Paralegal / Senior Paralegal

Chesapeake Employers Insurance•Towson, MD

13h•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves assisting attorneys with dockets before the Workers’ Compensation Commission and appeals before Maryland trial courts. The Paralegal will assemble and disassemble hearing files, prepare exhibits, determine the sufficiency of reports, and identify information supporting the company's defense. They will also make recommendations to adjusters and attorneys regarding investigation and resolution, identify potential conflicts and SIF cases, and gather information for discovery responses. The position requires drafting correspondence and pleadings, organizing appeal files, maintaining attorney calendars, scheduling appearances, and requesting payment for legal bills. Additionally, the Paralegal will gather information for policyholder letters, participate in departmental projects, and review attorney early review notes to complete assigned tasks. The Senior Paralegal role assists two or more staff attorneys with dockets before the Workers’ Compensation Commission and appeals before Maryland trial courts. Responsibilities include creating hearing and appeal files, identifying defenses and evidence, preparing exhibits, determining the sufficiency of IME reports and SIU investigations, and arranging witness attendance. The Senior Paralegal will recommend actions for claim resolution or defense, determine legal sufficiency of filed issues, and coordinate actions. They will maintain attorney calendars, schedule appearances, coordinate discovery, and draft discovery motions, pleadings, appellate briefs, and other litigation documents under attorney supervision. The role also involves identifying potential conflicts, requesting payment for legal bills, and reviewing attorney early review notes.

Requirements

High School Diploma required and 2+ years of experience in a legal firm or department as a legal assistant.
AA Degree in Paralegal Studies or Paralegal Certificate required, or 4+ years of experience as a workers’ compensation legal assistant.
Basic PC skills.
Ability to multitask and work independently; high flexibility.
Excellent keyboarding skills.
Minimum AA Degree in Paralegal Studies with at least 2 years of experience preparing Maryland workers’ compensation cases for hearing attorney’s review.
Intermediate level of PC skills, including demonstrable strong working knowledge of Word, Excel, and preferably PowerPoint.
Must demonstrate professionalism and core values of integrity, teamwork, excellence, accountability, and moving forward through innovation.
Excellent interpersonal and cognitive skills.
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, as well as strong proofreading skills.
Demonstrated ability to draft complex pleadings and discovery and conduct legal research using various methods, i.e., law library and online programs.
Proficient in Microsoft Office.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual skills preferred.

Responsibilities

Assembles/disassembles hearing files accurately and timely in accordance with protocols, including preparation and faxing of exhibits, determining sufficiency of the company’s IME report and identifying information that supports the company’s defense.
Makes recommendations to adjuster and attorney regarding additional actions to be taken by way of investigation and potential for resolution.
Identifies potential conflict and SIF cases.
Identifies information with which to respond to discovery requests.
Drafts and types correspondence and pleadings.
Organizes appeal files.
Keeps attorney calendar, including scheduling appearances as directed and diarying pertinent dates.
Requests payment for legal-incurred bills.
Gathers information for preparation of policyholder letters.
Participates in departmental projects and completes all duties as assigned.
Identify cases assigned to attorney and provide attorney with case issues and assigned commissioner.
Review attorney early review notes and complete assigned tasks as applicable.
Creates hearing and appeal files, including identifying additional defenses and evidence supporting defense, preparing exhibits, determining sufficiency of IME reports and SIU investigations, and arranging for witness attendance.
Recommends additional actions necessary to resolve or defend claim.
Determines legal sufficiency of issues filed, recommends additional actions to resolve or defend claim, and coordinates action to be accomplished.
Maintains attorney calendar, including scheduling appearances and coordinating discovery with clients and witnesses.
Under the direct supervision of an attorney, drafts discovery motions, pleadings, appellate briefs, and other litigation-related documents.
Identifies potential conflicts.
Identify cases assigned to attorney and provide attorney with case issues and assigned commissioner.
Review attorney early review notes and complete assigned tasks as applicable.