Legal Assistant/Paralegal

Job Description Job Description

Join an Established Florida Law Firm McFarland, Gould, Lyons, Sullivan & Hogan, P.A. is seeking an experienced Legal Assistant or Paralegal to join our growing team.

For more than 80 years, our firm has been committed to providing exceptional legal representation while building lasting relationships with our clients and our community. We are looking for an experienced legal professional who is organized, client-focused, and passionate about providing exceptional support to attorneys and clients across a variety of practice areas.

Whether your background is in estate planning, probate, litigation, business law, criminal defense, personal injury, family law, or another area of legal practice, we welcome candidates who bring strong legal experience, professionalism, and a commitment to outstanding client service.

While a paralegal certificate or designation is certainly a plus, it is not required. Our priority is finding someone with solid law firm experience who will become an integral member of our team.

Position Overview This position reports directly to the Firm Administrator and Supervising Attorney(s). Depending on experience and firm needs, you may support one or more attorneys and practice areas while working collaboratively with attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, and administrative staff throughout the firm.

This position offers the opportunity to become a trusted member of a collaborative team where initiative, organization, communication, and exceptional client service are highly valued.

What You'll Do As a Legal Assistant / Paralegal, you will provide comprehensive administrative and legal support to attorneys and legal teams throughout all phases of client representation. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

* Partner with attorneys and department leadership to ensure matters progress efficiently from initial client intake through final resolution. * Assist with new client onboarding, file opening, workflow coordination, case management, and overall department operations. * Independently manage an assigned caseload while maintaining organization, accuracy, and compliance with court deadlines, client expectations, and firm procedures. * Prepare, review, proofread, and organize pleadings, legal documents, contracts, correspondence, discovery, estate planning documents, probate filings, closing documents, and other legal materials, depending on the practice area. * Prepare and electronically file pleadings and supporting documents with Florida courts and administrative agencies, when applicable. * Maintain complete and organized electronic and physical client files. * Communicate professionally and compassionately with clients, opposing counsel, court personnel, governmental agencies, vendors, financial institutions, and other third parties. * Coordinate the collection, review, and organization of client documents, records, and supporting information necessary to move matters forward. * Schedule appointments, hearings, mediations, depositions, closings, and other legal proceedings while maintaining attorney calendars. * Monitor deadlines, court dates, statutes, and case progression to ensure matters remain on schedule. * Conduct legal and factual research using court databases, official records, and other available resources. * Assist with billing, time entry, expense tracking, and other administrative responsibilities as assigned. * Collaborate with attorneys and staff across multiple departments to provide exceptional client service. * Proactively identify issues, communicate potential concerns, and recommend solutions to keep matters moving efficiently. * Assist with special projects and additional duties that support the success of the firm.

Qualifications Required

* Minimum of 2-3 years of recent experience working in a Florida law firm. * Strong knowledge of legal office procedures and document preparation. * Experience with Florida court rules, filing procedures, and legal processes applicable to your area(s) of practice. * Excellent organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail. * Strong written and verbal communication skills. * Ability to manage multiple priorities while consistently meeting deadlines. * Professional, client-focused demeanor with excellent interpersonal skills. * Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel), Adobe Acrobat, and general office technology.

Preferred

* Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP), Certified Paralegal, or Paralegal Certificate. * Experience with Clio or other legal case management software. * Experience with Florida electronic court filing systems. * Experience supporting multiple attorneys or practice areas. * Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.

Who You Are You are a proactive, dependable, and solutions-oriented professional who takes pride in producing high-quality work. You communicate effectively, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and enjoy supporting both attorneys and clients. You work well independently while also recognizing the value of collaboration and teamwork.

You understand that every client deserves professionalism, responsiveness, empathy, and excellent communication.

You take ownership of your work, anticipate needs before they arise, and contribute positively to the success of the entire team.

Why Join Our Team? At McFarland, Gould, Lyons, Sullivan & Hogan, P.A. , we believe exceptional client service begins with an exceptional team. We are committed to fostering a collaborative, supportive workplace where employees are respected, encouraged, and empowered to grow professionally.

We invest in our people through ongoing training, professional development, and regular team-building initiatives that strengthen relationships and encourage collaboration across departments. We believe that when our team succeeds together, our clients receive the highest level of service.

Our firm has embraced innovation and technology for many years. Long before remote work became commonplace, we invested in secure cloud-based systems that allow our team to work effectively from virtually anywhere. Today, we continue to build on that foundation by offering flexibility to work on-site, remotely, or in a hybrid environment whenever appropriate based on business needs, job responsibilities, and individual circumstances. We believe flexibility, paired with accountability and teamwork, creates a healthier and more productive workplace.

While we are dedicated professionals, we also believe work should be enjoyable. Throughout the year, we host employee appreciation events, holiday celebrations, community service projects, volunteer opportunities, wellness initiatives, team outings, and other activities that foster meaningful relationships and make our firm a great place to build a career.

If you're looking for a firm that values professionalism, collaboration, innovation, flexibility, and its people, we'd love to meet you.

Compensation & Benefits We offer competitive compensation based on experience, qualifications, and skills. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

* Health insurance * Dental insurance * Vision insurance * Paid Time Off (PTO) * Paid holidays * Life insurance * Short-term disability insurance * Professional development and continuing education opportunities

How to Apply Please submit your resume along with a brief cover letter describing your legal experience. Be sure to include the types of law you have worked in, your primary responsibilities, software you have used, and any experience supporting attorneys in a Florida law firm.

We look forward to learning more about you and how you can contribute to our team.