Paralegal
Job Details
Description
SALARY: $60k - $90k
GENERAL PURPOSE:
Under general supervision, independently research problems and projects and prepare draft documents including agreements, though the work will be reviewed by attorneys or department management; investigates and researches legal issues, prepares legal documents, and acts as project lead; performs client intake and other internal agency interviews; performs legal support and administrative work for agency in-house counsel; assists in the preparation of case files and reports; gathers and evaluates evidence; recommends investigation methodology; contacts attorneys, witnesses, outside agencies, Sound Transit employees, and the courts and the public for the purpose of coordinating work and providing information; and schedule meetings.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.
• Performs legal and factual research; performs records searches and research.
• Identifies and analyzes relevant judicial decisions, statutes, legal articles, codes, and other pertinent material.
• Helps prepare and file declarations, motions, and legal documents including briefs, appeals, contracts, pleadings, and legal opinions.
• Attend and provide litigation support in court and administrative proceedings.
• Conducts interviews, prepares reports, and collects evidence as assigned.
• Locates and communicates with witnesses; interviews witnesses as needed. Interacts with clients.
• Prepares and organizes documents, exhibits, interrogatories, and assists in responding to discovery requests.
• Organizes and maintains case files, including preparation of subject indexes and chronologies.
• Conducts investigations and interviews with agency employees, consultants, and others in order to gather information relating to particular legal issues and/or litigation.
• Prepares and reviews drafts of easements, leases and contracts, public disclosure correspondence, and responses.
• Prepares graphic aids, tables, slides, and other audio/visual devices.
• Establishes and maintains a fully-indexed and cross-referenced bank of briefs, memoranda, and other research documents previously produced by the legal department.
• Assists in the management, organization, and maintenance of materials in electronic databases and determines the need for new/updated materials and systems.
• Works closely with attorneys and support staff to facilitate teamwork and ensure work is completed in a timely manner and all appropriate deadlines are met.
• Conducts legal and factual research for attorneys utilizing computerized legal research systems and other legal reference materials.
• Uses electronic case management programs to organize electronic documents for review, discovery, and production purposes.
• Uses eDiscovery software to locate key electronic files used in litigation and public disclosure. Determines key words and terms in a production environment.
• Uses electronic trial tools to aide in presentation and exhibits.
• Excels in using office technologies and participates or leads in developing and implementing new procedures to meet business requirements including training.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's Degree and four years’ experience performing paralegal duties; or a certification from a nationally accredited paralegal training institution and five years related experience (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class). Must have demonstrated ability to initiate and manage projects.
Required Licenses or Certifications:
None.
Required Knowledge of:
• Legal system.
• Basic principles of law and accompanying terminology in order to conduct research and draft appropriate documents/files in support of the Legal Department.
• Legal terminology, legal citation, business English, grammar, and spelling sufficient to identify and correct errors in legal documents.
• The format of legal documents, legal citations, signature blocks, table of contents, and table of authorities sufficient to create legal documents according to document type and requirements and to recognize the meaning and significance of legal documents and terminology.
• Law library, legal reference books, and on-line Internet resources sufficient to locate research material and verify legal citations and quotations.
• Agency, State, and federal court rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Principles of business letter writing, basic report preparation, English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Work organization and office management principles and practices.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including copiers, scanners, computers, and computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• Principles of customer service.
Required Skill in:
• Utilizing software programs and features for the production of legal and non-legal documents such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, presentations, charts, databases, and/or spreadsheets sufficient to make edits or changes that improve the final work product and to complete error-free documents in a timely manner.
• Understand and articulate legal concepts.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside counsel, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public.
• Problem resolution involving issues that may be sensitive in nature; resolving disputes in an effective and timely manner.
• Applying principles and practices of technical expertise in interpreting and administering policies and procedures in assigned area, sufficient to discuss, resolve, and explain them to stakeholders, staff, and other constituencies.
• Reading and understanding complex written and oral instructions with minimal supervision sufficient to complete work assignments.
• Researching general and legal issues, collecting and analyzing information, and providing to legal counsel in a clear, concise manner.
• Organizing records, scheduling meetings, and other legal proceedings.
• Composing or drafting a variety of legal documents.
• Responding to inquiries and effectively communicating verbal and written instructions.
• Independent judgment exercised in most of the work, in close adherence to established criteria and legal policies.
Physical Demands / Work Environment:
• Work is performed in a standard office environment.
• Subject to standing, walking, bending, reaching, stooping, and lifting of objects up to 25 pounds.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.
Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.