How to apply for Paralegal & Litigation Specialist

About Protect Democracy

Protect Democracy is a nonpartisan nonprofit that works to prevent authoritarianism. It uses litigation and legal advocacy to push back against executive overreach, censorship, and voter suppression. This is a place for people who want to use legal skills across ideological lines to defend democratic institutions.

About the role

As a Paralegal & Litigation Specialist, you will support multi-faceted litigation and legal advocacy projects. The work includes challenging unlawful executive actions, defending advocates and journalists from government censorship, and fighting illegal voter purges and voter intimidation. You will handle all stages of impact litigation, case management, writing, research, and communications.

A typical day

A typical day might involve preparing and filing court documents, conducting legal research, and coordinating with attorneys on case strategy. You could also communicate with clients or partners and manage case files to ensure deadlines are met. The role is remote, so you would collaborate with the team through virtual meetings and shared document systems.

Who Protect Democracy is looking for

• At least three years of federal filing experience in civil litigation, with direct knowledge of court rules and procedures.
• Excellent writing, research, and communication skills with a keen eye for detail.
• A flexible, action-oriented mindset and a collaborative, team-oriented approach.
• Commitment to Protect Democracy's mission and its cross-ideological strategy for defending democracy.

Tips for this application

• Make your federal filing experience explicit: list specific courts, case numbers, and filing types (e.g., complaints, motions, discovery) in your resume.
• In your cover letter, connect your litigation background to one or more of Protect Democracy's focus areas: executive overreach, censorship, or voter suppression.
• Show that you can work with people across the political spectrum. Mention any experience collaborating with unlikely allies or in nonpartisan settings.
• Apply before the priority deadline. The job posting states a priority deadline, so submit early to be considered in the first round.
• Avoid generic language about 'saving democracy.' Instead, describe concrete ways your paralegal work has supported civil litigation and case management.

What to cover in your cover letter

Key points to emphasize: your three or more years of federal civil litigation filing experience, with specific examples of filings you prepared or managed; your ability to handle all stages of litigation, from case management to research and writing; your commitment to Protect Democracy's cross-ideological approach and nonpartisan mission; and your collaborative style in supporting multiple litigation teams.

Research before applying

• Read Protect Democracy's recent litigation and legal advocacy work, especially cases related to executive overreach, censorship, and voter suppression.
• Understand the organization's nonpartisan and cross-ideological approach by reading its mission statement and any public commentary from its leaders.
• Look up the backgrounds of the legal team to understand the types of cases they handle and the courts they appear in.
• Check for any public statements or reports about Protect Democracy's strategy to prevent authoritarianism, so you can speak to how your skills fit.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk us through your experience with federal civil litigation filings. What types of documents have you prepared and filed?
• How do you manage multiple cases and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail?
• Describe a time you supported a litigation team under pressure. What was your role?
• Why do you want to work at Protect Democracy specifically, and how do you view its cross-ideological strategy?
• How would you handle a situation where a case involves politically sensitive issues and you need to communicate with diverse stakeholders?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Failing to highlight specific federal filing experience. The job explicitly requires three or more years, so not addressing this directly will hurt your application.
• Using partisan language or showing a lack of understanding of the cross-ideological strategy. Protect Democracy values working across political lines.
• Submitting a generic cover letter that does not connect your skills to the specific litigation areas listed in the job description.