Legal Assistant/Paralegal - Transactional
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The position reports directly to a supervising Attorney IV. This position provides paralegal support to several transactional or contract attorneys who provide legal counsel to various clients regarding contracts, general government operations and other transactional matters. Work assignments include drafting contracts (procurement contracts, construction contracts, real estate, grants contracts, permits, licenses, etc.) from form documents and performing legal research. This position will also interface frequently with clients through verbal and written communications, includes drafting transmittal letters and other client correspondence. Knowledge in survey (legal description) review, title review and real estate closings is preferred but not required. Work is performed under the direction of a supervising Assistant General Counsel IV and is reviewed through conferences, inspection of documents and evaluation of results obtained.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
EMPHASIS ON TRANSACTIONAL/GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
- Provides administrative and litigation support to attorney(s).
- Communicates with clients, vendors and witnesses.
- May conduct preliminary and/or routine witness interviews.
- Helps prepare documents such as pleadings, applications, declarations and motions, initial draft of routine legislation.
- Drafts, reviews and revises legal and professional documents.
- Reviews and analyzes documents and data to prepare matters for legal representation.
- Maintains, organizes and creates resources and databases.
- Coordinates and schedules conferences with clients, witnesses and opposing parties.
- Analyzes plans, data, and prepare pleading and related documents.
- Obtain data from clients and second parties.
- Creates letters, basis of claims, and other forms.
- Creates documents from templates as necessary.
- Tracks and prepares electronic and hard copy reports and summaries, contracts or legislation.
- Monitors all litigation cases docketed via an electronic filing system and provide regular updates and calendaring and internal pleading files.
- Establishes, organizes and maintains physical evidence and exhibits, attorney notebooks, witness notebooks, document indexes and lists.
- Organizes and compiles documents relating to litigation, contracts, closing documents, legislation and land use.
- Coordinates all procedures necessary to conclude the acquisition or disposition of real property.
- Closes transactions by preparing and delivering necessary documents, contracts, and assists in closing.
- Handles electronic filing, files briefs, legislation, and coordinate contract tracking.
- Manage client expectations.
- Calendar scheduling and follow up for deadlines.
- Schedules and manages witnesses through litigation process.
- Performs other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of legal principles and practices at a level normally acquired through formal paralegal training and associated experience.
- Proficient in Word, WordPerfect, Outlook, Access and Excel data program management; knowledge of TABS3 software is a plus.
- Exceptional ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.
- Ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail for up to 75 percent of the work time when evaluating legal matters.
- Ability to proofread materials for contextual, grammatical, typographical, or spelling errors.
- Interpersonal skills critical in order to communicate in person, by e-mail and telephone and follow the instruction effectively from a diverse group of clients, attorneys and staff and provide information with ordinary courtesy and tact.
- Work occasionally requires a high level of mental effort and strain while organizing and maintaining multiple cases.
- Work may occasionally require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment such as computers, photocopiers and fax machines.
- Ability to travel to private and public buildings locally and statewide, to assist attorneys in attending to clients' needs on legal matters is essential.
- Ability to perform mathematical functions.
- Ability to lift 20 pounds.
- Ability to schedule and manage attorney's appointments on calendar.
OPEN REQUIREMENTS/SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
- Five years of experience as a paralegal in transactional law and/or government operations is required.
- A paralegal certification from one of the following agencies is preferred:
- CORE Registered Paralegal (CRP™)
- PACE Registered Paralegal (RP) by the National Federation Paralegal Association®
- Certified Paralegal (CP) or Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) by the National Association of Legal Assistants
- Professional Paralegal (PP) by the Association for Legal Professionals (NALS)
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