Lead PRA Paralegal - MUST BE BASED IN CALIFORNIA - $85-95K
Paralegals in this role are required to meet an annual billing minimum of 1,500 hours. The Lead Paralegal plays a key role in handling legal work related to public records requests under the California Public Records Act (CPRA) for public sector clients. The position involves direct collaboration with both public agency staff and attorneys, ensuring compliance and efficient management of CPRA requests.
Key responsibilities include:
- Analyzing public records requests and establishing search parameters for records, both physical and digital
- Supervising a team of paralegals to review and identify responsive documents while differentiating them from exempt or privileged records
- Drafting responses for public agency clients or communicating responses directly if instructed
- Managing deadlines and coordinating document production for CPRA requests
- Addressing questions from public agency staff and legal teams regarding CPRA requests
- Reviewing draft response letters from public agency staff and making necessary revisions
- Handling any immediate concerns or questions from public agency clients
As part of this role, the Lead Paralegal oversees the document review process, which includes:
- Assigning tasks to paralegals and providing relevant information related to public records requests
- Setting internal deadlines for paralegal reviewers and conducting final quality checks before document production
- Offering feedback to paralegal reviewers, addressing questions, and implementing any corrections needed
In addition, the Lead Paralegal works closely with both internal support teams and public agency clients to:
- Facilitate the transfer of records between public agencies and the legal team through various file-sharing methods
- Collaborate with the support team to create review databases and ensure smooth exports of documents for clients or requesters
A deep understanding of CPRA exemptions and related sections of California law governing public record disclosures is essential. The Lead Paralegal should also be proficient in specific software tools used for managing CPRA requests, tracking progress, and handling documents.
Strong communication skills are crucial, as the Lead Paralegal often serves as the main point of contact for public agency clients. Building positive, professional relationships with both clients and legal teams is key to success in this position.
Qualifications:
- Strong organizational, analytical, and case management skills
- Proficient in legal technology and software systems
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to interact with clients and team members professionally and courteously
- Capability to work independently with minimal oversight
- Certification in e-Discovery or similar qualifications
- Must comply with California’s legal code for paralegals and possess a paralegal certificate from an accredited institution
This role offers a dynamic opportunity to lead legal support efforts in managing complex public records requests while working closely with a variety of public sector clients and legal professionals.
