Litigation Paralegal

This is an in-the-office position; no remote work is offered.

Summary

Our rapidly growing plaintiff's personal injury law firm is seeking a full-time Paralegal to be the backbone of our legal team! You’ll undertake various administrative and clerical tasks while supporting attorneys in all aspects of pre-trial preparation, trial preparation, and post-trial functions. You’ll support attorneys and clients during all phases of the litigation process.

Candidate must possess a VERY HIGH level of organization, attention to detail, expertise in navigating and troubleshooting multiple complex systems simultaneously, and time management – all with the ability to execute quickly while problem solving with little or no oversight. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successfully executing assigned tasks.

Paralegal Responsibilities Include:

• Intake: Client file review; procurement and organization of all documents relative to litigation; discussion of factual background of cases with attorney and recommendations concerning further necessary factual investigation.
• Calendar: Monitoring statutes of limitations; setting motions for trials; obtaining scheduling orders
• Pleadings: Drafting initial complaint/petition; preparing other form pleadings not involving substantive legal theory such as Motions to Compel, etc.
• Discovery: Initial discovery preparation; review of received discovery; working with client to answer discovery; review and discuss draft responses and interrogatories with attorney concerning same; preparations of revisions of answers; extensive preparation and organization of documents for production, in certain cases by e-discovery; obtaining deposition dates; preparation of initial draft notices of depositions with subpoena preparation; scheduling reporter and conference room; scheduling witness interviews; informing witnesses of trial dates; potentially conducting initial interviews as necessary
• Experts: Research defense experts; retain plaintiff’s experts; schedule appointments with expert witness(es); prepare draft letters to experts, forwarding materials for review
• Research: Limited legal research; witness research
• Trial: Develop and maintain working knowledge of trial preparation software; develop and maintain a working knowledge of synching video depositions and deposition transcripts; video and deposition editing; preparation and marking of exhibits for depositions and/or trial; preparation of form pre-trial motions; preparation of electronic trial notebooks; jury venire research; pre-trial checks of any jury questionnaires and lists
• Settlement and Mediation: Attend trial with attorney; preparation of initial draft of release and dismissal entries
• Appeal: Preparation of Notice of Appeal; order record on appeal; prepare Motion to Supplement Record based on attorney review of omitted documents; prepare Motion For Extension briefing deadlines
• Closing Files: Organize all files with detailed index for future retrieval, ensuring file is scanned in and moved to closed files
• Miscellaneous: Procurement of investigators, witnesses, process servers, deposition locations; Motion to Appoint Process Server
• Computer Skills: Lead Docket, Smart Advocate and Sharepoint

Paralegal Qualifications:

• Some after-hours, holiday, and weekend availability may be required with notice
• Bachelor’s degree is REQUIRED
• Minimum 2 years at a single company is REQUIRED
• Minimum 5 years experience in plaintiff's personal injury experience is REQUIRED
• Active Notary Public, State of Texas, is strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of litigation terms is REQUIRED
• Superior organization with OCD-type personality is REQUIRED
• Superior computer literacy is REQUIRED
• Microsoft Office
• Case Management System experience
• Mac OS X proficiency is strongly preferred
• Strong project and case management skills, including a strong aptitude for managing and prioritizing multiple projects and deadlines is REQUIRED
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, are REQUIRED
• Ability to work independently is REQUIRED