We are seeking candidates who wish to join our two-year Pre-Law Paralegal Program, which is designed to bridge the gap between college and law school with training and professional experiences that should help participants succeed as both law students and lawyers. There are currently 11 participants in our program. 

Kostelanetz’s Pre-Law Paralegals enjoy a uniquely immersive experience by working closely with our lawyers on a daily basis and attending our frequent in-house training sessions, which include overviews of law school courses (such as torts, contracts, constitutional law, civil procedure, criminal law, and property law) and advice on how to “brief” court opinions and “outline” law school classes. During their time at Kostelanetz, paralegals regularly meet with a senior-paralegal buddy and attorney mentor to organize their caseload and gain valuable insights into the legal field. Our Pre-law Paralegals interact with the firm’s clients and many of them have shared by-lines with our lawyers in published articles.  

Alumni of the Pre-Law Paralegal Program have gone on to attend Berkeley Law School, Columbia Law School, Emory Law School, Harvard Law School, NYU Law School, Stanford Law School, the UC Irvine School of Law, UVA Law School, and Yale Law School. They have also risen to Editor-in-Chief positions on law journals and secured federal clerkships in district and appellate courts in New York and Washington, D.C.  

Position description:

Paralegal responsibilities include general case management, legal research, document review, legal and litigation support, interfacing with clients, as well as administrative work under the supervision of attorneys. 

The starting salary for this position is $70,000 per year, based on a 35-hour workweek.  Pre-law paralegals are eligible for end-of-year discretionary bonuses, which are typically $2,000, and, after approximately one year in the program, are eligible for a salary increase to a base of $77,000. 

Kostelanetz LLP does not sponsor H1-B or other visas for pre-law paralegals or candidates. While there may be times when remote work is possible, at this time, we are seeking candidates who are willing to work, on-site at our office, as discussed above.  

Requirements: 

• Minimum 3.7 GPA 
• Outstanding academic credentials with strong writing, communication, and organizational skills
• Multi-task oriented, friendly, and capable of working well with others
• Exceptional computer skills – proficiency in Microsoft Office and Excel a plus

Hourly rate: $38.46, non-exempt.

Application components (PDF only): 

1. Resume 
2. Transcript (Unofficial transcripts directly from your college’s portal are acceptable.)
3. Cover letter
4. Writing Sample 

Prior to application submission, candidates should thoroughly review their materials, paying special attention to typos, grammatical errors, and the like, as a failure to correct such errors may result in removal of the application from our application pool.

Qualified candidates should submit PDF copies of their cover letter, resume, transcript, and writing sample via Handshake. If an applicant is unable to apply via Handshake, please apply directly through Kostelanetz’s application portal at https://boards.greenhouse.io/kostelanetzllp.

Application Deadline: Monday, January 15 at 11:59 pm EST.  NOTE: As candidates’ applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates are invited to interview on a rolling basis, we encourage students to apply early and not wait until the deadline. 

At Kostelanetz LLP, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion contribute to a safe and welcoming environment for our employees and strengthen our firm. We welcome applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, persons with disabilities, people from low-income backgrounds, and veterans. Applications from people who are members of underrepresented and/or marginalized communities are highly encouraged.

Kostelanetz LLP’s hiring practices are designed comply with, among other things, the New York City Human Rights Law, which, among other things, prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion/creed, age, national origin, immigration or citizenship status, gender (including sexual harassment), gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, military service, marital status, partnership status, height, weight, unemployment status, arrest or conviction record, credit history, caregiver status, and status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking, and sex offenses.

If you have any questions about the application or position, please contact recruiting@kostelanetz.com, Mia Bailey at mbailey@kostelanetz.com, or Melina Watson at mwatson@kostelanetz.com.