Position Overview:
A Paralegal’s primary role is to assist our legal team in guardianship, estate planning, and probate matters. Responsibilities include legal research, drafting wills, trusts, durable power of attorney, health care surrogate, living will, preneed guardian for estate plans, as well as preparing pleadings, motions, and orders. The paralegal also supports preparation of hearings, accountings, legal notices, trust administration after death, obtaining EINs, and closing pleadings when a ward passes away. By delivering quality, billable services at a lower rate than an attorney, Paralegals provide significant value to the Firm’s clients.
This is a Non-Exempt position.
Reporting Relationship:
The Paralegal will work under the direction of assigned attorneys, with the Firm Administrator overseeing the overall employment relationship.
Authority:
Paralegals operate under strict compliance with the ABA’s Rules of Professional Conduct and State Bar Association regulations. All work must be supervised by an attorney, and Paralegals should refrain from giving legal advice to clients regarding case outcomes or actions.
Responsibilities:
- Communicate with clients and other parties to provide updates and gather information; answer basic questions about the status of the case.
- Schedule case events.
- Monitor case progress, deadlines, and important time frames/milestones.
- Draft documents, indexes, and chronologies; prepare fee engagement packages and contracts; draft letters and court documents; fill out legal forms; write reports, etc.
- Help attorneys prepare cases for hearings.
- Maintain and organize files.
- Manage client relationships and work with accountants and financial advisors.
- Research laws and judicial decisions on current as well as past cases.
- Assist lawyers in preparing for the courtroom.
- Perform basic data entry and update the case management system.
- Enter billable and non-billable time in the case management system.
Daily Tasks:
- Review reminders and calendar items; prioritize workload.
- Complete tasks and triage emails.
- Organize and summarize case information and files.
- Docket (schedule) legal events/case milestones.
- Draft letters, reports, and documents.
- Prepare for meetings, depositions, and hearings.
- Enter billable time.
Weekly Tasks:
- Meet with associates and the legal team for case status updates
- Provide regular updates to clients
Monthly Tasks:
- Attend Case Status Update meetings and update case records accordingly
Education & Experience Requirements:
- Completion of a paralegal certification program from an accredited institution
- 3 to 5 years of experience in a Florida law firm specializing in guardianship, estate planning, probate, and trust administration.
- Previous experience as a legal secretary or legal assistant is preferred.
Key Performance Indicators:
- Achieve 1,400 recorded billable hours annually (average of 350 hours per quarter).
- Complete 90% of assigned tasks by the established due date.
- Maintain professional reliability with no more than 3 unplanned absences, late arrivals, or late departures within any 90-day period.
