Paralegal Manager

The Personal Injury Paralegal Manager oversees the daily operations, performance, and development of the personal injury paralegal department. This role combines leadership, case management, administrative oversight, settlement coordination, and training responsibilities to ensure efficient case handling and compliance with firm procedures. The Paralegal Manager serves as a key liaison between attorneys, paralegals, accounting, vendors, and firm leadership while maintaining a limited caseload. MUST have Plaintiff Personal Injury expererience

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Personnel Management

• Supervise and support personal injury paralegals and department staff.
• Conduct annual performance reviews and provide ongoing coaching and mentorship.
• Interview and evaluate prospective paralegal candidates.
• Train and onboard new employees.
• Manage department scheduling, including PTO requests and flex day administration.
• Assist with workload distribution and departmental efficiency initiatives.

Settlement Administration

• Review and approve settlements in accordance with firm procedures.
• Coordinate settlement approvals between attorneys and firm leadership.
• Forward settlements to designated leadership for review and approval.
• Communicate approval decisions to attorneys and paralegals.
• Maintain and update the firm's settlement tracking list.

Case Management

• Maintain an active caseload of approximately 15 personal injury matters across multiple attorneys.
• Manage and resolve issues related to closed and archived cases.
• Review close-out letters and ensure proper file closure procedures.
• Handle mail, telephone calls, and inquiries regarding closed cases.
• Obtain attorney approvals for conflict issues as needed.

Records, Subpoenas & File Management

• Respond to subpoenas and requests for records related to closed files.
• Manage medical records requests and vendor relationships, including MRO, Ciox/Datavant, Status, Lexitas, and NJLS.
• Review closed cases for scanning, retention, and shredding compliance.
• Maintain and update departmental directories and case management databases, including Needles and future migration to SmartAdvocate.

Escrow & Financial Oversight

• Maintain the escrow list for General Counsel.
• Manage and resolve outstanding escrow balances on closed cases.
• Review and manage vendor invoices, including medical record providers and litigation support vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, Paralegal Certificate, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of personal injury paralegal experience.
• Previous supervisory or management experience .
• Strong knowledge of plaintiff personal injury litigation, settlements, medical records, liens, and case management procedures.
• Experience with case management software such as Needles, SmartAdvocate, or similar systems.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced legal environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and legal technology platforms.