Paralegal Manager

Freeman Mathis and Gary, LLP is a rapidly growing, national specialty litigation firm seeking an experienced Paralegal Manager to join our Cherry Hill or Newark, NJ office. The Paralegal Manager oversees and manages an assigned group of Paralegals. The Paralegal Manager onboards, trains and supervises their assigned paralegal team and will be the first contact for any questions related to the paralegal role, offering advice and guidance on substantive work. Responsibilities include coordinating assignments and workflow, assisting with firm initiatives, coordinating and/or providing training, and maintaining direct daily contact with attorneys and support staff. This position reports to the Director of Legal Operations. Candidates must have substantive familiarity with the litigation process (i.e., case management, discovery, databases, privilege logs, court filings, e-filing, cite checking) and have the capacity to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Paralegals need well-developed Microsoft Office skills, the ability to solve problems, and communicate well with all levels of the FMG team.

The following set of success factors describe the characteristics of those who are successful in our Firm:

• Helpful, Congenial, Personable, Positive
• Unpretentious, Approachable, Respectful, Team Oriented
• Accountable, Takes Ownership, Corrects Mistakes
• Organized, Timely, Confidential, Responsive (within 24 hours)

Essential Job Functions:

• Monitors and assigns paralegal support to specific matters, determining scheduling and support requirements while ensuring that all deadlines are met
• Manages timekeeping of direct reports by reviewing and approving weekly timecards, PTO requests, and monitoring and managing overtime requests
• Conducts performance reviews
• Coordinates training regarding all paralegal skills and support applications (includes coordinating seminars and educational gatherings as needed and ensuring MCLE requirements are met)
• Understand and able to perform basic employee relations
• Recruit, interview, and hire Paralegals; review/vet resumes, conduct and coordinate interviews, and obtain final approval for hiring
• Work closely with firmwide Directors and Managers to implement and improve Paralegal policies and procedures
• Monitor costs and expenses to assist in budget preparation
• Assists in analyzing and reporting on paralegals time to assess workload, productivity, and ability to meet ongoing Firm needs
• Provides paralegal support to attorneys with case organization, document management, witness interviews, discovery matters, administrative tasks, and trials
• Assists attorneys with the preparation of a civil case for trial
• Obtains, reviews, analyzes, and summarizes legal and evidentiary documents pertaining to cases
• Manages discovery process and conduct records management
• Schedules depositions and other meetings with clients, witnesses, experts, opposing counsel, court reporters and others
• Identifies, locates, interviews, and evaluates potential experts and sends expert packages to parties for review
• Tracks requests for documents and regularly follows up on progress of receipt
• Summarizes case records, create chronologies, and summarize discovery responses
• Organizes and prioritizes numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints with minimal supervision and exceptional attention to detail
• Performs legal research quickly and efficiently to inform attorney decisions
• Organizes and maintains case files, coordinating with Legal Assistants and other staff
• Regularly reviews files and proactively works to move cases forward
• Ensures all functions are performed in accordance with applicable client guidelines
• Keeps accurate time records and meet a 600 annual billable hours requirement
• Maintains positive relationships with firm attorneys, co-counsel, clients, and vendors
• Assist with special projects and additional duties as assigned.

Education, Experience, and Skills:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience required
• Certificate in Paralegal studies required
• 5-7 years of litigation with some defense experience
• Civil litigation experience required
• Familiarity with performing legal and factual research tasks using web-based legal research services
• Proficiency in an electronic file setting, comfortable with a paperless system
• iManage experience
• Must successfully pass a background/drug screen
• Experience billing time in compliance with client guidelines and meeting a monthly billing target
• Proficient in software programs such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Westlaw and Kofax PDF editor
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints
• Familiarity with workflow, roles, and responsibilities of professionals on legal teams
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with a wide variety of people at every level of the organization
• Consummate professional, even tempered, and problem solver
• Experience in a leadership or management role a plus
• Ability to manage changing priorities and pressure situations
• Open to improving and eager to develop professionally

What we offer you

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision
• HSA and FSA plans available for employees and dependents
• Work-life balance
• Generous PTO policy
• 401K plan including a 3% Employer Safe Harbor contribution
• Firm paid life insurance and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Year-end bonuses and referral fee programs

EEO Statement

Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP (FMG) is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees by maintaining a workplace free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status as provided by law. FMG complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. This position is subject to our drug?free workplace policy, which includes the ability to pass a pre?employment drug screen. Employees may be subject to reasonable?suspicion drug testing in accordance with Firm policies outlined in the Employee Handbook.