Description

Job Description:

Senior Paralegal in Knoxville, TN

Be part of a dynamic team in providing legal and technical services to support the Department of Justice and other U.S. Government agencies. From emails and instant messages, to serves, electronic devices, and social media systems, we’re equipped to meet the challenge of forensically capturing, reviewing, and illuminating the “smoking gun” evidence. Join us and make a difference. Leidos is looking for a top notch Senior Paralegal to provide direct legal support to the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit in support of one of our federal agency customers in Knoxville, TN..

Overtime and travel may be required as needed with proper authorization. Individual may support any division/section within depending on the needs of the office at time of hire.

Typical assignments for the Senior Paralegal include the following but not limited to:

• Examines, prepares, and processes a variety of technical legal documents which are characteristically voluminous and complex in format.

• Reviews incoming material and independently determines the need for assembly and preparation of a variety of legal documents, e.g., complaints, motions, orders, answers, pleadings, and subpoenas.

• Reviews and analyzes case files and evidence and, for example, identifies potentially conflicting information and statements, and areas requiring further investigation.

• Assists attorneys in all phases of pre-litigation investigation, including witness interviews and complex factual research. Related tasks may include, for example, assistance with identifying, obtaining, summarizing and analyzing relevant claims data.

• Assists with document review and maintaining case files, including through use of Relativity and similar document management and review platforms to manage documentary evidence and discovery.

• In preparation of documents, considers the nature and the status of the case involved. With limited instructions from the AUSA, prepares such documents as draft pleadings, discovery responses and requests, applications, notices, affidavits, summonses, and subpoenas.

• Completes variable aspects of recurring legal documents in conformance with the rules governing their style and format.

• Provides assistance to attorneys in trial preparation by performing duties such as independently compiling trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling witness and exhibit lists.

• Coordinates with the victim/witness specialist to ensure adherence to current Departmental guidelines relating to victims’ rights and services responsibilities.

• Notifies appropriate individuals of victim/witness issues.

• Develops tables of contents and indices to briefs in accordance with established format. Lists cited cases, opinions and miscellaneous references in briefs.

• Composes original letters that do not require legal interpretations, but do require a good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology, e.g., transmittal of pleadings, requests for extensions of time in certain cases, notifying of actions taken or developments in cases referred by other federal departments and agencies, and notices to attorneys representing defendants.

• Legal Research - Performs detailed and specialized legal research including complex issues and legislative history, case decisions and providing case precedent. Using original and online legal resources, verifies citations and statutory references contained in legal documents. Ensures citations are complete and consistent with source material. Using multiple online legal systems, researches references such as agency manuals, directives, issuances, court reports, appellate records or commercial legal publications to locate appropriate data such as applicable precedents, legislative history and commentaries which bear on particular legal issues. Independently analyzes both issues of fact and issues of law in order to prepare digests of case decisions and evaluate the applicability of precedents. Determines which statutes, regulations, cases, procedures and/or policies need to be researched and assembled, prepares initial summary and makes recommendations as to appropriateness of data. Organizes and prepares research material and determines information that is pertinent to the case. Research assists in the development of cases and is predicated on facts derived from a review of case information, requests from AUSAs and a review of documentary evidence or facts. Performs basic legal analysis of routine requests for information.

• Legal Writing – At direction of assigned AUSA, prepares a variety of substantive legal documents to include legal memoranda, motions and motion oppositions, jury instructions and other pleadings, correspondence and papers related to civil actions. Prepares documents that summarize and explain case files, depositions, or interrogatories. Analyzes information, identifies missing information that requires additional research or investigation and identifies the appropriate reference source. Drafts legal documents that identify the legal or factual issues in the case, locate precedents and develop legally supportable conclusions. Uses considerable judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines to draft correspondence and legal documents that accurately summarize information. Reviews, proofreads and edits legal documents. Verifies citations and statutory references against original sources. These documents are drafted for review and approval by an AUSA prior to being submitted.

Provides a variety of direct clerical and administrative support assistance services to AUSA staff. Typical assignments include but not limited to:

• Receives visitors and telephone callers. Furnishes requested information concerning pending and closed matters and cases, functions and general procedures of the office. Determines which matters should be referred to the AUSA and the urgency of the matter.

• Establishes and maintains a variety of files.

• Searches legal reference files for information needed by AUSAs in conducting interviews and preparing correspondence.

• Assembles exhibits, affidavits, and other legal documents from file material.

• Separates, screens, selects, assembles, and organizes files and records material for disposition or transfer to records depository in accordance with established procedures.

• Performs docketing duties such as opening, updating and closing cases through use of the automated case tracking system.

• As necessary, searches database for required information.

• Enters information into various databases and monitors for continued necessity. Reviews bills and invoices and submits to budget office for payment.

• Maintains calendar of assigned active cases. Tracks filing, hearing, and trial dates, and scheduling conferences and interviews. Develops and maintains suspense system for ongoing cases and informs the AUSA of pending dates and deadlines. Maintains calendar(s) of the AUSA(s), scheduling appointments, interviews, and conferences, and provides reminders of commitments and court appearances.

• Arranges travel by preparing itinerary, and securing transportation and hotel reservations. Prepares travel authorizations and vouchers for traveler signature and Government approval.

• Provides automated litigation assistance to attorneys in trial preparation and courtroom presentations. Utilizes various software applications and graphics hardware such as scanners and plotters. Prepares documents, charts, and visual materials for use in trials. Provides technical support e.g., enlarging charts and photographs, duplicating tapes and videos, and marking exhibits.

• Produces a variety of written documents and materials utilizing a wide range of office software applications. For example, assignments may include integrating output from different software types, e.g., tables produced by database applications and charts and graphs produced by electronic spreadsheet applications, into word processing or desk top publishing text. Products include complicated tables, graphs and charts which may be incorporated into legal documents or courtroom presentations. Ensures proper format, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar.

The above mentioned duties may be performed as single functions or in combination with one another. One is expected to perform senior paralegal duties as defined by the contract

Basic Qualifications of the Senior Paralegal:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Requires paralegal certificate, or JD, or currently attending an ABA-accredited law school, having completed at least one year of study, or an equivalent level of legal training or experience; or an equivalent level of education may be substituted

• Additionally at least two years of litigation paralegal experience or project is required;

• At least one year of experience in automated litigation support.

• Requires sound working knowledge of federal and state court system, legal research procedures, and legal research resources.

• Requires thorough knowledge of legal research tools such as LEXIS and Westlaw.

• Must have hands-on familiarity with a variety of computer applications, including word processing, databases (such as document review and file management systems), spreadsheets, imaging, and hardware systems.

• Hands-on familiarity with ESI tools and knowledge of eDiscovery procedures and resources.

• Ability to consistently deliver highest quality work under extreme pressure will be very important.

• Some walking, standing, bending and carrying of small office items

• Ability to obtain a security clearance.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a Government and/or Litigation Support environment in conjunction with basic qualifications, preferred.

• Automated litigation support experience.

• Trial experience very helpful.

• Experience supporting Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit and/or cases, preferred.

• Experience with organization and management of a large volume of documents/discovery.

• Current or active clearance.

This position is covered under the Service Contract Act and is subject to minimum wage requirements as well as the minimum Health and Welfare benefit. Leidos will ensure that all provisions are met through their wages and benefits. The pay for this position will be $23.79/hr.

MEGA

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.