Senior Paralegal

Senior Paralegal

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Duration: 12 MONTHS

Education: Requires paralegal certificate, or JD, or currently attending an ABA-accredited law school, having completed at least one year of study, or an equivalent level of legal training or experience; or an equivalent level of education may be substituted.

Required Skills:

At least two years of litigation paralegal experience or project experience (as related to the task order) is required. At least one year of experience in automated litigation support. Requires sound working knowledge of federal and state court system, legal research procedures, and legal research resources. Requires excellent written and oral communication skills and thorough knowledge of legal research tools such as LEXIS and Westlaw. Must have hands-on familiarity with a variety of computer applications, including word processing, databases (such as document review and file management systems), spreadsheets, imaging, and hardware systems. Role also requires hands-on familiarity with ESI tools and knowledge of eDiscovery procedures and resources. Ability to consistently deliver highest quality work under extreme pressure will be very important.

Day-to-day Responsibilities:

Works under the direction of a Supervisory Paralegal or a Project Supervisor. Work products are reviewed prior to submission; however, often develops these products with minimal direct supervision other than written guidelines. In addition to functions performed by Paralegals, described below, performs moderately complex legal research; synopsizes transcripts of hearings and oral arguments for attorney use; reviews case related materials and, for example, identifies potentially conflicting statements or areas requiring further investigation; writes preliminary drafts of simple legal memoranda and correspondence. Contact mostly with other Contractor staff, but occasional contact with trial staff may be required.

• Prepares a variety of technical legal documents that are characteristically complex in format. Reviews incoming documents and material, considers the nature and the status of the case involved, and with limited instructions from [CLIENT ATTORNEY]s prepares indictments, arrest warrants, summonses, true bills, motions, orders, non-disclosure applications and orders, stipulations, plea agreements, grand jury and trial subpoenas, and legal memoranda.
• Obtains required information from criminal case files, law enforcement agencies, or other sources, to include in legal documents before submitting to the appropriate [CLIENT ATTORNEY] for review. Ensures when preparing recurring legal documents that they conform to local court rules and the rules governing style and format.
• Assists attorneys to prepare for trial by independently compiling trial and witness notebooks, preparing and organizing trial exhibits, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists. Coordinates with the victim/witness specialist to ensure adherence to current Departmental guidelines relating to victims' rights and services responsibilities. Notifies case agents and appropriate office staff of victim/witness issues.
• Using original and online legal resources including Westlaw and/or Lexis/Nexis, verifies legal citations and statutory references contained in legal documents. Research to confirm that citations are accurate, complete, and consistent with source material. Proofreads, edits, and revises legal briefs. Electronically files legal documents with the U.S. District Court using the CM/ECF system.
• Develops and organizes tables of contents and indices to briefs in accordance with established format. Lists cited cases, opinions, and miscellaneous references in briefs.
• Composes original correspondence which requires a good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology, e.g., transmitting proposed orders to court, requesting extensions of time in certain cases, advising of actions taken or developments in cases referred by other federal departments and agencies, and notifying attorneys representing defendants of various issues.
• Scans/inputs and links case-related materials into electronic discovery databases and manages those databases. Uploads/downloads into those discovery databases documents and materials received from local, state, and federal law enforcement partners consisting of investigative and forensic reports, bank records, electronic communication records, and audio and video files provided in varying file formats. Manages discovery processing and production. Proficiently bates-stamps and redacts discovery materials using Adobe Acrobat and may employ discovery processing techniques using IPRO Eclipse. Sends continuing discovery to defense counsel as directed by the assigned [CLIENT ATTORNEY].
• Maintains the electronic case files, enters data in the case management system, calendars deadlines using MS Outlook, prepares and files conflict of interest and case opening forms in the electronic case file.
• Prepares files for closing by ensuring all correspondence, relevant pleadings, conflict of interest forms, investigative materials, discovery produced, grand jury materials, court and witness transcripts, and closing sheet are included in electronic case file and are appropriately executed by the assigned [CLIENT ATTORNEY].
• Assists [CLIENT ATTORNEY]s by collating all necessary pleadings for hearings set the following day after checking the court calendars.
• Performs docketing duties which involves tracking case filings using the case management system. As necessary, performs searches, generates reports, and analyzes data produced from the case management system to determine case status and reconcile inconsistencies.
• Responds to email and telephone calls, refers inquiries to appropriate staff, and furnishes information as appropriate concerning pending and closed matters, functions, and general office procedures. Determines which matters should be referred to [CLIENT ATTORNEY]s based on the urgency of the matter.
• Arranges travel by preparing itinerary and securing transportation and hotel reservations. Prepares travel authorizations and vouchers.
• Utilizes a range of office software applications to produce written documents and materials. Those applications include, but are not limited to, Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access, and Adobe Acrobat. Assignments may include integrating output from different software types, e.g., tables produced through database applications, and charts and graphs produced through electronic spreadsheet applications, into word processing or desktop publishing text. Products include complicated tables, graphs and charts which may be incorporated into legal documents or courtroom presentations. Proofreads all documents to ensure that they contain proper format, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.