Paralegal

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