Paralegal

SUMMARY: Performs a variety of legal support tasks for attorney(s) to whom assigned according to established policies and procedures. Maintains positive contact with clients, attorneys and staff. Observes confidentiality of firm and client matters.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Identifies and obtains relevant judicial decisions, statutes, legal articles, codes and other pertinent material as requested by attorney(s).
• Drafting correspondence and pleadings, complaints, subpoenas, interrogatories, deposition notices, pretrial orders, and legal briefs with various parties.
• Proficiency in the firm's software programs, including but not limited to word processing, time and billing system, email system, trial software, document management system, employee electronic time clock system and Microsoft Office Products.
• Proficiency in firm's document management system and follows established firm procedures for naming and storage of documents.
• Performs court required electronic filing, following established rules and procedures of the court system. Understands specialty areas of practice and is capable of attaching appropriate enclosures for specialty area without the need for supervision.
• Familiar with firm forms, legal forms, document formats, printing requirements and on-line legal research sites.
• Performs legal research tasks using all available resources including libraries and computer data systems, when applicable or requested.
• Familiar with firm intranet information, firm personnel policy, internal firm procedures for check processing, travel reimbursement and marketing reimbursement requests. Obtains and provides all necessary back-up documentation and approvals for processing.
• Reviews completed assigned tasks and document production to check for errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, formatting and legal case sighting for correctness.
• Maintain high level of professionalism when using the Firm's telephone system, including, but not limited to, handling in-coming calls, transferring calls, conference calls, long distance calls and utilizing firm conferencing system.
• Drafts/types complaints and answers, discovery, routine notices, affidavits, motions and petitions, when applicable.
• Establishes, organizes and maintains attorney trial notebooks, expert witness notebooks, document indexes, reports and lists, when applicable.
• Conducts research and locates cases, depositions, opinions, reports, social media information and other information related to the matter, when applicable.
• Utilizes computerized litigation techniques and software, when applicable.
• Establishes and maintains calendar and deadline reminder system; utilizes calendar system as required per assigned attorney; reviews weekly motion docket and monthly trial docket; assists in scheduling meetings and depositions.
• Works closely with administrative support staff (office services, scanning center, reprographics vendors, hospitality, marketing, etc.); proofs documents returned from other administrative staff, scanning center or outsource vendors.
• Ensures that time sheets are entered into the time and billing system in a timely manner and that entries are appropriate and in accordance with client billing requirements where applicable.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Normal first-class law office environment. This position is eligible for remote, hybrid or in-office work.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Ability to read and write in order to proof and perform minor editing (e.g., punctuation, grammar, spelling) of routine law office correspondence and legal case matters. Perform non-complex arithmetic calculations when verifying calculations on forms and documents; maintain records and filing systems at an appropriate level.
• Approximately 3-5 years on the job paralegal experience necessary in order to gain an understanding of law office policies and procedures and produce accurate legal documents with minimal supervision.
• Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.
• Ability to proofread typed material for grammatical, typographical or spelling errors.
• Interpersonal skills necessary in order to communicate and follow instructions effectively from a diverse group of clients, attorneys and staff to provide information with expected courtesy and tact.
• Interpersonal skills necessary in order to communicate in person, by e-mail and telephone to provide information with expected courtesy and tact.
• Work occasionally requires a high level of mental effort and production of a high volume of accurate and reliable work product.
• Work occasionally requires more than the established office hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position; may require irregular hours.

Typical Physical Needs:

Requires prolonged sitting, some bending, stooping and stretching. Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, photocopier, telephone, calculator and other office equipment. Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare and communicate appropriate reports. May need to climb stairs, ladders and/or scaffolding and lift up to 30 lbs.

EEO Statement:

Our Firm is an equal opportunity employer, and we look to fill every position with the best qualified person regardless of age, gender, race, religion, disability, national origin, gender identity or sexual orientation. With offices across Alabama and Florida, we recruit from all over the Southeast and beyond to find the right fit for every position.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements.