Pre-Law Paralegal

About the Firm

Zuckerman Spaeder LLP is a premier litigation boutique law firm with offices in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, New York, NY and Tampa, FL. We represent clients in high-stakes civil and criminal litigation, government investigations, and complex regulatory matters.

About the Program

Our Pre-Law Paralegal program is designed for intellectually curious, detail-oriented college graduates with a demonstrated interest in pursuing a legal career. Training and mentorship will be provided throughout the program. Paralegals will work closely with attorneys on substantive case matters and gain firsthand experience in legal practice. The program requires a full two-year commitment. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct legal and factual research using online databases and other resources, e.g., Westlaw, Lexis;
• Draft, edit, and proofread legal documents, correspondence, and memoranda;
• Organize and maintain case files and records in electronic databases and physical files;
• Assist attorneys with trial preparation, discovery, and interviews, including detailed note-taking;
• Manage and prioritize multiple assignments under deadlines;
• Collaborate with attorneys and staff in a fast-paced office environment; and
• Provide administrative and logistical support to case teams, including document management and other tasks as needed. 

•  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, conferred within the past 12-24 months or expected before the program start date;
• Demonstrated interest in pursuing a legal career (i.e., through coursework, internships, extracurricular activities);
• Strong academic record (a GPA of 3.5 or above is typical of successful candidates); 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including strong writing and editing, and the ability to communicate effectively in both one-on-one and group settings; 
• Strong analytical, organizational, and planning abilities;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), online research, and artificial intelligence-based tools, and comfort learning new software, including e-discovery platforms;
• Professionalism, attention to detail, and the ability to exercise discretion with confidential and sensitive information; 
• Willingness to work in-office five days per week and to travel as required for the position;
• Commitment to complete the full two-year program.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

This job does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.  

Equal Employment Opportunity and Accommodation

Zuckerman Spaeder LLP is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Zuckerman Spaeder prohibits any discrimination or harassment based on a person’s race, color, gender, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, past or present military service, or any other ground prohibited by federal, District of Columbia, state, or local law (“protected status”), employment, including hiring, promotions, termination, pay, and the work environment. It is Zuckerman Spaeder’s policy to provide reasonable accommodation to a qualified individual with a disability as defined by the ADA, who has made the organization aware of his or her disability, provided that such disability does not constitute any undue hardship on the organization.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions. For accommodation requests, please email [email protected].

Physical Demands and Work Environment

This is an office-based role involving extended periods of sitting and computer work.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. 

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt (overtime eligible)  under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and District of Columbia law.  Full-Time, in-office, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with a one-hour unpaid lunch period (37.5 hours per week). Additional hours may occasionally be required to meet case needs. Occasional remote work may be permitted. 

The annualized base salary is $70,000, which is equivalent to an hourly rate of $35.90, based on a 37.5-hour workweek. Hours worked beyond 37.5, up to 40, in a workweek are paid at the regular hourly rate. Hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek are paid at one and one-half times the regular rate.  Our benefits package includes coverage options for medical, dental, vision, prescription drug, life insurance, disability, FSAs, 401K, and paid time off.