In-House Paralegal

Description

Reports To: Risk Director

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Summary: The position of In-House Paralegal will assist the In-House Counsel with all legal aspects of the Archdiocese to assure that it accomplishes its ministry to the people of the Catholic Church effectively and lawfully.

Requirements

Position Responsibilities:

General Legal:

• * Conduct comprehensive legal research and prepare memoranda on assigned legal issues.
• * Coordinate communication with clients, witnesses, and opposing counsel. Act as liaison between attorney and outside counsel in the exchange of information. Drafts correspondence to victims, clients, attorney(s), governmental agencies, law enforcement agencies and the courts on a variety of legal matters.
• * Assist with scheduling and calendar management, ensuring deadlines are met efficiently.
• * Maintain accurate and up-to-date case files and databases.
• * Maintain corporate files, schedules corporate meetings, take meeting minutes, as requested.
• * Conduct research and maintain a state-specific masterfile pertaining to state-specific rules and requirements, e.g. civil procedures, appeal processes, use of collateral sources, requirements to formulate damages in present value, rules regarding payment of experts, damages caps, business environment, etc. Conduct legal research in Westlaw and/or other legal platforms for legal and administrative purposes.
• * Assist in responding to all subpoenas.
• * Completes complex legal projects on a variety of legal questions, issues, or matters.

Pre-litigation, Pleadings and Written Discovery

• *Draft and edit various legal documents, such as pleadings, motions, briefs, and discovery requests.
• *Assists attorneys in answering requests for disclosures, interrogatories, and production; interviews clients and formulate answers in writing; reviews answers with attorneys and prepares answers in final form; obtains and organizes document responsive to production requests from clients.
• *Obtains, reviews, and summarizes medical records at the direction of trial attorneys and has them reviewed by experts as necessary; and arranges for medical examinations.
• *Coordinates discovery to plaintiffs and codefendants, including drafting and calendaring of interrogatories, initial disclosures, requests for production, requests for admissions and other requests in accordance with local, state, federal and administrative and agency rules and procedures.

Depositions

• *Schedules depositions of witnesses: plaintiff, codefendant, independent witnesses, police officers, experts, etc. Schedules stenographer and videographer for noticed depositions. Obtains copies of transcripts and videos of testimony.
• *Assists attorney in preparing for depositions including summarizing written discovery, preparing, and organizing exhibits, preparing deposition outlines and check lists, medical records summaries, and chronologies, etc.
• *Summarizes depositions and identifies areas of testimony that conflicts with itself, written discovery, testimony of other witnesses, police reports, medical records, or other known facts.
• *Provides defense experts with copies of medical, deposition transcripts and summaries, and plaintiff expert reports to prepare for deposition.

Designation of Experts and Trial Preparation

• * Assist in preparation of Daubert, Frye, Rule 702, and other challenges to plaintiff expert testimony and responses to challenges to defense expert testimony. Standardize and implement the process of challenges, and assertions used to manage preemptive challenges. Maintain files on standard challenges and strikes for all experts.
• * Draft and file motions to designate defense experts. Ensure designation deadlines are met.
• * Assists attorneys in preparing pre-trial motions, research legal issues, interviewing witnesses preparatory to and during trials as necessary. Coordinates witness appearance in all Court proceedings.
• * Assists attorneys in preparing documents and evidence for trial including preparing trial binders with tabs and indexes. Prepare and orders print exhibits. Prepares electronic exhibits, video deposition excerpts, etc. Reviews, screens, and analyzes case-related materials for assigned cases and provides summary of facts to assigned attorneys. Processes documents, including preparation, filing and issuance of information. Obtains, indexes and outlines histories, offense reports and all other relevant documents.
• * Attends trial, hearings, and other court proceedings, as requested.

Post-trial

• * Negotiates agreed judgments and settlement agreements with plaintiff attorneys. Drafts judgments, orders, payment agreements and other documents for assigned cases.
• * Obtains drafting instructions, requests payment, and mails/delivers checks to satisfy settlement agreements or judgements.

General

• Adhering to safety training and protocols and taking precautionary measure to ensure the safety and well-being of self, others.
• Responsible for protecting the confidentiality of any information or material obtained in the service with the organization to include but not limited to client names and information, services rendered to clients, donors names and gifts, internal and external investigations or results of any investigations, and financial information.
• Adherence to the Code of Conduct and the Faith and Moral Policy is mandatory.
• Every employee is required to take a solution-oriented approach in their interactions and undertakings, as well as being a team member that promotes collaboration and commitment to the Mission and Vision of the organization.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

* Essential Functions - ADA

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in legal support with at least 2 years of experience in insurance defense and/or administrative law experience.

License and Credentials:

• Reliable transportation
• Valid driver license
• Valid vehicle insurance
• Paralegal certification preferred

Minimum Knowledge and Skills:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in legal support including preparing pleadings and motions, drafting legal correspondence, file management, and calendar management;
• Extensive working knowledge of court operation, and court filings;
• Experience with computer software and legal database (i.e., Lexis Nexis software preferred);
• A solid grasp of time management and case management;
• Must be detail oriented, organized, self-motivated, work well independently and on a team;
• Must have good written and verbal skills;
• Must have good critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Travel Requirements: Travel requirements for the position includes <5% local and 0% overnight.