Job Description
Our Client, a boutique personal injury law firm with a very busy practice, seeks a Paralegal for their Houston office. This position is ideal for someone who thrives in a busy environment.
Scope
o Collaborate and work with senior paralegals and attorneys in all aspects of traditional paralegal responsibilities, including pre-trial preparation, trial preparation, and post-trial
o Extensive IT knowledge and experience with legal and productivity technology
o Comfortable with a paperless environment
Intake
o Review of client files
o Obtain and index/organize all documents provided by the client relative to the litigation
o Discuss factual background of case with attorney and make recommendations
concerning any further factual investigation necessary
Calendar
o Calendar Statute of Limitations (SOL)
o Set Motions For Trial
o Obtain Scheduling Orders
Pleadings
o Prepare initial draft of Complaint/Petition
o Prepare form pleadings not involving substantive legal theory, such as
Motions To Compel, etc
Discovery
o Prepare of initial discovery
o Review received discovery and work with the client to answer discovery
o Review clients draft answers to interrogatories and discussion with attorney concerning same; prepare any necessary revisions of answers
o Prepare and organize documents for production, in certain cases involving e-discovery;
o Obtain deposition dates
o Prepare initial draft notices of depositions with subpoena preparation
o Schedule reporter and conference room
o Schedule witness interview, informing witness of trial dates and, in certain cases, conduct initial interviews
Experts
o Research Defense experts
o Retain Plaintiffs experts
o Schedule appointment with expert witnesses
o Prepare draft letter to expert and forward materials for their review
Research
o Conduct limited legal research
o Conduct witness research
Trial
o Works with trial presentation software
o Synchronizes video depositions and deposition transcripts
o Edit videos and depositions
o Prepare and mark exhibits for depositions and trial
o Prepare form Pre-trial motions
o Prepare electronic Trial notebooks
o Conduct jury Venire research
o Conduct pre-trial check of jury questionnaires and jury lists
Settlement and Mediation
o Attend trial with the attorney
o Prepare initial draft of release and dismissal entry
Appeal
o Prepare Notice of Appeal
o Order record on appeal
o Prepare Motion To Supplement Record based on attorney review of omitted documents
o Prepare Motion For Extension briefing deadlines
Close files
o Organize all files, with a detailed index for easy retrieval in the future
o Ensuring the file is scanned in and moved to closed file storage
Miscellaneous
o Retain Investigator
o Locate witness
o Retain process server
o Motion to Appoint Process Server
o Find location for deposition
Qualification and Experience
o Bachelors degree preferred
o Minimum 5 recent years experience in Plaintiffs personal injury litigation law practice; product liability experience preferred.
o Strong understanding of litigation terms
o Technological skills
- Microsoft Word,
- Case Management System experience
- Superior computer skills
o Superior organizational skills.
o Project and case management skills, including a strong aptitude for managing and prioritizing multiple projects and deadlines
o Excellent written and verbal communication skills as well as analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
o Ability to work independently
Environment
o Paperless Environment
o Fast-paced office working on premises with a high level of autonomy
o Hours 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with some flexibility