Lead Paralegal

Performs variety of assignments, which may include but not be limited to drafting, reviewing, and approving for forma and legality, various legal instruments, preparing routine opinions on regulations, procedures, and operations of a unit or agency, for an attorney’s approval. Work involves research into laws and legal precedents. Employee may present findings with preliminary legal analysis subject to professional legal review. Oversees the activities of a team of paralegals within the legal department.  Responsible for managing and coordinating the team’s efforts, ensuring that all work is completed accurately and timely.  Work is reviewed through inspection, conferences, reports, and review of completed work.

Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the paralegal team.
• Assigning cases and tasks based on areas of expertise and workload capacities.
• Reviewing and signing off on paralegal work product.
• Training and mentoring junior paralegals and new hires.
• Coordinating with attorneys to ensure the paralegal team is adequately supporting legal proceedings.
• Managing the recruitment, hiring, and performance review processes for the paralegal team.
• Developing, implementing, and maintaining paralegal procedures and protocols. 
• Ensuring paralegal compliance with all regulations, state and federal laws, and ethical standards.
• Monitoring the paralegal team’s productivity and efficiency and developing strategies for improvement.
• Maintaining accurate records and preparing reports related to the work of the paralegal team.
• Resolving any issues or conflicts that arise between paralegal team and attorneys or staff.
• Ensuring that all legal documents are correctly drafted and filed.
• Coordinating schedules for staffing court cases.
• Preparing Juvenile Summons, Petitions, Notices of Hearing and Affidavits for all abuse/neglect/dependency cases and filing them at the District Courthouse in Pender County.
• Assisting the attorney in preparing petitions, subpoenas, and applications of Writ of Habeas Corpus.
• Receiving, organizing, and disseminating all court reports to all parties and inputting in Legal Department database.
• Distributing all Discovery in juvenile matters to all involved parties in a timely fashion.
• Attending and recording notes from the monthly Department of Social Services (“DSS”) court sessions.
• Disseminating all signed court orders, preparing orders for court cases wherein custody or guardianship is granted.
• Preparing monthly DSS court calendar, monthly Permanency Planning Review schedule, and orders for Compliance with Rule 7 of Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.
• Inputting all client information into Legal Database.
• Interacting with Attorneys, Judges, social workers, supervisors, program managers, Clerk of Court, law enforcement, child forensic interviewers, medical doctors, etc.
• Knowledge of NC General Statutes Chapter 7B, Juvenile Code and Chapter 1A, and rules of Civil Procedure.
• Knowledge of Elder Abuse and Elder Financial Exploitation Statutes Chapter 108A-101.
• Preparing and filing all Petitions for the adjudication of Incompetence, Notice of Hearing, Application for Appointment of Guardian, Certificates of Service, and delivering Ward’s copy and the Guardian ad Litem’s copy to the Sheriff. Mailing all filed documents to all other parties.
• Scheduling hearing dates.
• Preparing Applications for Letters of Appointment of Guardianship of the Person, Guardianship of the Estate, General Guardianship and/or Limited Guardianship.
• Preparing Oath/Affirmation for Fiduciary, Order Authorizing Issuance of the Appointment of Letters, Applications for Appointment of Guardian, Letters of Appointment for the Clerk of Superior Court, and Motions to Modify guardianship.
• Preparing Requests for State Bond Coverage (DAAS 7016), preparing and filing Corporate Surety Bond AOC Form E-401.
• Attending court, assisting in collection of Defendant payments.
• Assisting staff in preparing purge sheets, preparing subpoenas, and Motions to secure liens for Defendants in Estate probate matters.
• Inputting Court orders on all CPS/APS clients to assist other DSS departments in verifying Custody, Guardianship, and income information.
• Other duties as assigned.

A meticulous and experienced Lead Paralegal to oversee the team of paralegals.  Responsibilities include supervising and managing a team of paralegals, coordinating with attorneys, overseeing all legal documentation, and improving the efficiency of legal procedures.  Should have strong interpersonal and leadership skills, a deep understanding of legal terminologies and principles, and have the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Significant knowledge of office methods and practices. Knowledge of and ability to use correct grammar, vocabulary, spelling and office terminology to compose correspondence. Ability to use web-based programs and input data. Proficient in MS Office Suite and Outlook. Ability to work with people with courtesy and tact in performing public contact duties that may be sensitive in nature. This position requires the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and assignments. Good organizational and mathematical skills are essential to this position. The ability to communicate with clients/applicants and public officials to obtain data is vital to this position. The ability to diffuse potentially hostile clients and be firm in communicating agency policy is essential.

• Proven work experience as a Lead Paralegal or similar role in a law firm or legal department.
• Extensive knowledge of legal principles and terminologies.
• Strong leadership, managerial, and supervisory skills, including task assignments, workload management, hiring, mentoring, and performance evaluations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact with attorneys, clients, and other legal professionals. 
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Proficiency in legal research and documentation.
• Ability to conduct legal research, draft legal documents, maintain case files, and assist attorneys during trials or hearings.
• Ability to stay updated on changes in legal regulations, court decisions, and legal technology.
• Strong problem-solving skills to identify potential legal issues, propose solutions, and assist in decision-making processes.
• Attention to detail for reviewing legal documents, conducting research, and ensuring accuracy.
• Knowledge of legal software and technology for efficient case management, document review, and legal research.
• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Paralegal Studies, or a related field.
• Paralegal certification preferred.
• A minimum of 5 to 7 years of experience in a paralegal role, with a portion spent in a supervisory or managerial position.
• Valid driver’s license in the State of North Carolina.

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and reaching with hands and arms, frequently requires standing and occasionally requires walking, sitting, pushing or pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).