Paralegal - Litigation

Cranfill Sumner LLP is seeking an experienced paralegal to join our fast-paced litigation section in our Raleigh office. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience in a busy litigation practice, assisting multiple attorneys in their daily work. This role requires strong litigation experience, including case management, document preparation, and managing deadlines in a high-volume environment. The successful candidate will play a key role in enhancing attorney effectiveness by providing critical legal support. Experience with business law is helpful.

• 4 year degree, or
• Paralegal certificate from an ABA accredited paralegal program, or
• At least 10 years' experience working as a paralegal

• Must be proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite; i.e., Word, Outlook, etc.
• Minimum typing speed of 50 wpm
• Knowledge of NetDocuments (Document Management Software), and Aderant helpful
• Must be flexible/detail oriented
• Excellent client service or interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure and handle conflicting priorities
• Ability to maintain confidential information
• Ability to provide paralegal support for two or more attorneys
• Ability to complete tasks in a timely fashion
• Ability to manage/meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently, or as part of a team, using initiative in all aspects of assignments
• Keen observation skills
• North Carolina litigation paralegal experience required
• Working knowledge or familiarity with NC and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Evidence

EXPECTATIONS

• Regular attendance 5 days per week consistently on time (unless pre-approved or modified schedule)

• Accuracy of work product

• Aspire to record 100 or more billable hours per month

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The litigation paralegal position may involve some or all of the following duties:

• Record daily billable time in time and billing system;

• Draft correspondence, case status reports and budgets;

• Draft pleadings, including answers, motions, notices, orders, calendar requests, subpoenas, affidavits, and other court filings;

• Draft discovery requests and responses;

• Draft Settlement Agreements and Releases;

• Confer with clients/insureds regarding discovery responses, mediation, depositions, etc.;

• Locate, contact and/or interview parties, witnesses, and experts;

• Communicate with opposing counsel, co-counsel, clients, insureds, expert witnesses, court personnel, and others, to facilitate progress of cases;

• Communicate with vendors regarding copying, preparation of exhibits, imaging, etc.;

• Prepare information to be provided to experts, including pleadings, demographics, and medical records, and maintain a record of the same;

• Review and analysis of large quantities of documents for confidentiality/privilege/work product/relevance prior to production to plaintiffs counsel;

• Maintain deposition errata sheets;

• Prepare medical and event chronologies;

• Summarize depositions;

• Summarize discovery responses from other parties;

• Prepare and update indices of pleadings, discovery, and other file materials;

• Organize, analyze and maintain case file, including documents, discovery, pleadings, medical records, and trial notebooks;

• Perform online research regarding criminal record, driving record, and civil suit histories;

• Perform legal research;

• Cite-check briefs and assist in preparation of supporting exhibits;

• Create databases, code documents, and load deposition transcripts into Eclipse;

• Assist with preparations for hearings/mediations/trials, including preparation of exhibits, power point presentations, notebooks, etc.;

• Maintain attorney deadlines and calendar Any other related tasks that may be assigned by Management or supervising attorneys.