to NASW’s Washington, D.C. office.

How to Apply:

Submit your resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please share why you want to work at NASW and why you are interested in this position. NASW values a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applicants to share in their cover letter how their unique background and/or experiences might contribute to the diversity and perspectives of our staff and legal office.

Benefits: NASW offers a robust benefits package including extensive paid time off (including all federally observed holidays day after Thanksgiving and week between Christmas and New Years Day), Health/Dental/Vision insurance, 401(k) Match, Life Insurance, Parental Leave and more.

Deadline: We will accept applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.