The Beacon Center is Tennessee’s premier free market public policy organization and public interest law firm. Beacon is pound-for-pound the most effective and efficient state-level think tank on the planet. With a staff of just 13, Beacon has achieved remarkable policy and legal victories that have empowered Tennesseans to reclaim and protect their freedoms. Among our accomplishments, we have:
- Established the nation’s fourth education savings account program, and successfully defended that program from subsequent legal attacks all the way up to the Tennessee Supreme Court.
- Brought multiple lawsuits to successfully eliminate protectionist licensing requirements for a range of occupations, including barbers, hair braiders, shampooers, online auctioneers, and tech startups.
- Strengthened property rights by obtaining a ruling striking down Nashville’s original Airbnb law as unconstitutional.
We’re not done achieving victories for our clients. We’re seeking an energetic and liberty-minded Legal Secretary to help grow our litigation capacity to protect the rights of Tennesseans and all Americans. Our Legal Secretary must be entrepreneurial and results-oriented: someone willing to take ownership of projects and exercise sound judgment to solve problems. Our Legal Secretary should also have an exceptional attention to detail and organization. We believe that the principles of free markets, individual liberty, and limited government are the foundation of a prosperous and opportunity-laden society. Our Legal Secretary must believe in and abide by these core principles.
Beacon team members choose the work location that is best for their day, whether it be working from the office, at home, or some combination thereof. Although we will consider all applications, we strongly prefer candidates who are willing to live in or relocate to Nashville and will be able to work from the office at least two days per week. We provide generous benefits and place a huge emphasis on a strong culture and positive work environment. Beacon has been recognized among Nashville’s “Best Places to Work.” A recent internal survey found that 100% of our team members find meaning in what we do and 92% said that their role at Beacon is their dream job at this stage in their career.
Primary Roles and Responsibilities:
- Work with Beacon’s attorneys in all stages of litigation including assisting with filing legal documents and organizing discovery.
- Assist in case management: organizing legal files, scheduling, and communicating with clients.
- Review all briefs and pleadings according to the rules of Tennessee state courts and federal courts.
- Edit documents and correspondence including thorough proofreading for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting.
- Maintain our litigation calendar with hearing dates, filing deadlines, and other dates of importance.
- Coordinate with vendors, court reporters, and clerks.
- Regularly communicate with Beacon’s attorneys to ensure the smooth execution of all legal cases.
- Conduct legal inquiry intakes, communicate with potential clients, and gather documents for potential litigation.
Requirements:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including mastery of Microsoft Word, and other basic computer tasks.
- Knowledge and understanding of legal citations and civil procedure.
- Experience in proofreading and editing complex documents.
- Impeccable attention to spelling and grammar.
- Knowledge of, and passion for, the ideas of freedom and individual liberty.
Preferred Experience:
- A paralegal degree or certification is a plus.
- Experience in Tennessee state courts.
- Experience assisting with litigation concerning constitutional law, property rights law, or administrative law.
- 3+ years’ prior paralegal or legal secretary experience in civil litigation, preferably in both state and federal courts.
How to Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials in one PDF document:
- Cover letter, which should detail your experience and philosophical interest in Beacon’s mission and your salary requirements.
- Résumé.
Applications should be submitted to Wen Fa at wen@beacontn.org. Questions can also be directed to Wen at this email. No phone calls, please. There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled. Only direct and complete applications will be considered.