Associate Attorney Civil Rights Jobs in Iowa City, IA

A well-established Iowa law firm with a diverse legal practice and a strong reputation for client service is seeking a Creditors' Rights Paralegal to join their team in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This role is ideal for an experienced collections or litigation paralegal who can manage creditor-side matters, work directly with debtors and creditors, and help move cases through the full collections and litigation process. The position offers a $60,000-$80,000 base salary plus a 2% bonus on collections, creating significant earning potential for a high-performing professional.

What You'll Do as the Creditors' Rights Paralegal:

• Serve as a primary point of contact for debtors, including confirming identity, providing required disclosures, documenting calls, and handling payment-related conversations
• Manage debtor information, case activity, payment history, and notes within the firm's collections case management system
• Establish payment plans and process payment authorizations
• Review debtor payments and prepare regular payment and collection reports
• Negotiate settlements and prepare settlement agreements
• Coordinate trial settings, judgment debtor examinations, hearings, and trial preparation
• Prepare attorneys for hearings and trials by organizing files, documents, and case information
• Review files for suit and support the administrative process of filing collection actions
• Draft complaints, petitions, praecipes, wage garnishments, discovery requests, summary judgment motions, and affidavits of account
• Prepare and send demand letters and other collection correspondence
• Coordinate service fees and filing-related correspondence with sheriffs and other parties
• Communicate with creditors, forwarders, and other collection-related stakeholders
• Accept and process forwarder claims
• Maintain case calendars and docket deadlines related to demands, appeals, pleadings, hearings, and other litigation activity
• Maintain accurate case records and ensure files are complete and current
• Manage collection remittances and payment reporting on a daily, biweekly, and monthly basis
• Prepare deposits and coordinate banking activity for multiple firm accounts
• Retrieve and process firm mail and support other administrative functions related to collections operations
• Support the attorney and firm with additional creditors' rights and litigation-related projects as needed

Must-Haves as the Creditors' Rights Paralegal:

• At least 5 years of experience in a legal, collections, creditors' rights, civil litigation, or closely related environment
• Strong understanding of collections, creditors' rights, litigation administration, or a similar legal practice area
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, case files, and competing priorities with a high level of accuracy
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to communicate professionally and respectfully with debtors, creditors, attorneys, courts, and other stakeholders
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with the attorney and firm staff
• Comfort handling confidential financial, legal, and client information
• A professional, personable, and collaborative approach to working with a predominantly female office team

Nice-to-Haves as the Creditors' Rights Paralegal:

• Previous experience with CLS, Commercial Legal Software, Collection-Master, or Vertican platforms
• Experience with other collections case management systems such as Q-Law or JST
• Experience with WordPerfect
• Experience with wage garnishments, judgment debtor examinations, creditor claims, or collection litigation
• Experience drafting pleadings, discovery, motions for summary judgment, or affidavits of account
• Experience working in a small or midsize law firm
• Paralegal education or an associate's or bachelor's degree in paralegal studies, accounting, business, or a related field

This Role Offers:

• Base salary of $60,000-$80,000, depending on experience and qualifications
• 2% bonus paid on all collections generated through the firm's collection work
• Uncapped performance-based earning potential
• A compensation structure that can create substantial total earning potential for a high-performing professional
• Health insurance with approximately 50% of the employee's monthly premium paid by the firm
• 401(k) plan with employer contributions
• Safe harbor retirement contribution after one year of employment
• Additional discretionary profit-sharing potential after the second year
• Strong PTO program
• A stable, locally owned law firm with a long-standing reputation in the market
• Opportunity to work with a respected and growing organization that continues to expand its regional presence
• A supportive, professional work environment with meaningful responsibility and autonomy
• The opportunity to play a central role in a high-volume creditors' rights and collections practice