Paralegal

JOB SUMMARY:   Perform paralegal duties for departments throughout the company. Serve as initial point of contact for all incoming contractual and legal requests and track the progress of such matters to completion. Support the General Counsel in legal, corporate, and compliance matters.      ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  Draft, analyze, review, and propose revisions to vendor, real estate, client, settlement, and other agreements. Communicate with, and consolidate information from, various internal departments relative to the contract review process. Outline contract requirements and potential issues for stakeholders throughout the company. Analyze and draft responsive memoranda to inquiries and requests for legal assistance from employees, clients, and outside counsel, conducting research and consulting with General Counsel as necessary. Maintain key registrations and filings with governmental and quasi-governmental agencies, including System for Award Management (SAM) and the U.S. Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). Oversee contractual and compliance matters with respect to key defense client, subject to oversight by General Counsel as necessary. Review litigation matters and prepare quarterly litigation status reports. At the request of General Counsel, review and suggest revisions to pleadings and other documents in ongoing litigation matters. Prepare litigation holds and releases. Ensure compliance with key deadlines in all litigation matters. Coordinate response to all subpoenas served on Empire, conferring with Technical Services, IT, and numerous other departments throughout the organization, reviewing responsive documents, and preparing such documents for production. Work with the Credit Department in collection and related matters. Draft demand letters, maintain a record of the status of collection matters, and track all judgment renewals. Review bankruptcy documents and prepare proofs of claim. Prepare and file corporate documents for Empire and numerous affiliated entities, including articles of organization, corporate resolutions, annual reports, notices, etc. Maintain statutory agent and registered agent filings throughout the territory and in various other states. Coordinate pending matters between the Legal Department and other departments within the company, including Sales, Service, Parts, Transport, Human Resources, Procurement, and Credit. Contact and maintain a working relationship with outside counsel, clients, vendors, and others. Consistently follow up as necessary to bring matters to conclusion. Maintain accurate records of all trademarks, trade name and fictitious name registrations in Arizona, Nevada and California and coordinate with outside counsel as necessary. Work safely at all times, adhere to all applicable safety policies, and comply with all company policies, procedures and standards.   ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:  Accept service of writs of garnishment and provide guidance to payroll regarding responding to garnishments. Attend training and continuing legal education seminars. Performs other duties as needed Work within and promote corporate values.   KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  Must be able to use judgment and discretion to perform responsibilities and have a cooperative attitude. Must be willing to learn new skills, attend seminars and training sessions, and read literature on legal issues. Must be willing to assist others with legal matters as needed. Must have interpersonal skills sufficient to work with people in a positive, professional manner. Must be able to analyze legal situations and documents, to propose resolutions to legal issues, and make sound judgments in job responsibility areas. Must have organizational skills, be detail oriented, be able to plan and set priorities to accomplish tasks and goals on schedule with limited supervision. Must have knowledge of the various court filing procedures, and be able to prepare and file with the court various legal documents. Must be trustworthy and able to maintain confidentiality. Must be able to professionally communicate with lawyers, their assistants and clerks, court personnel and other legal personnel necessary to conduct Legal Department business. Must use proper English grammar, punctuation, and spelling, have basic math skills, and be able to use a calculator. Must be proficient in Word, OneDrive, Excel, Power Point, contract management software, and redlining programs. Must be able to maintain consistent attendance.   EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:  Must have bachelor’s degree or current paralegal certification. Minimum of five years of paralegal experience within the last ten years. Must be able to communicate (speak, read, comprehend, write) in English.   PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands, speak clearly and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop and kneel.  The employee is occasionally required to lift and/pr move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. WORK ENVIRONMENTThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to moving mechanical parts.  The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, extreme cold, and extreme heat.  The noise level in the work environment is usually office moderate.