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Original posting
EARLY APPLICATION SEASON FOR THE KOSTELANETZ PRE-LAW PARALEGAL PROGRAM WILL OPEN ON OCTOBER 12, 2026.
While Kostelanetz LLP’s application process for its Pre-Law Paralegal Program will open on November 20, 2026, and close on January 5, 2027, Kostelanetz will review applications from highly-qualified applicants during an Early Application Cycle.
Applications for this early cycle may be submitted from October 12, 2026 through October 17, 2026.
Outstanding candidates for the Pre-Law Paralegal Program are encouraged to apply early, during this period.
The program is extremely competitive. During last year’s cycle, we received over 400 applications for five positions. The five individuals who joined us from that process received undergraduate degrees from Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and UVA (and two had master’s degrees from graduate institutions). The seven alumni who left the program that year went on to Harvard Law School, NYU Law School, UVA Law School, and Cambridge University. Successful candidates typically have GPAs above 3.9 and a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in law. Such interest is often reflected through legal internships or participation in law reviews or journals, mock trial, moot court, or speech and debate. Applicants must also have strong writing samples and perform effectively during our interview process.
In the event that we make an offer to a candidate, we will expect the candidate to withdraw applications for other opportunities (e.g., fellowships) that would preclude the accepted candidate from joining Kostelanetz for a two-year period starting in June 2027.
During the regular application cycle, we may review applications from candidates who applied during the early cycle but were unsuccessful in securing a position through the early-application process.
Kostelanetz LLP is soliciting applications for its Pre-Law Paralegal Program in New York City and Washington D.C. Candidates should be able to begin with the firm by June 14, 2027 and remain employed with the firm through June 29, 2029.
Please emailrecruiting@kostelanetz.comif you have any questions regarding the program.
The Kostelanetz pre-law paralegal program is a uniquely immersive experience. The goal of the program is to provide the law firm’s clients with paralegal support from brilliant, innovative pre-law professionals, while affording those future law students an opportunity to see how lawyers work and how a law firm operates. Since its inception, the program has had over 50 participants. Alumni of our pre-law paralegal program have gone on to attend law schools at Berkeley, UChicago, Columbia, Emory, Harvard, NYU, Stanford, UVA, and Yale. Three former program participants have returned to the firm upon graduating from law school.
Kostelanetz is a boutique law firm with roughly 50 lawyers who focus on tax litigation, white collar criminal defense, complex commercial civil litigation, tax planning, trusts and estates, securities law, and government procurement. The firm is highly ranked and has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Hackensack. We currently have 11 pre-law paralegals. They recently graduated from Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, UPenn, Spelman, Vanderbilt, and UVA.
After receiving initial classroom-style training on the basics of working as a paralegal, our pre-law paralegals begin supporting our lawyers on substantive matters and assisting our operations staff on administrative projects.
The pre-law paralegals’ responsibilities on legal matters include communicating with clients, taking notes at internal and external meetings, tracking deadlines and activities on our matters, conducting legal research, and reviewing documents, all under the supervision of our attorneys. Pre-law paralegals support the work of attorneys in connection with their bar activities and scholarships. Many of our pre-law paralegals have shared by-lines with our lawyers in published articles. Pre-law paralegals also assist with law-firm related administrative tasks such as reception coverage, client intake, facilities and supplies support, file management, website updates, preparation and administration of attorney and accountant continuing education courses (CLE/CPE), administration of the firm mentoring program, support of attorneys teaching at law schools, and other assistance with marketing and hiring. Throughout their tenure with the firm, the pre-law paralegals attend our in-house training sessions, which include overviews of law school courses (such as torts, contracts, constitutional law, civil procedure, criminal law, and property law), advice on how to “brief” court opinions and “outline” law school classes, and special topics relevant to the firm’s practice areas.
We seek aspiring legal professionals with excellent academic credentials who have outstanding writing, research, and oral communication skills. Ideal candidates are organized and friendly individuals who are capable of handling multiple projects at once, meeting deadlines, and working well, both independently and on a team.
Past successful candidates have typically come to the firm with a bachelor’s degree from a highly-competitive university, with a GPA of 3.9 or above. We expect them to submit an excellent writing sample and present effectively at our interviews. The design of our two-year program fits nicely with the junior year deferral programs at Harvard and Columbia law schools, and some of our successful candidates have been participants in those programs.
