Office Manager and Paralegal

National Environmental Law Center

Paralegal & Office Administrator

Boston, MA

The National Environmental Law Center (NELC) is a non-profit research and litigation center dedicated to enforcing the nation's environmental laws, such as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and Endangered Species Act. NELC has a proven track record of bringing corporate and government polluters to justice, and provides essential legal representation to affected communities and citizen groups in environmental enforcement suits. NELC is based in Boston and our Litigation Director is in Seattle.

NELC is hiring a new staff person as a paralegal and office administrator to work with our team of attorneys and run our Boston-based office. This is not an attorney role.

Representative Responsibilities

NELC's paralegal and office administrator is an important and valued member of our litigation team. Responsibilities may include but are not limited to :

• Performing factual research into topics such as industry compliance with environmental laws (often involving record requests to government agencies) and the environmental and health effects of specific pollutants;
• Analyzing compliance records to identify violators, and writing analyses assessing the viability of potential lawsuits;
• Creating spreadsheets tracking pollutant emissions and permit violations;
• Helping to prepare motions and other case-related documents for filing in federal court;
• Managing litigation software and document databases, and learning to perform basic legal research;
• Assisting with depositions and trial work;
• Developing and maintaining good working relationships with local, state, and national environmental organizations and citizen groups;
• Communicating with witnesses and with members of the organizations NELC represents in litigation;
• Participating in litigation strategy discussions and organizational meetings;
• Preparing and tracking our budget and business plan;
• Coordinating and creating content for website updates, newsletters, and other publications;
• Administering our Boston office.

Qualifications

The NELC Paralegal & Office Administrator must be a motivated self-starter, and must have grit, determination, a strong sense of justice, and a healthy sense of humor. Qualified applicants will also have excellent public speaking, writing, and analytical skills, the ability to debate and speak persuasively, and the ability to think creatively and work independently.

Candidates for this position must have at least an undergraduate college degree. Relevant professional experience post-college is a plus. Relevant experience includes (but is not limited to) working in political, policy, legal, journalistic, or government settings. A science background is helpful. An advanced degree, such as a master’s in a related field, may count toward a candidate's professional experience.

Location

Boston, MA. While work is done remotely many days, residency in the Boston area is required because of regular weekly in-office days.

Compensation and Benefits

The target annual compensation for this position is $37,000-$38,000. The National Environmental Law Center offers an excellent benefits package. Our benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid time off, a commuter benefit program, a 401(k) plan with employer match, parental leave, long term disability insurance, and may include needs-based student loan assistance. We also offer an excellent training program and opportunities for advancement.

Start timeline and Commitment

Target start date : June 1st, 2025. A minimum two-year commitment to the position is required.

How to Apply

Please email your cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample (up to 10 pages) to admin@nelc.org. Specify the position you are applying for in the subject line of the e-mail, and be sure to mention where you saw our job advertised.

About NELC

The National Environmental Law Center (NELC) is a non-profit litigation center founded in 1990 to enforce anti-pollution laws and promote long-term solutions to the nation’s pressing environmental problems. NELC attorneys have a proven track record of bringing corporate polluters to justice. NELC works closely with national, state, and local citizen groups, providing essential legal expertise and representation to protect public health and the environment. NELC helps the public to shape and uphold our core environmental laws, serving as a major force in public interest litigation.

NELC has been a leader in efforts to crack down on violators of federal environmental laws for decades, bringing over 90 public interest enforcement actions and winning more than $340 million in pollution reduction measures and $55 million in court-ordered penalties.

In addition to litigation and regulatory challenges, NELC countermands threats to legal protections of environmental and public health by filing amicus (friend of the court) briefs in litigation pending before the Supreme Court and other federal courts. These efforts focus on cases in which the integrity of environmental laws, or the rights of the public to participate in the implementation of those laws, is threatened.

Our Mission and Values

The National Environmental Law Center is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit to learn more when you apply.

The National Environmental Law Center (NELC) is an equal opportunity employer.

COVID-19 : We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boosted. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.

Salary : $37,000 - $38,000