Paralegal – Long Island City, NY

Title: Paralegal
Location: Corporate Office – Long Island City

About Us:
The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) is the largest housestaff union in the United States. We are a local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), representing over 17,000 resident physicians who are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities. CIR’s mission is to empower our nation’s interns, residents and fellows to fight for excellence for our patients.

Job Description:
The Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare is looking for a reliable and detail-oriented Paralegal to become part of its Legal Department team. This role will support the Union Legal Department in labor board practice, arbitrations, contract negotiations and general law work applicable to union business and representation of interests of resident physicians. Support Union-sponsored legal services for members with a particular emphasis on H-1B petitions.

Key Responsibilities:
Union Legal Department

  • Research labor and general law issues and present analysis in clear written form
  • Conduct online legal and factual research on a variety of topics and present results in a clear written form
  • Obtain documents and other information from courts and government agencies
  • Communicate with third parties, such as hospitals and hospital-related organizations, ACGME and other medical professional organizations, government agencies and other unions
  • Support attorneys and organizers in grievances and arbitrations, through fact investigation, contract analysis, communications with members, organization of information, and assistance in hearings and hearing preparation
  • Support attorneys and organizers in collective bargaining, in part through charting, comparing and analyzing contract language
  • Prepare reports for regulatory agencies such as the Department of Labor and state election boards

Union Legal Services

  • Research civil law issues and present analysis in clear written form
  • Research immigration law issues and present analysis in clear written form
  • Prepare H-1B and related petitions
  • Conduct H-1B outreach effort, including by direct contact with hospitals and members
  • Liaison with outside counsel offices

General

  • Improve document maintenance and filing system by integrating paper and electronic information.
  • Gather and chart information for the Legal Department
  • Take and write minutes for departmental meetings
  • Support Department, when necessary, by taking phone calls from members, entering data into an online database, file establishment, and maintenance, etc.

Skills:

  • Excellent writing, editing, and charting skills
  • Ability to handle multiple, concurrent activities
  • Excellent analytic, research and document organization skills
  • Proficient in Lexis/Nexis, Google Drive, MSWord and Excel
  • Ability to work independently, set priorities and meet deadlines
  • Ability to work well in a team-oriented environment.
  • Ability to “self-start” (i.e., anticipate the next thread in a research project or additional questions in a client interview)

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Excellent analytical skills and demonstrated excellence in research
  • Demonstrated excellence in writing and editing, and verbal communications
  • Two plus years of experience as a paralegal preferred
  • Experience in immigration law and particularly H-1B preferred
  • Experience in reviewing and drafting legal documents preferred
  • Willingness to work overtime, when needed

What you gain from a position with CIR:

  • Competitive salary
  • Excellent benefits package: health, dental, vision, disability, 401(k), pension plan and paid sick/vacation time.

To Apply
In addition to your résumé, please include a cover letter that gives us a clear picture of who you are, and why you want to be the Paralegal at CIR. Please send your résumé and cover letter to Anita Eliot at: aeliot@cirseiu.org, with the Subject Line: Paralegal Position.

CIR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion or disability.