Paralegal

About the job

Job Description: Paralegal - Landscape Construction Industry

CLASSIFICATION PURPOSE


This exempt job classification is responsible for supporting Landscape Construction, bridges, public works law, contract administration, and project compliance. They are responsible for reviewing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), managing government bid protests, ensuring adherence to public bidding statutes, and supporting Senior management manage litigation, project disputes, bond claim submissions and lien enforcement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Public Contracting & Bidding: Draft and review construction agreements, requests for bids, and consultant contracts. Ensure all project documents comply with local public procurement codes and statutory bidding requirements.
• Compliance Monitoring: Verify that contractors adhere to prevailing wage laws, local hiring ordinances, and labor standards. Manage and process certified payroll records.
• Risk Management & Claims: Assist legal counsel in evaluating and responding to contractor claims, change orders, and requests for equitable adjustment. Track deadlines for notices of completion and stop notices. Lead and/or participate in project strategy meetings that relate to contract issues. Review and assist project teams and Purchasing in the negotiation of subcontracts and purchase orders.
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Support senior management in bid protests, mediation, and litigation. Manage document discovery, maintain case chronologies, and organize trial binders
• Regulatory Research: Conduct legal and administrative research regarding land use, environmental regulations (like the California Environmental Quality Act), and zoning laws.

Legal & Regulatory Competencies

• Public Procurement Knowledge: Deep understanding of statutory bidding laws, municipal codes, and government RFP/RFQ processes.
• Construction Law Literacy: Mastery of mechanized lien laws, stop notices, performance/payment bonds, and prompt payment statutes.
• Labor Compliance: Proficient in monitoring prevailing wage laws, Davis-Bacon Act requirements, and reviewing certified payrolls.
• Environmental/Land Use Awareness: Familiarity with public land use, zoning laws, and environmental regulations (e.g., CEQA, NEPA).

Technical & Administrative Competencies

• Contract administration: Ability to rigorously review, redline, and track compliance metrics across complex public works agreements.
• Document & Discovery Management: Expert in organizing massive project files, processing public records requests, and managing discovery.
• Legal Research: Highly skilled in navigating Westlaw, LexisNexis, or administrative databases to investigate municipal codes and case law.

P rofessional & Behavioral Competencies

• Risk Mitigation Mindset: Proactive in spotting contract ambiguities, project delays, or compliance gaps before they escalate into disputes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to communicate clearly with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, civil engineers, and contractors.
• Meticulous Attention to Detail: Precise in managing rigid public sector deadlines, statutory notices, and complex bid documentation.

COMPETENCIES

• Results Oriented: Maintains focus on outcomes; is proactive and goal oriented; concentrates on meeting objectives, delivering to the required time, holds performance as more important than process. Set specific, measurable, and relevant goals and takes efficient action to accomplish success.
• Construction: Demonstrates basic knowledge of various phases of diverse construction jobs that may include landscape, installation, hardscape, irrigation, pavers, and low-voltage lighting; uses equipment effectively.
• Administrative Efficiency: Demonstrates highly efficient time management skills; adept at multi-tasking to accomplish goals; compiles information for reports; apply support systems to ensure efficiency.
• Job Quality: Understands the relationship between job quality and customer service, satisfaction, and retention is committed to improving job quality at all times.
• Organization and Planning: Maintains an accurate schedule of events; prioritizes activities correctly to ensure deliverables are produced on time; electronic and hard copy files are systematically arranged and easily retrievable.
• Customer Service: Consistently exceeds customer expectations; keeps customers well-informed, listens to them attentively, and addresses their concerns; enacts a personal approach to customer service.
• Interpersonal Skills: Treats others with respect, collaboration, and support in such a way that work relationships are improved and morale is increased; is approachable; has effective communication skills.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of experience in construction management, engineering, or corporate or construction legal support.
• Excellent written communication skills are required, must possess strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrate good judgment about prioritizing the completion of multiple responsibilities, familiarity with legal concepts relevant to the construction industry, legal processes, systems and rules.
• Ability to read and interpret schedules, contract drawings, and specifications is preferred. Construction scheduling and claims experience is a plus.
• An ABA-approved paralegal certificate or a Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies, public administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive paralegal experience, ideally split between general municipal law and the heavy construction industry.
• Knowledge Requirements: Strong understanding of government contracting, public records laws (e.g., FOIA or state-level equivalents), and lien laws.
• Skills: Meticulous attention to detail, exceptional contract drafting skills, and proficiency with e-discovery platforms and contract management systems.
• Frequent sitting, time spent on the telephone, repetitive use of hands to operate computers, printers, and office equipment, standing, bending, and stooping, twisting of waist side-to-side, turning and flexion of the neck; and lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds; normal manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination; corrected hearing and vision to normal range.

SPECIAL NOTES, LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Pre-employment: Incumbents must sign the Confidentiality, Non-disclosure, and Non-solicitation Agreement prior to their first day on the job.
• Language: Though not required, bilingual English and Spanish skills are preferred.

Certifications:

• Professional Paralegal Certifications
• Certified Paralegal (CP): Issued by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA),and/or,
• Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP): NALA specialization in Construction Law or Land Use, and/or
• Registered Paralegal (RP): Issued by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).
• Public Sector & Procurement Certifications
• Certified Public Procurement Buyer (CPPB): Issued by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) and/or
• Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO): UPPCC credential for senior-level public administration.
• Construction & Compliance Certifications
• Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS): Focuses on construction insurance, bonds, and contractual risk and/or
• Certified Prevailing Wage Professional (CPWP): Validates expertise in Davis-Bacon Act compliance and labor standards.
• Working Conditions: Work is predominantly in an office environment with associated noise, space, and computer screen exposure. Also stocking shelves in the shop in an outside warehouse environment.
• Background Investigation: Incumbents must have a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness. Misdemeanor and/or felony convictions may be disqualifying depending on type, number, severity, and recency. Prior to appointment, candidates are subject to a background investigation and/or drug test.
• Introductory Period: Incumbents appointed to this job classification will serve an introductory period of three months.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS


The Key Performance Indicators for this position will be specified at the time of appointment

We provide a family atmosphere where each of its team members are valued, and their ideas heard. We are 100% employee-owned, our employees share as the company grows and prospers. Join us and become an owner!

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Work Location: In person - Orange, CA 92868