Paralegal

General Statement

The Paralegal, under general supervision of a North Carolina licensed attorney, provides legal assistance to the attorneys in drafting and reviewing legal documents to include contracts, legal memoranda, pleadings, and court filings. Spends a significant amount of time reviewing and drafting County contracts and other forms of agreement. Must have the ability to manage workflow and work under tight deadlines and other time constraints while responding to competing and shifting priorities.

Essential Functions

Drafts and prepares contracts, negotiates changes, and prepares correspondence.

Drafts, edits, and reviews for attorney filing: litigation court documents, legal motions or pleadings, legal correspondence, and complex legal documents with substantive and detailed knowledge of legal procedures, legal terms, and legal rights and responsibilities.

Drafts and/or reviews for attorney review: legal memoranda, ordinances, resolutions, and other documents as assigned.

Manages legal office budget, legal resources, and legal records; maintains documents in accordance with the document retention and disposition schedules as defined pursuant to North Carolina law; delegates administrative duties to the Legal Secretary as necessary.

Researches applicable laws, regulations, sources, citations, supporting case law, courthouse and Register of Deeds records.

Reviews and researches building code, zoning, and health violation notices and notice of violation letters.

Tracks court appearance and docket schedules, maintains and organizes legal filings and court books, prepares drafts and tracks litigation hold notices, assists attorneys to prepare for court hearings and discovery matters, and prepares draft responses for attorney review related to discovery and document production requests.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or an acceptable equivalency diploma (GED), and two (2) years of relevant experience in a law office or similar environment supporting areas of legal practice such as contract review, drafting and editing legal documents, litigation support, or law office administrative support.

Licenses or Certifications:

Must have a valid Driver's License and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or five (5) years of experience supporting attorneys in a law office environment.

Licenses or Certifications:

Certification equivalent to Paralegal.

Certified North Carolina Notary Public.

Must have a valid Driver's License and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.

Special Requirements:

None Specified.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must be physically able to operate standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners, CD Rom, transcribing machine, typewriters, calculators, programmable telephones, postage machines, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force to move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a safe and secure work environment that may periodically have unpredictable requirements or demands.