Employment

About GLAD Law

Since 1978, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) has achieved scores of precedent-setting legal victories to end discrimination based on gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, and HIV status. Time after time, GLAD Law has broken through resistance and prejudice to make real progress for transgender rights, family protections and marriage equality, LGBTQ+ youth rights, protections for people living with HIV and much more. GLAD Law is focused on working at the cutting edge of LGBTQ+ rights, advancing strategies to address discrimination occurring at the intersections of race and LGBTQ+ status, and keeping a close watch on a counter-movement that is fighting hard to roll back critical progress.

We are at a critical moment in our efforts for LGBTQ+ justice, racial justice, and lived equality. The rights of LGBTQ+ people, and transgender individuals in particular, are under attack, as evidenced by the current federal administration’s executive orders and other actions targeting transgender people alongside efforts by opponents in state legislatures and in courts to diminish LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections.

The Opportunity

GLAD Law’s Legal Research and Operations Manager will work collaboratively with the Legal Department to help provide extensive paralegal, research, and administrative support. The successful candidate will work closely with lawyers in the Legal Department to help advance our organizational goals and mission. The position will include responsibilities such as legal, policy, medical, social science, and informational research, drafting basic memos and motions, maintaining case files, and collaboratively supervising Legal Assistants.

The Legal Research and Operations Manager will make significant contributions to the legal team and help develop policy and legal solutions on various LGBTQ+ issues. This role reports to Senior Staff Attorney Chris Erchull and works closely with all legal team members.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop a deep understanding of the organization’s programs, projects, and substantive areas of law, especially those affecting the LGBTQ+ community and those living with HIV
• Perform legal, policy, medical, social science, and informational research, draft motions, letters, and memos
• Manage research, tracking, and other projects for the Legal Department and lawyers
• Manage Legal Assistant and Legal Intern hiring and onboarding processes
• Cite check and proofread memoranda of law and appellate briefs for filing, as well as train the Department’s Legal Assistants in these tasks
• Assist Legal Assistants and Legal Interns with their work product as needed
• Collaborate on implementing improvements in GLAD Law’s research systems
• Work collaboratively with various departments within GLAD Law
• Embrace GLAD Law’s mission and demonstrate commitment to its organizational values

Qualifications:

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We know people gain skills through various professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate most of the qualifications and experiences listed below.

Applicants should have a commitment to civil rights and liberties, be self-motivated, and be able to work in a diverse multicultural environment. The successful applicant will be committed to fulfilling GLAD Law’s mission and aspire to its organizational values. Qualified candidates will have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

• Proven legal research and writing abilities, including mastering Bluebook legal citation and court rules
• Strong understanding of civil procedure and motion practice
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills and attention to detail
• The ability to collaborate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and communication styles
• Committed to prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Excellent database, systems, and project management skills
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, be reliable and flexible
• Ability to effectively manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three years of experience as a paralegal or law librarian
• Paralegal certification from an ABA-accredited program or law librarian certification
• Supervisory experience

Compensation and Location:

This is a full-time, exempt position with a salary of $70,000-100,000 depending on experience.

GLAD Law offers a robust benefits package, including:

• Three weeks of paid vacation
• 18 holidays
• 401k participation and Safe Harbor contribution
• fully paid individual health and dental insurance
• long term disability insurance
• professional development opportunities

This position is hybrid eligible: a portion of the job duties may be performed remotely, with an expectation of 4 days/week in-office (Boston) and otherwise from a home office. Occasional weekend or after-hours work and travel may be required.

GLAD Law requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated (including boosters, if eligible) against COVID-19 by their first day of employment. Employees may request an exemption to this policy as a reasonable accommodation for religious and/or medical reasons.

To Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter HERE, via Positively Partners’ website. Please email legalassistant@glad.org with any questions. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The expected start date is May/June 2025.

GLAD is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic staff committed to working in a multicultural environment. We encourage applications from people of color, transgender persons, and individuals with disabilities, including HIV.

GLAD Law’s Legal Assistants play a key role in advancing the mission and goals of the organization by providing critical administrative and other support to GLAD Law’s ten attorneys. The Legal Assistant performs legal and social science research, drafts research memoranda, prepares court documents and correspondence, and proofreads and checks citations for complex legal documents. In addition, the Legal Assistant performs regular administrative tasks such as coordinating meetings and travel, filing and maintaining records, scanning, copying, and preparing expense reports. This position offers an excellent opportunity to learn about the litigation and legislative process and the legal issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional work experience. 

• Strong written and oral communication skills. 

• Proven research abilities. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office. 

• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. 

The ideal candidate will be proactive, organized, and attentive to detail. The ability to work cooperatively in a team is essential. In addition, the ideal candidate will be able to read, analyze, interpret, and summarize legal and social science documents, including case law and statutes. Familiarity with the legal system is helpful but not required. 

GLAD Law requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated (including boosters, if eligible) against COVID-19 by their first day of employment. Employees may request an exemption to this policy as a reasonable accommodation for religious and/or medical reasons. 

Compensation: 

$55,000 plus excellent benefits including three weeks of paid vacation, four floating personal days, fully paid individual health and dental insurance, and disability insurance. This position non-exempt, and hybrid eligible. 

To apply, please submit the following materials via this form (Separate PDF documents required):

• Resume
• Cover letter (no more than one page) addressed to Attorney Chris Erchull. This is our opportunity to get to know you better. It is recommended that you do not restate your resume.
• Writing sample demonstrating your research and citation skills, attention to detail, and ability to communicate in writing.  (5-7 pages)

Please submit your application by completing this form. Please contact legalassistant@glad.org with any questions. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, and no video resumes please. Anticipated start date: June 2025.considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls, and no video resumes please. Anticipated start date: June 2025.

ONGOING: Interns are hired on an academic schedule — for the entire school year, an individual semester, or the summer.

Both full- and part-time internships are available.

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