Paralegal

Paralegal

Montana State Fund (MSF) is seeking a skilled and motivated Paralegal to join our Legal team. This position may be filled at either the Paralegal I or Paralegal II level depending on qualifications. In this role, you will support attorneys in delivering high-quality legal, litigation, and mediation assistance that strengthens MSF's commitment to serving Montana employers and injured workers. As a key member of the Legal Department, you will help maintain organized and accurate legal files, support trial preparation, draft and review legal documents, conduct research, and coordinate case activities. This role requires strong attention to detail, clear communication, and a commitment to thorough, accurate legal work. Paralegal II candidates will additionally take on more advanced responsibilities involving complex litigation support, higher-level legal analysis, deeper factual investigation, and coordination of trial and mediation strategy.

Paralegal I Responsibilities:

• Trial and litigation support: Provides comprehensive litigation and administrative assistance to attorneys. Trial preparation work includes coordinating depositions, managing travel arrangements, building and organizing litigation files, and managing correspondence.
• Drafts pleadings and other documents from shell templates, assists with discovery, conducts legal and factual research, and coordinates document and witness exchanges.
• Mediation coordination: Processes mediation and hearing notices and manages related correspondence. Reviews files to identify key issues and relevant documents. Assists internal stakeholders and claims teams as needed.
• Administrative Operations: Gathers appropriate documentation for administrative and legal submissions, interacts with external vendors, and processes bills for payment approval. Maintains file lifecycle management (opening and closing active litigation and mediation files) and builds and maintains databases and physical/electronic tracking systems for case files.
• Additional professional support: Attends and participates in enterprise and department meetings and conducts special research projects, including legislative history and legal research as requested. Partners across departments to assist with shared administrative priorities, special initiatives, and training support. Identifies and implements continuous improvements in legal operational workflows.
• General paralegal support: Ensures documents are properly formatted, mailed, served, and filed on site.

Paralegal II Responsibilities:

• Trial and litigation support: Provides comprehensive support in all phases of litigation, including creating and organizing litigation files, drafting pleadings and other documents, preparing discovery requests and responses, conducting legal research, performing factual investigations, coordinating document and witness exchanges, and attending hearings/trials in person. Supports attorneys as directed, including through detailed trial preparation and coordination.
• Mediation coordination: Reviews claim files to identify issues and relevant documentation. Collaborates closely with claims examiners and attorneys to ensure thorough mediation readiness and case clarity.
• Professional Research and departmental support: Participates in litigation meetings and conducts specialized research, including legislative history and advanced legal research, as requested.
• Additional professional support: Maintains electronic and physical legal files, builds databases, organizes and tracks case files, coordinates subpoenas and document activities, monitors changes in relevant laws and rules, and ensures accuracy and quality control in documents and filings.
• General paralegal support: Ensures documents are properly formatted, mailed, served, and filed on site.

To find success and satisfaction in this role, candidates will possess the following traits: A legal professional who thrives in a detail-oriented environment and is energized by supporting attorneys through organized, accurate, and timely legal work. Skilled at reviewing case files, conducting legal and factual research, and preparing clear, well-structured documents—approaching challenges with curiosity, practical reasoning, and a solutions-focused mindset. Attentive to detail, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, maintain precise records, and track case activity effectively in a dynamic legal setting. A collaborative partner who communicates clearly, builds positive working relationships, and supports attorneys, claims examiners, and internal teams with professionalism and good judgment. Someone who remains composed when managing urgent or unexpected case needs, applies discretion in sensitive or confidential matters, and contributes to a dependable, client-focused legal operation. A reliable and customer-centered team member who takes pride in producing high-quality legal work and maintaining well-organized files that help the organization serve injured workers and Montana employers.

Additional qualities for Paralegal II candidates: Comfortable navigating complex litigation workflows, conducting deeper legal analysis, and supporting attorneys with higher-level strategy and case preparation. Confident in independently managing multifaceted cases, prioritizing competing demands, and delivering consistent, detail-rich work in a fast-paced legal environment.

At Montana State Fund, how we do our jobs matters to us as much as what we do. To support our customer-centered workplace, successful candidates are team players who possess: Customer and growth mindset Empathy Accountability Adaptability Resiliency Communication skills

Required Experience Minimum Qualifications:

• Paralegal I: Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies, or a Bachelor's degree with completion of an ABA-recognized paralegal program, plus one (1) year of paralegal experience; OR Associate Paralegal degree and three (3) years of paralegal experience; OR Bachelor's degree with two (2) years of paralegal experience.
• Paralegal II: Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies, or a Bachelor's degree with completion of an ABA-recognized paralegal program, plus four (4) years of paralegal experience; OR Associate Paralegal degree and six (6) years of paralegal experience; OR Bachelor's degree with six (6) years of paralegal experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience of the above requirements may be considered.

Preferred: Experience in a fast-paced, dynamic environment: Ability to thrive and adapt in an evolving organizational landscape. Relevant legal designations, certifications, or experience in a fast-paced corporate legal or insurance environment.