Legal Recovery Specialist

Vibrant Credit Union•Moline, IL

About The Position

The Legal Recovery Specialist supports Vibrant Credit Union’s Collections department with asset recovery and collections matters, including bankruptcy tracking, litigation support, probate claims, and coordination with outside legal counsel and recovery vendors. The role maintains accurate account files, monitors and prioritizes shared and departmental email communications, produces statutory and account-related outbound mail, processes payments and Collections-specific transactions, and generates and securely uploads daily operational files to vendor platforms while maintaining data integrity and meeting deadlines. The Specialist tracks bankruptcy proceedings, monitors court dockets and deadlines, assists with proofs of claim and collection lawsuits, coordinates legal documentation and communications, and supports probate claims. The role also serves as an operational contact for outside counsel and vendors, conducts factual and legal research, drafts documents as directed by counsel, processes Collections transactions and adjustments, and assists with department mail, vendor payments, and other administrative work. The position reports to the Collections Manager and operates in a professional office environment.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Minimum one to three years of paralegal or legal support experience, preferably in a financial institution, law firm, or collections/asset recovery environment.
Working knowledge of bankruptcy law and proceedings, including Chapters 7, 11, and 13, proof-of-claim filing, and court docket monitoring.
Experience coordinating with outside legal counsel and managing legal files across multiple active matters.
Strong analytical, organizational, and written communication skills, with the ability to independently manage competing deadlines.
Ability to operate related computer applications and office equipment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
Ability to maintain confidentiality of member and account information.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, Legal Studies, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
Paralegal certificate from an ABA-approved program.
Familiarity with legal research tools and court filing systems such as PACER.
Experience drafting demand letters, affidavits, or settlement documents.
Experience with financial adjustments, payment application, reconciliation, or general ledger management.

Responsibilities

Track accounts in active Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 bankruptcy proceedings; monitor court dockets, deadlines, and plan confirmations; and maintain current system statuses and correspondence.
Assist with preparation, review, and filing of proofs of claim, and consult with inside and outside counsel to ensure submissions are accurate, timely, and complete.
Coordinate responses to bankruptcy notices and filings and promptly update relevant internal systems.
Communicate with outside bankruptcy counsel, escalate time-sensitive matters, and provide documentation and account histories as needed.
Assist with preparing and filing collection lawsuits, including money judgments, replevin actions, and collateral repossession proceedings; support attorneys with litigation coordination and document management.
Support probate matters, including filing, amending, and releasing claims against decedent estates as directed, and coordinate counsel review and approval before claim release or resolution.
Serve as the operational contact for outside counsel handling asset recovery, collections, and bankruptcy matters; manage file placement, case updates, escalations, and document exchange.
Prepare, review, and securely upload account documentation to legal counsel and third-party recovery vendors; monitor the status of files placed with outside counsel.
Review and process invoices from outside legal counsel and recovery vendors, track legal spending against the department budget, and flag variances.
Conduct factual and legal research in support of asset recovery matters; draft demand letters, settlement agreements, affidavits of debt, and other legal documents as directed by counsel.
Monitor repossession, departmental, and bankruptcy shared inboxes; prioritize and respond to inquiries, route time-sensitive items, and maintain documentation in internal systems.
Assist in creating and updating process documentation, procedure guides, and compliance-related department records.
Assist with OREO, FMV Write Down, Charge Off Processing, and Vehicles in Process of Liquidation write downs; maintain accurate account and file documentation.
Process payments, reversals, and reapplications for repossession and post-charge recoveries received from the in-house recovery team, placement agencies, and firms.
Perform Collections transactions, including posting exception payments, claim funds, and sale proceeds; disburse checks; process deposits, transfers, and withdrawals on serviced accounts; and research and adjust loans, accounts, and related general ledgers as necessary.
Assist with department mail processing, vendor payments, and other administrative functions.
Generate and securely upload daily operational files to vendor platforms for first- and third-party collections, maintain data integrity, meet deadlines, and resolve issues.
Assume related duties and special projects as required or assigned.
Adhere to the Credit Union’s core values and Service Standards; demonstrate positive member service and teamwork; and maintain confidentiality of member and account information.