Paralegal

The Cato Institute seeks a motivated paralegal to support its General Counsel. The position allows the candidate to work directly with Cato Institute’s General Counsel on matters relating to contracts, employment law, internal governance, and a myriad of other legal and transactional issues.  

This is a hybrid position based in Washington, DC. 

About Cato

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization – a think tank – dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution – individual liberty, limited government, and free markets – turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future. 

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

• Manage the contract process for the Cato Institute, including initial review and preparation of contracts from outside vendors.
• Track and manage contracts and other legal documents once they are finalized.
• Manage the contract and document database.
• Review and edit documents, assisting the General Counsel in preparation and delivery of presentations, documents, memos, contracts, and templates.
• Complete legal research projects under the General Counsel’s guidance.
• Assist the General Counsel in managing Cato Institute’s internal governance. 

Education/ Experience

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience as a paralegal, ideally in an in-house, corporate, or contract/transactional law setting.
• Experience drafting contracts and managing a contract database and contract lifecycle.
• Expertise in the preparation and use of contract templates.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. 

Skills

• Expertise in efficiently and effectively drafting and editing documents.
• Adeptness in tracking contractual, legal, and governance deadlines and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Ability to review legal documents and provide summaries of key points.
• Strong legal research, writing, and analysis skills.
• Reliable with a strong work ethic, consistently completing tasks on time.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an enthusiastic and positive attitude.
• Superb verbal and written communication skills and comfort interacting with individuals at a high level. 
• Composed and highly organized, with a keen attention to detail, quality, accuracy, and focus on mission. 
• Motivated self-starter who can problem solve and is proactive in learning new processes and skills. 

Optional but Desired

• Paralegal certification from an accredited program.
• Familiarity with and excitement for Cato’s mission, libertarian philosophy, free-market economics, and limited government principles.
• Experience in research and analysis of employment laws and regulations, and/or non-profit governance laws.
• Registered notary public.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and updating internal employee and corporate policies and procedures. 

Benefits

All Cato employees are provided with:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Employer contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Generous vacation and sick days.
• Paid parental leave.
• Employer-provided life and disability insurance. 
• 401(k) employer match.
• Transit/ Parking benefits. 
• Pet discount plan.