Legal Assistant - Washington - Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP

Description

Whistleblower & Qui Tam Legal Assistant - Washington, DC

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is a civil rights law firm with about 60 attorneys and over 40 staff, and with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, and Tennessee. Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is strongly committed to EEO principles and values a diverse workplace. The team is a tightly knit community of lawyers and legal assistants; all committed to using the law to help craft and enforce a more just society.

We specialize in civil rights and public interest cases, representing plaintiffs in whistleblower and qui tam matters, gender discrimination, labor and wage violations, ERISA litigation, financial and securities fraud, consumer fraud, and many other claims. We have represented thousands of individuals in some of the most significant class-action cases before the courts, securing landmark victories through trial and settlements. In addition, we have a number of cases currently before the district and federal appellate courts that raise novel issues of law. We are currently litigating and have litigated matters against major corporations and law firms throughout the United States and against universities such as Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth, NYU, and Yale.

Job Description:

Provides administrative and substantive support to attorneys in whistleblower and qui tam matters and assists with a variety of firm matters in a hands-on manner. Works closely with attorneys and other Legal Assistants in all aspects of pre-litigation investigations and active litigation, including False Claims Act cases, SEC and CFTC whistleblower submissions, procurement fraud, securities fraud, and other federal regulatory enforcement matters.

Responsibilities include conducting factual investigations; drafting and revising key case-related documents, including memoranda, complaints (including filings under seal), disclosure statements, agency submissions, motions, affidavits, briefs, and correspondence; performing potential client intake interviews; managing highly confidential case files; and preparing for and attending relator meetings, depositions, mediations, client interviews, government interviews, and court proceedings.

Essential Functions:

• Investigate facts of cases and search pertinent sources (including, but not limited to, public records, internet sources, regulatory filings, and Westlaw) to support legal arguments and whistleblower submissions;
• Provide written factual analysis to attorneys;
• Draft portions of case-related documents and correspondence (including, but not limited to, memoranda, motions, affidavits, briefs, agency charges, disclosure statements, demand letters, and government submissions);
• Assist attorneys in preparing submissions to government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, and other enforcement bodies;
• Organize and maintain administrative and case-related documents (including exhibits, evidence, depositions, pleadings, correspondence, sealed filings, and other confidential materials);
• Manage case logistics (including making travel arrangements, coordinating with vendors, making payments to vendors, tracking expenses, and managing case calendars);
• Prepare for and attend court hearings, depositions, mediations, arbitrations, investigatory interviews, relator meetings, meetings with government agencies, and other case-related proceedings and meetings;
• Review case documents and make determinations of relevance and significance to clients' claims;
• Interview potential clients, summarize their statements, and provide brief analysis of claims;
• Meet with clients and other professionals to discuss details of cases;
• File motions and pleadings with courts in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures, including filings under seal where required;
• Coordinate and carry out office activity under the direction of their office's Managing Partner(s) and case-related activity according to attorney direction;
• Coordinate with legal service vendors (e.g., mediators, information management services, court reporters, process servers, and e-discovery vendors);
• Maintain records regarding billable hours spent on specific cases;
• Assist in training new Legal Assistants and preparing materials used during their training;
• Provide office administrative support, which may include providing administrative support to their office's Managing Partner(s) and other attorneys at the firm, event planning and implementation, scheduling and calendaring internal and external meetings, ordering office supplies (including snacks and drinks), tracking office-related expenses, keeping the kitchen clean and organized, and coordinating and tracking office-related keys and cards assigned to employees; and,
• Perform other related duties assigned by the Executive Committee or their office's Managing Partner(s).

Qualifications:

To be eligible, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree, be willing to make a two-year commitment, and be available to begin work immediately.

Applicants should have:

• Extremely strong organizational skills, including the ability to balance multiple pressing tasks;
• Excellent writing, proofreading, and editing skills;
• Research and analytical capabilities, including meticulous attention to detail;
• Initiative and energy to see projects to completion;
• An ability to work effectively in a team environment and to take direction from a range of individuals;
• Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills;
• A proactive, inquisitive, and creative approach to problem solving;
• Strong interest in whistleblower advocacy, government investigations, securities or financial fraud, regulatory enforcement, or public interest litigation; and,
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Sign, and Westlaw (experience in iCONECT/Xera or other e-discovery platforms is a plus).

We are committed to EEO principles and value a diverse workplace. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+, all genders, all ages, differently abled, and other minority applicants to apply.

Hours:

Legal Assistants work 40+ hours per week (i.e., Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to ~6:30 p.m. in NY and D.C., and 8:30 a.m. to ~5:30 p.m. in Nashville, Palo Alto, and San Diego).

Salary:

The first-year salary for this position is $63,000, and the second-year salary is $66,000. Legal Assistants are eligible for overtime.

Application Procedure:

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight is currently in a hybrid environment with regular in-person attendance required 4 days per week. Applications must include a cover letter, a résumé, an unofficial college transcript, two writing samples of no more than 5 pages each, and a list of three references. These documents should be sent in Word or PDF format to Kiara Pagan, Human Resources Generalist, at

Please include "Whistleblower & Qui Tam Legal Assistant 2026" in the email's subject line. Additionally, please specify in your email the earliest date you are available to start.

Reasonable Accommodations:

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight welcomes applications from individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please send your request to us by email at or by mail to the following address:

ATTN: Kiara Pagan

Human Resources Generalist

Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight, LLP

17 State Street, 37th Floor

New York, NY 10004