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Paralegal – Fiduciary Litigation

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Department: Paralegal

Reports To: Paralegal Committee

Jackson Walker, Texas’ largest law firm, has an exciting full-time employment opportunity for a Litigation Paralegal in our Houston office. This role is responsible for assisting attorney(s) in all phases of fiduciary litigation, including client interview, research, calendar management, drafting of documents and pleadings, depositions, discovery, document production, motions, trial notebooks, trial, appeal, and execution of judgment, as illustrated by the following examples. The specific duties may vary somewhat depending on the specific type of litigation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Specific duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

Commencement of Action

• Attend initial client interview with attorney, take notes and assist in getting all pertinent data.
• Organize client file.
• Calendar deadlines, and ensure deadlines are met.
• Investigate and analyze factual matters.
  • Interview witnesses.
  • Arrange for service of process.

Discovery

• Draft requests for admissions, requests for production, requests for disclosure and interrogatories.
• Work with attorney and client in answering interrogatories, requests for admissions, requests for production, and Initial Disclosures.
• Assist client with gathering documents to be produced.
• Manage online document database.
• Review client documents for relevancy, privilege.
• Prepare and maintain documents for production.
• Prepare privilege logs.
• Depositions.
  • Set up depositions, draft notice or subpoena and arrange for reporter.
  • Contact witnesses.
  • Prepare paper exhibits.
  • Digest and index depositions.

Pre-Trial

• Schedule and notify witnesses requested by attorney and assist in preparing for trial testimony.
• Work with experts and witnesses to gather and organize documents and exhibits for deposition.
• Organize trial notebook.
• Draft pre-trial motions.
• Assist attorney as requested with preparation of trial brief.
• Draft list of suggest voir dire questions for attorney; take notes during voir dire and assist with jury selection.
• Prepare exhibit and witness lists.

Trial

• Handle issuance of subpoenas for witnesses and coordinate schedule of witness appearances.
• Take notes and handle exhibits.
• Summarize trial testimony.
• Meet with attorney and client daily during trial to plan for next day.
• Maintain exhibit list and update daily.

Post-Trial

• Maintain appellate timetables.
• Draft notice of appeal, check record, and organize appendix.
• Assist in preparation of briefs, cite checking, Shepardizing.
• Ensure brief is filed in a timely manner.
• Assist in collection work for garnishments, levy.
• Verify satisfaction of judgment.
• Assist in processing writs of execution and abstracts of judgment.

General

• E-filing documents.
• Contact with Clerk’s offices throughout the State of Texas.
• Draft motions and stipulations, i.e., dismissal, extensions of time.
• Research case law whether manual, Westlaw, or Lexis.
• Conduct preliminary legal research and draft memoranda.
• Prepare routine correspondence.
• Maintain calendars.
• Assist with maintenance of case file.
• Assist with gathering of information for clients on as-needed basis.
• Other duties as assigned by the employer.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft 365 – Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Working knowledge of legal documents, formatting, table of contents, styles, track changes, pdf documents – inserting and labeling, converting pdf documents to Word.
• Proficient skill level with Relativity, or other e-Discovery platform.
• Ability to proofread and perform editing (e.g., punctuation, grammar, spelling) of routine law office correspondence and legal case matters; perform non-complex arithmetic calculations when verifying calculations on forms and documents; maintain records and filing systems.
• Ability to transcribe legal documents, correspondence, and reports from rough draft or dictation.
• Ability to organize and prioritize numerous tasks and complete them under time constraints.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate and follow instructions effectively from a diverse group of clients, attorneys, and staff, and to provide information with courtesy and tact.
• Ability to travel locally and nationally in private or public transportation.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university preferred.
• High school diploma or GED; paralegal certification required.
• Substantial equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree or paralegal certification.

Years of Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience within a law firm with demonstrated knowledge of complex issues within fiduciary litigation practice area.

Working Conditions:

• Normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise and temperature.
• Work occasionally requires more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position; may require irregular hours.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities, or requirements.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that employment decisions be based on job-related factors.