Paralegal

Performs various administrative and secretarial duties for attorney(s) to whom assigned according to established policies and procedures. Maintains positive contact with clients, attorneys, and staff and observes confidentiality of client matters.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Operates a computer;

2. Prepares correspondence, memoranda, and other legal documents from written and oral drafts; drafts standard correspondence, and other documents.

3. Screens telephone calls and records messages; calendars in-person meetings and phone conferences with clients and other attorneys.

4. Reads and sorts incoming attorney emails.

5. Establishes and maintains calendar and deadline reminder systems; utilizes master calendar system.

6. Open new files, perform conflict checks, and request matters be opened in the document management system. Maintain files and prepare files to be closed.

7. Receives clients and visitors; maintains good public relations with clients; observes confidentiality of attorney-client relationship.

8. Makes appointments for attorney(s) and schedules mediations.

9. Draft legal documents such as pleadings, discovery, equitable distribution affidavits, financial affidavits, etc...

10. Identifies documents needed for production in discovery; assists attorney(s) in preparing for trial; assists attorney(s) in witness preparation; prepares trial notebooks.

11. Processes expense reports, and bills; proofs billing sheets; reviews and edits bills.

12. Works closely with FAST (ND specialists, duplication, court filing, paralegals, Staff Attorneys, etc.); proof documents returned from FAST.

13. Performs legal assistant duties as requested.

14. Performs typing, filing, photocopying, or reception relief as time permits and as requested by other attorneys, FAST Manager, or Executive Team.

15. Assist attorneys as needed

16. Assist with reception duties when coverage is needed - answering the phone, checking in clients, etc

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

1. 3+ years of on-the-job family law experience and 2+ years of complex litigation experience are necessary to gain an understanding of law office policies and procedures and produce accurate legal documents with minimal supervision.

2. Associate's degree in paralegal studies or certificate in paralegal studies.

3. NALA or NC Paralegal Certification and Notary.

4. Ability to transcribe legal documents, correspondence, and reports from rough draft or dictation at 70 wpm.

5. Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.

6. Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate and follow instructions effectively from a diverse group of clients, attorneys, and staff to provide information with ordinary courtesy and tact.

7. Interpersonal skills necessary in order to communicate in person, by e-mail, and by telephone to provide information with ordinary courtesy and tact.

8. Work occasionally requires a high level of mental effort and strain, as well as the production of a high volume of information while performing other essential duties.

9. Work occasionally requires more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position; may require irregular hours.

10. Ability to read and write to proofread 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 a level normally acquired through high school or equivalent completion. Ability to proofread typed material for grammatical, typographical, or spelling errors.

Benefits:

• Training
• 401K match
• BCBS health and dental insurance
• HSA
• FSA health plan
• FSA child care plan
• Paid legal association dues
• Paid CLE fees
• Unlimited Paid time off
• Paid holidays