Litigation Paralegal - Bankruptcy & Litigation - (Administrative Technician) - Office of Law

Howard County Government•Ellicott City, MD

10d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides comprehensive legal support in the Office of Law by assisting a team of civil litigation attorneys. Work may involve conducting research, filing claims, drafting pleadings, and providing other paralegal support. Performs routine paralegal work under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. This is a Classified position, meaning that it is a part of the Howard County Classified Service upon completion of a probationary period of at least six (6) months. This position serves in a confidential capacity within the definition of Howard County labor relations law and is ineligible for membership in a collective bargaining unit.

Requirements

Associate's degree and three (3) years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Paralegal certificate or degree from a program certified by the American Bar Association.

Nice To Haves

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organizational skills.
Strong analytical skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
Attention to detail.
Ability to work well under pressure and meet competing time demands.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team.
Ability to communicate, cooperate, and work well with a wide variety of individuals including office co-workers, County personnel, court personnel, members of the public, other parties to County transactions and their attorneys, civil litigation defendants, and their attorneys, etc.

Responsibilities

Support collection, bankruptcy, and civil citation matters under attorney supervision.
Conduct case work-ups and communicate with debtors and courts.
Serve court process.
File suits and other court papers and assist in enforcing judgments.
Prepare and file bankruptcy proofs of claim and other bankruptcy-related documents nationwide.
Identify issues of law or fact under attorney supervision.
Research cases, statutes, regulations, and other legal authorities using print materials, Westlaw, and similar tools.
Draft correspondence for clients, creditors, and court personnel.
Proofread legal memoranda for accuracy and completeness.
Check citations for proper Bluebook format.
Verify quotations and case references.
Use Shepard's Citations or a similar resource/tool to validate cited cases.
Prepare and organize documentation required for litigation.
Assist attorneys in trial preparation, including exhibits, file organization, and copying documents.
Attend and assist at trial as necessary.
File pleadings through electronic systems such as MDEC and PACER.
Travel to retrieve records from courts, government agencies, and third parties.
Open, organize, maintain, and close legal files.
Work within document management/workflow systems such as HighQ.
Schedule meetings, maintain calendars, and support office operations.
Assist with filing, mail distribution, and general office tasks.
Work collaboratively with a team of paralegals supporting both legal and administrative functions.
Communicate effectively with the public, employees, and officials of county, state, and federal agencies and courts.