Legal Impact/Legal Programs Paralegal 

Program Wide – In person  

Based in McKinleyville or Escondido, CA 

Hiring Range: $31.22 - $34.72 per hour   

Job Type: Full-time, Non-exempt 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 

Founded in 1967, California Indian Legal Services (CILS) is the oldest public interest Indian rights law firm in the country, promoting the fundamental rights of California Tribes and Indians through litigation, legislative and administrative advocacy, community development, and other strategies for systemic change. CILS provides a full range of legal representation to California Indian Tribes and Indian organizations, advocates for the rights of California Indians at the local, state, and national levels, and provides direct services and community education to low-income Native American individuals on issues related to Federal Indian Law and Tribal law. Currently, CILS’ hybrid non-profit law firm and legal aid offers services statewide and maintains four offices throughout California – Eastern (Bishop), Southern (Escondido), Northern (McKinleyville), and Central (Sacramento). This position is part of the Principal Office, located in Sacramento, CA, but will be based in the Northern or Southern office location. 

POSITION SUMMARY 

The Legal Impact/Legal Programs Paralegal provides high-level, statewide coordination in support of the Director of Legal Programs (DLP) and the Director of Legal Impact & Legislative Affairs (DLILA). This role is responsible for coordinating complex legal, legislative, programmatic, and organizational initiatives that advance the mission of California Indian Legal Services (CILS). 

The Legal Impact/Legal Programs Paralegal plays an essential role in facilitating high-impact litigation support, legislative tracking and coordination, statewide program operations, attorney training logistics, case acceptance processes, and the development of publications and community education materials. This position requires advanced organizational, analytical, and communication skills and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing sensitive information with professionalism, discretion, and cultural competence. 

ESSENITAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES 

Support to Director of Legal Impact & Legislative Affairs (50%)

• Supporting Legal Impact & Legislative Affairs Staff (currently 2 Attorneys). 
• Supporting and coordinating CILS’s annual Bill Analysis Program on behalf of DLILA. 
• Assistance with tracking state and federal bills affecting California Tribes. 
• Administrative support in the drafting of one-page fact sheets and plain-language summaries. 
• Coordinating communications with legislative staff and committees.  
• Litigation Support including: 
• Calendaring deadlines for discovery, court hearings, filing of pleadings and other time sensitive matters; 
• Understanding of local court rules on formatting of pleadings, page count, federal PACER filing system, and serving pleadings 
• Maintaining and organizing litigation files, including pleadings, research, and correspondence 
• Arranging virtual Court appearances 
• Assisting with client communications and case updates.  
• Coordinate statewide legal training and community education events. 
• Providing administrative program support (calendaring office meetings, preparing timesheets, reimbursements, arranging travel, etc.)   

Support to Director of Legal Programs (50%)

• Coordinate involvement of DLP in weekly Case Acceptance Meetings (CAMS) 
• Maintain program-wide resources, templates, and systems. 
• Track program metrics and prepare summaries for leadership. 
• Support planning and logistics for attorney trainings and onboarding. 
• Support consistency in program-wide systems by helping implement and reinforce established document management and workflow protocols across offices. 
• Maintain statewide brief banks and legal knowledge libraries. 
• Coordinate intern/fellow assignments (non-supervisory). 
• Track and document progress toward strategic plan goals. 
• Assist with CQI data gathering and documentation. 
• Provide logistical support for DLP community events and outreach . 
• Serve as an initial point of coordination for program-related logistical and documentation inquiries, escalating issues to DLP as appropriate. 
• Monitor shared inboxes, folders, or communication channels related to legal programs and flag time-sensitive or high-risk items for attention. 
• Prepare meeting packets, and presentations. 
• Maintain SharePoint/Teams/OneNote knowledge-management systems. 
• Coordinate high-impact, cross-departmental projects. 
• Assist with Board of Trustees materials and leadership communications. 
• Assist with tracking action items, deadlines, and follow-ups arising from meetings, directives, and DLP decisions. 
• Support calendar management, meeting preparation, and post-meeting follow-ups.  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Minimum 3-5 years of legal services, legal coordination, or paralegal experience. 
• Paralegal Certificate from an ABA-approved program or equivalent legal training. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of legal terminology, court procedures, and filings. 
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Teams, Planner, SharePoint, OneNote, etc.) 
• Excellent writing and communication skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully with Tribal communities. 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment. 
• Experience working with or living in Tribal Communities. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Experience in legal services, Tribal government, or Indian law organizations. 
• Familiarity with LSC regulations. 
• Knowledge of federal Indian law topics including PL 280. 
• Experience coordinating legal publications or trainings. 

KEY COMPETENCIES 

• Project management. 
• Legislative and policy comprehension. 
• Analytical and detail-oriented coordination. 
• Effective communication and collaboration. 
• Cultural competence. 
• Ability to work independently within defined parameters and under attorney supervision. 
• Strong organizational systems development. 

WORKING CONDITIONS 

• Hybrid position with statewide travel to field offices and the State Capitol. 
• Occasional evening or weekend obligations tied to Board or legislative events. 
•  This role relies on digital tools for daily work, including managing tasks, deadlines, documents, and communication. Because our workflows are fully digital (not paper-based), the position includes performing these functions with our standard software and systems.   

WAGE/STATUS 

$31.22-$34.72 per hour. Non-exempt, Full-time. CILS creates job position wage and salary ranges using data from California non-profit legal services annual data sources; employees are placed within a range depending on degrees, certifications, experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors. 

BENEFITS 

CILS provides an extensive benefits package, including: 

• Multiple high-quality, and low-cost medical plans. 
• 100% coverage for the employee and 90% for dependent premiums. 
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible medical/dental, dependent care, and public transportation expenses. 
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match. 
• 17 paid holidays annually (including office closure from December 24-January 1) plus an additional day for your birthday. 
• Vacation time off, starting at 13 days accrued per year. 
• Sick leave is set at 12 days per year. 
• Paid leave for jury duty/witness services, Election Day, bereavement. 
• Free professional development courses and learning opportunities. 
• Employee Assistance Program with access to free mental health services. 
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program for eligible positions. 
• Supplemental insurance, including additional life and disability coverage. 

LOCATION 

This position is in person and will be based in either the Northern Office (McKinleyville, CA) or the Southern Office (Escondido, CA). Mondays through Fridays with optional teleworking on Mondays and Fridays.  

TO APPLY 

Submit a resume, cover letter, three professional references, and a writing sample. We will accept applications until the position is filled, but CILS does not accept incomplete applications.