Paralegal | Complex Commercial Litigation

Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP is seeking a full-time experienced Paralegal to join our Tampa office. The Paralegal will handle a wide range of responsibilities, including preparing, proofreading, and editing correspondence, pleadings, motions, and discovery documents. The role will also involve assisting with legal research, managing discovery projects, and supporting hearing and trial preparation.

Qualified candidates must have a minimum of five (5) years of experience as a Paralegal, with a strong focus on complex commercial litigation.

Why Join Johnson Pope?

At Johnson Pope, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and professional environment where your skills are valued, and your contributions make a difference. As one of Florida's leading regional law firms, we offer our team members the opportunity to work alongside some of the most respected attorneys in the state, in a firm that supports a strong team environment and actively builds community within the organization.

Position Overview 

The Paralegal will play a key role in supporting complex litigation matters from inception through resolution. Responsibilities include day-to-day case management, drafting and filing pleadings, motions, and discovery, coordinating deposition logistics, and assisting with hearing and trial preparation. The ideal candidate will maintain organized case files and billing records, ensure compliance with applicable court rules and legal procedures, and demonstrate a strong working knowledge of legal processes and court requirements. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Experience in E-filing documents with Federal and Florida State Courts
• Understands court rules and procedures, including familiarity with Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) and state equivalents.
• Expertise to finalize substantive pleadings and discovery requests/responses.
• Substantively cite-check and format citations
• Trial experience, including exhibit preparation, witness preparation and management, knowledge of subpoena preparation, experience working with judicial assistants and trial presentation vendors, experience assisting attorneys in the courtroom
• Assist with depositions (including preparation and service of deposition notices and subpoenas, coordinating court reporters, and preparation of exhibits) 
• Scheduling of Court appearances and depositions; calendaring same
• Assist attorneys with drafting, proofreading, redacting, and editing a variety of documents and contracts, including pro hac vice motions, proposed orders, notices of appearance, summonses, and affidavits of service, ensuring accuracy in spelling, grammar, punctuation, formatting, and content
• Time entry and client billing
• Submission of new business intake and conflicts checks
• Answer telephone and routine questions from clients and team members and/or route calls to appropriate staff members
• Assist with the organization of client materials and attorney work product within our document management system
• Assist in obtaining and managing client documents, including electronic data, and determining potential existence of documents that may be relevant to each case
• Efficiently and thoroughly understand how to use all necessary Firm software
• Schedule appointments, depositions, meetings, hearings, etc. and keep appointment calendars for the candidate's team of attorneys
• Paralegals are generally expected to record 1500 or more billable hours during the performance year

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills – written and oral
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Detail oriented
• Client service oriented
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and litigation support applications as well as document management systems with aptitude to learn other systems/programs
• Ability to multi-task and work well under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining a professional demeanor and timely seeks assistance when needed

Educational/Job Experience Requirements:

• Florida Registered Paralegal
• High school diploma from an accredited institution
• Five (5) or more years of demonstrated experience in complex commercial litigation within a law firm setting 
• Availability for overtime as needed

Office Location: Tampa, FL

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the Firm.

 Equal Opportunity Employment: 

 Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and do not discriminate on the basis of an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, pregnancy, familial status, actual or perceived status as a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, or any other legally protected status entitled to protection under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws, including applicable laws in Florida. We also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).