Legal - Paralegal

TITLE: PARALEGAL
STATUS: NON-EXEMPT
REPORTS TO: VP - DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL
DEPARTMENT: LEGAL
JOB CODE: 1330

PAY RANGE: $44.39 - $54.00 HOURLY

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Working under general supervision and in a highly confidential role, the Paralegal provides legal and administrative support to the credit union’s General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and works with outside law firms and other Credit Union staff and management. The Paralegal serves to maintain the credibility, trust, and operation of the in-house counsel function.  The Paralegal maintains a balance among multiple priorities and works independently on complex projects from conception to completion.  The Paralegal must be able to work under pressure and handle a wide variety of activities and privileged and confidential matters with discretion and professionalism.

TASKS, DUTIES, FUNCTIONS:

1. Assists in-house counsel with organization and maintenance of legal databases and matters, legal research and analysis, contract review and revision, and document preparation. 
2. Maintains litigation tracking database and drafts reports for board and management regarding status of threatened, pending, and resolved litigation matters.
3. Assists with litigation management by, among other things, analyzing discovery requests, preparing discovery responses, assembling and reviewing responsive records, conducting factual investigations, and summarizing facts and legal issues. 
4. Drafts, proofreads, and edits legal and other documents, including litigation holds, internal and external correspondence, briefs, affidavits, settlement agreements and subpoena responses.
5. Assists in contract review process and workflow by screening for alignment with standard language and coordinating review by relevant stakeholders in alignment with established policies and procedures.
6. Reviews and routes legal mail, including administration of subpoena database, and maintains electronic and paper files for the Legal Department in a secure and organized way.  
7. Processes and/or routes invoices; creates and submits check requests.
8. Creates and maintains internal in-house legal policies and procedures.
9. Prioritizes conflicting needs, handles matters expeditiously and proactively, and follows through on projects to successful completion, often with deadline pressures.
10. Exercises tact, judgment, initiative, and knowledge of legal functional areas to determine those that can be handled by subordinates, staff, and other offices. Keeps all client and attorney information confidential.
11. Stays apprised of relevant legal and regulatory developments, including drafting summaries for leadership, and maintains a basic understanding of state and federal laws and regulations related to credit union governance and compliance appropriate to the position.
12. Performs other assignments and provides additional administrative support as needed.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTACTS & RELATIONSHIPS:

1. INTERNAL:  All levels of staff and management.
2. EXTERNAL:  Outside counsel, members, regulators, credit union industry associations, insurers, community and strategic partners, travel agency personnel, and other individuals and groups contacting management.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. EDUCATION:
   1. A bachelor’s degree; OR
   2. A certificate of completion of a paralegal program (i) approved by the American Bar Association and/or (ii) at an accredited postsecondary institution that requires the successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester, or equivalent, units in law-related courses.
2. EXPERIENCE: Five or more years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.  Litigation experience preferred.  Experience at a financial institution, government agency, or law firm preferred.
3. KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• General knowledge of federal and state laws relating to civil procedure, probate law, and debt collection.
• Familiarity with a range of legal documents, including contracts, briefs, summonses, complaints, subpoenas, orders, writs, and motions. Fluent in technical legal terminology. 
• Exceptional service, professionalism, tact, diplomacy, discretion, and confidentiality in all interactions and communications.
• Strong interpersonal skills.  Friendly, flexible, proactive, and adaptable.
• Strong work ethic and excellent judgment, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated project management skills and ability to track multiple concurrent projects and follow-through with senior management as required to keep deliverables and deadlines on track.
• Comfortable working independently and efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Anticipates assistance by identifying issues, needs, options, and solutions before being asked.
• Understanding of and alignment with the Credit Union and its culture, vision, goals, business initiatives and priorities.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Windows Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, Survey tools, and other standard office equipment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Prolonged sitting throughout the workday with occasional mobility required.
2. Corrected vision within the normal range.
3. Hearing within normal range.  A device to enhance hearing will be provided if needed.
4. Occasional movements throughout the department daily to interact with staff, accomplish tasks, etc.
5. Must possess sufficient manual dexterity to skillfully operate an on-line computer terminal and other standard office equipment, such as financial calculators, personal computer, facsimile machine and telephone.
6. Occasional lifting, bending, and stooping throughout the workday, weighing up to fifteen pounds.
7. Limited local and statewide travel by car or public conveyance.
8. Unusually long work hours may be required to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: None  

#LI-Hybrid

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IN NO WAY STATES OR IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY DUTIES TO BE PERFORMED BY THIS EMPLOYEE.   HE OR SHE WILL BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW OTHER INSTRUCTIONS AND TO PERFORM OTHER DUTIES REQUESTED BY HIS OR HER SUPERVISOR THAT ARE WITHIN HIS / HER KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY AS WELL AS HIS / HER MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES.

REV 02.12.2025