We have found that most successful program participants have a strong interest in attending law school. Accordingly, applications should clearly articulate an interest in the law or in law-related activities. Applicants often do so by discussing extracurricular activities and positions (e.g., debate, moot court, mock trial, or undergraduate law journals; internships at law firms or other relevant organizations; research projects with professors).
Applicants should be highly computer-literate with exceptional word processing, document management, communication, research, and productivity skills. Applicants should be proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite. Of course, applicants should possess strong writing and editing skills.
Other skills that are welcome, but not required, include the following:
Experience in website and social media management (optional).
Experience with accounting (optional).
Prior to application submission, candidates should thoroughly review their materials, paying special attention to typographical mistakes, grammatical errors, and the like.
The starting salary for this position is $70,000 per year, based on a 35-hour workweek. (We discuss the compensation-related significance of our 35-hour workweek below.) Pre-law paralegals are eligible for end-of-year 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. Our pre-law paralegals also receive time off for law school preparation, including LSAT studying and law school admissions days, and they are eligible to enroll in the firm’s health benefits.
Pre-law paralegals are paid for overtime, i.e., work beyond 35 hours per week. The first five hours of overtime each week are paid at 100% of the regular time rate; any additional overtime (i.e., work beyond 40 hours per week) is paid at the rate of 150% of the regular time rate. For example: If a first-year pre-law paralegal worked 8 hours every regular day (i.e., the work typically expected of employees working 40-hour weeks), excluding ordinary paid time off, the paralegal could earn the $70,000 base salary plus overtime pay in excess of $10,000 for the year – for a total of $80,000 or more for the year. If that pre-law paralegal were to work 45 hours during just 10 of the weeks of that year (i.e., 5 overtime hours at time-and-a-half x ten weeks) the pre-law paralegal’s additional overtime pay for the year could exceed $2,800. (With a base of $70,000, overtime pay of $10,000, a bonus of $2,000, and this overtime of $2,800, compensation could add up to nearly $85,000).
The firm provides health and dental insurance (UnitedHealthcare Oxford Freedom Exclusive Provider Organization Plan and UnitedHealthcare Dental Preferred Provider Organization Plan) at no cost to its employees. Employees may add dependents on the firm’s plan if they so wish, but the cost of such dependent coverage is 100% for their own personal account. The terms of the firm’s plan are such that coverage begins one full month after the month in which the new employee was hired.
Health insurance coverage: Insureds participating in the health plan are limited to in-network doctors only (which is what “exclusive provider organization” is meant to convey). The current employee co-pay is $50 per visit to their in-network primary care physician and $100 per visit to in-network specialists. (Co-pays are subject to change annually, effective April 1.) Employees may opt for additional out-of-network coverage, but the cost of such additional coverage is 100% for the account of the employee.
Dental insurance coverage: Insureds participating in the dental plan have both in and out-of-network coverage. The plan includes dental and orthodontic coverage. The current employee plan does not have any office co-pays. (Co-pays are subject to change annually, effective April 1.) The current plan covers 100% of the cost of preventive dental services, 80% of the cost of basic dental services and 50% of the cost of major dental services, up to a maximum annual benefit of $1,500 for dental services. The current plan covers 50% of the cost of orthodontic services, up to a maximum lifetime benefit of $1,000 for orthodontic services. Employees may opt for additional dental coverage, but the cost of such additional coverage is 100% for the account of the employee.
Kostelanetz LLP is an equal opportunity employer. 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.
We welcome applications from all qualified persons including, without limitation, 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.
The Kostelanetz pre-law paralegal program is specifically designed to occur across a two-year period, after college (or a secondary degree-seeking program) and before law school. Prior to applying, prospective candidates should consider whether there are any factors that may inhibit their ability to remain in the program for a full two years. Candidates who do not expect to remain in the program for two years are advised not to apply. We are seeking candidates who are willing to work, on-site, in our office.
NOTE: Kostelanetz LLP does not sponsor H1-B or other visas for pre-law paralegals or candidates.
Qualified candidates should submit PDF copies of their cover letter, resume, transcript (unofficial is acceptable), and writing sample.
Please direct all questions about the Pre-Law Paralegal Program and inquiries regarding application status to recruiting@kostelanetz.com.
Applications will be reviewed and positions may be filled on a rolling basis. Thus, while the application period officially ends on Tuesday, January 5th, 2027, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible as open positions may be filled before that date, and, all other things equal, the firm may view earlier applications more positively. Applicants selected for additional consideration should generally expect to be contacted by the end of January. Review our website for more information regarding our firm and our Pre-Law Paralegal Program.