Paralegal

JPC Partners is looking for a Paralegal I / II that will support our client's legal & compliance efforts by preparing documents and filings, provide support for activities related to drafting, processing, updating and filing tariff and tariff related agreements; provide support for all activities surrounding or relative to the drafting and processing of agreements and other legal documents as well as the coordination of assignments and workflow for attorneys. Additionally, the Paralegal will conduct legal and factual research; execute filings; facilitate legal and compliance matters; and act as a liaison among various internal departments as well as outside agencies.

The successful paralegal candidate will be meticulous, skilled with technology, e-filing, and have a thorough knowledge of legal procedure and regulatory/compliance matters.

Essential Duties:

• Assist attorneys in the preparation and filing of legal documents. Manage service and postings of filed documents.
• Organize case files and documents, assist in cases.
• Provide legal support for counsel in the stakeholder process, and in litigation and regulatory proceedings both at the state and federal levels.
• Assist in FERC filings by organizing relevant company governing agreement and tariff controlling document sections, assisting counsel in drafting filing letters.
• Prepare, maintain and update various reports used both internally and externally, including but not limited to upcoming filings, regulatory reports and status reports.
• Undertake legal research and analysis on regulatory matters at the federal and state level; Prepare memos and reports
• Assist in compliance matters including eDiscovery and litigation.
• Monitor FERC technical conferences and hearings and prepare summaries/documents as requested by counsel.
• Maintain files and facilitate and assist in the management of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and legal proceedings.
• Provide legal support, including investigatory work and preparing draft Regulatory Oversight and Compliance Committee (“ROCC”) memo or other relevant documents, for counsel in connection with matters reported to/before the ROCC.
• Prepare for Clients and Matter Materials for Regulatory Oversight and Compliance Committee.
• Attend internal and external meetings (on-site and/or remote) and hearings as requested by counsel.
• Assist in administering the filing and contract management system for the Law Department.
• Prepare and circulate summaries of various pleadings in legal proceedings of interest to company.
• Prepare informative or explanatory material on laws, federal/state agency regulations, and federal/state agency policy for general use by counsel.
• Pull relevant documents, proofread papers, organize exhibits, affidavits and execute other tasks as assigned by counsel in the preparation of motion filings.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Possess in depth knowledge of the FERC and the manner in which regulated entities prepare and make filings to update or revise their tariff documents.
• Possess in-depth research skills, independent thinking presentation capabilities and able to handle frequent direct contact with external stakeholders (parties and regulators) and clients at all levels.
• Service Agreement Duties: a.) Able to have overall responsibility for the administration, processing and maintenance of Service Agreements including the tracking of effective and expiration dates, and coordinate with both internal and external clients to maintain overall regulatory compliance. b.) able to review pro forma documents and agreements for conformity. If non-conforming, prepare draft FERC filing for counsel indicating reason for non-conformity to company standard agreement. Able to prepare final document, file with Commission filing and oversee any service requirements for filing.
• Tariff Duties: a) Ability to oversee the tariff maintenance process and administer the eTariff database to grant levels of access to company personnel as needed. Administer and maintain the eTariff software system while working closely with designated back-up to provide daily coverage. b) be detailed oriented in the tracking of deadlines to accurately administer tariff documents with any and all pending updates and provide updated tariff documents to designated personnel within the company. c.) ability to review filing documents for completeness of the filing package in compliance with FERC regulations and standards including the preparation of the entire filing package (i.e., transmittal letter, clean and redline tariff sheets, etc.) and loading the documents into the eTariff system to create the XML to forward to the Commission d.) be able to provide formatted reports from the eTariff database or prepare ad hoc reports as requested to provide information on number of filings made; areas of filings; number of pending filings; orders granted, etc. e.) Be able to assist attorneys to draft tariff language for new sections to the tariff or tariff documents. Work in close coordination with attorney(s) to prepare accurate tariff filings. f.) closely monitor FERC web site for company information regarding assignment of docket numbers, watch for comments, interventions and answers filed regarding company dockets; watch for the issuance of orders under same dockets. Review orders (in coordination with attorney as needed) to ensure that the tariff is updated in an accurate and timely manner.
• Draft, organize and distribute departmental and subsidiary meeting minutes.
• Maintain the law department docket tracking system and reports for all filings and legal proceedings.
• Prepare legal documents for attorney's approval and use by researching and analyzing law sources. Conserve attorneys’ time by administrating cases; researching law sources; preparing documents; and facilitating legal proceedings.
• Identify law sources by determining applicable statutes, judicial decisions, treaties, constitutions and legal codes; monitoring pending legislation and court decisions. Undertake legal research and analysis.
• Developing procedures and forms; establishing and controlling files; organizing documents and expediting paper flow; keeping document master files, maintaining calendar and schedules; overseeing deadlines; monitoring progress; generating status reports, logs and indices. Provide support for counsel in litigation both at state and federal level.
• Maintain database by organizing document control; designing easy-access retrieval systems; summarization, coding and storage of documents; maintaining and updating system; assisting attorneys in information retrieval.
• Assist attorneys in the preparation of client witnesses and matter materials for ROCC compliance issues.
• Time Management by using their time effectively and efficiently; values time; concentrates their efforts on the more important priorities; gets more done in less time than others; can attend to a broader range of activities. Manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects and activities. Use effective judgment in prioritizing time allocation.

Required Qualifications:

• 2-5 years relevant paralegal experience in corporate legal department, governmental agency, or public utility company in an energy/electricity/FERC-related role or similar experience in another regulatory/compliance driven environment.
• Paralegal certificate or 4+ years of demonstrated relevant experience
• Bachelor’s degree in legal studies / related field (or Associate’s degree with at least 5 years of corporate Paralegal experience)
• Very skilled with technology and e-filing tools
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and proactively with a team
• Ability to produce high-quality work products with attention to detail
• Ability to visualize and solve complex problems
• Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite (MS-Word, MS-Excel and MS-PowerPoint)

Preferred:

• Experience with company operations, markets, and planning functions
• Experience with eTariff
• Experience with FERC
• Experience with regulated electric utilities
• Experience with state public utility commissions
• Experience with contract management systems
• Experience with knowledge management systems