Paralegal

Job Title: Paralegal

FLSA Status: Salary; Exempt

Reports to: Owner

Revision Date: 6/22/2022

 

Job Summary:

Paralegals perform substantive billable legal work under the direction of one or more attorneys in the office.  A Paralegal’s goal is to relieve the Attorneys of a portion of the tasks involved in the practice of law.

Work Conditions & Physical Demands:

Work is performed in an office environment. Temperature is regulated. Noise levels are typical of an office environment (e.g., phones, office equipment, light traffic, etc.).

While performing the duties of this job, an employee is required to stand, walk, bend, talk, hear, stoop, kneel, use hands and fingers to operate computers and phones, sit for long periods of time, and on occasion lift up to 20-pounds.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Reporting Relationship:

Paralegals perform their duties under the specific direction of the Attorneys. Paralegals’ employment relationship with the Firm is managed by the Owner and Senior Associate.

Authority:

Paralegals are prohibited from practicing law by the Texas State Bar Association Rules of Professional Conduct. All work done by Paralegals must be in support of and under the direct supervision of an attorney. In dealing with clients, Paralegals must be careful not to inadvertently slip into the unlawful practice of law. This would include answering client questions about what will happen in their case, making predictions regarding the outcome of the matter or course of action, or recommending that a client undertake a certain course of action during their case.

Essential Duties:

• Assisting lawyers in the courtroom and in transactional matters
• Communicating with clients to provide updates and gather information
• Drafting documents and preparing contracts by customizing standard forms
• Drafting letters and simple court documents
• Filling out legal forms
• Helping attorneys prepare cases for hearings
• Organizing files
• Preparing and organizing discovery and responses to discovery demands
• Researching laws and judicial decisions about current as well as past cases
• Scheduling events
• Writing reports and legal documents
• Collecting and organizing documents in preparation for real estate closings

Matrix of Essential Duties:

• Daily
  • Review daily reminders
  • Review daily, weekly, and upcoming monthly calendar items and prioritize workload
  • Complete tasks
  • Triage and prioritize responses to emails and phone calls
  • Organize, sort, and summarize case information and files
  • Draft letters/reports/documents
  • Organize and calendar property tax deadlines and filings
  • Organize materials for real estate closings
  • Enter time for billing
• Weekly
  • Meet with legal team for case status updates
  • Update legal team on any potential approaching deadlines
  • Submit performance metrics (KPI Reports) to owner
  • Attend staff meetings
• Monthly
  • Attend Case Status Update meetings and update records
  • Provide case reviews and ensure clients receive updates
  • Attend Procedure Meetings
• Bi-Annually
  • Performance Review
• Annual
  • Compensation Review
• As Needed
  • To be determined

Education & Experience:

A Paralegal should have completed a course of study offered by a college or university especially for Paralegals, and will possess a certification as a trained paralegal.

A Paralegal should have experience in a law firm.  Experience as a legal secretary or legal assistant is especially pertinent, and candidates with this background will be given preference.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Top 5 competencies/characteristics to be successful in the POSITION
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Planning & Organizing
  • Enthusiasm for the job
  • Desire to Learn
  • Ability to be proactive and work on own
• Top 5 competencies/characteristics to be successful in RELATIONSHIPS (culture fit)
  • Adaptable
  • Go-Getter
  • Friendly
  • Goal Oriented
  • High Energy
• Technical Skills (unlimited, but required – not desired)
  • Communication, Written
  • Communication, Verbal
  • Litigation
  • Real Estate Closings
  • Strategic Planning
  • Project Management
  • Time Management
  • Priority Management
  • Microsoft Office 365 – Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • CRM/CMS
  • Software/Systems

Expected Outcomes/Key Performance Indicators:

• 30 billable hours per week
• Daily time entering – 100% of the time met
• 0 substantiated complaints about customer service, language, behavior or professionalism in a rolling 90-day period.
• 100% of all deadlines are met each month.
• Two continuing education classes per year.

 

Employee Signature	Date
Owner/Administrator Signature	Date

 

This Job Description reflects the current essential duties of the position and is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties. The Firm reserves the right to assign work to employees at any time based on the needs of the business and will revise the description when necessary.