Corporate Paralegal - Litigation (Contract)

Job Summary

UFCU is looking for an experienced, highly motivated paralegal to join our dynamic legal team!

The primary objective of the Corporate Paralegal – Litigation is to assist the Legal Team with a wide variety of litigation and disputes with a primary focus on collections litigation. This will include: tracking and updating cases; document drafting; document management and e-filing; research; and coordination with Outside Counsel, Opposing counsel, and other interested parties. Additionally, the Corporate Paralegal – Litigation will contribute to the Legal Department’s thoughtful and timely legal and counseling services provided to the Cooperative, its internal Business Units, and the membership.  All activities are to be conducted in compliance with UFCU policies and the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct.

Our legal team is client-focused and operates in a collegial atmosphere where we seek to ensure timely provision of the best and most reasonable advice, which enables our business units to identify and reduce risks while quickly completing new projects and emplacing efficient processes. A successful candidate will be task-driven and detail-oriented; will have a desire to learn, to improve themselves and the team; will have excellent research and writing abilities; and will be unafraid to ask for help and provide feedback.

About UFCU

As Austin’s largest locally-owned financial institution, University Federal Credit Union is a financial institution owned by, dedicated to, and always working for our Members.  Our mission at UFCU is simple: to provide for the well-being of our Members. We’re proud to focus on people — not profits. We deliver fair and honest products and outstanding service, and we work collaboratively within our organization as well as our community to help Members achieve their personal and financial goals. 

UFCU is proud of its people-first culture. We value our employees as much as our Members.  We offer a family environment where people deeply care about each other and their work.  If you want to love what you do, make an impact in your community, and have the power to help people change their lives – then we’re glad you’re here.

Essential Functions

Legal Support Services

• Under the guidance of corporate attorneys, draft and file litigation-related documents on a wide variety of matters that affect credit union interests with an emphasis on collections litigation.
• Efficiently track cases and other matters, ensure cases are timely processed and completed, and ensure all deadlines are met.
• Investigate and analyze facts and applicable legal requirements to support responses to member complaints, disputes, threats of litigation, litigation, internal investigations, legal and regulatory matters, and other matters.
• Conduct legal research (including statues, case law and regulations) and resolve routine law questions under the guidance of corporate attorneys.
• Support attorneys and internal stakeholders on responding to internal and external legal inquiries.
• Help provide necessary litigation and discovery/eDiscovery support, as necessary. This includes:
  • Review and preparation of discovery materials;
  • Coordination of work though external counsel;
  • Coordination with team members to create, maintain, administer, manage and enhance eDiscovery efficiencies.
• Conduct administrative tasks:
  • Process and/or route invoices; create and submit check requests.
  • Assist in case management and associated reporting for legal matters.
  • Maintain accurate and organized paper and electronic files in accordance with established policies and guidelines.
• Handle special projects and assignments as assigned and directed by Legal Department attorneys.
• Interface with senior leaders, internal staff, business partners, outside counsel, opposing counsel and staff, and vendors.
• Actively participate in community relations activities and groups to represent UFCU.
• Provide legal support on a wide array of strategic operational, governance, business and litigation matters.
• Administer routine contract requirements, prepare and file required filings, and contribute to legal team’s corporate governance responsibilities.
• Problem solve with a high degree of independent decision-making and sound judgment.

Legal Department Process Improvement

• Develop professional relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally to ensure the business needs of UFCU are met.
• Be willing to contribute to the constant improvement of legal services at UFCU, including the processes and efficiencies therein.

Research and Continuing Paralegal Education (CPE)

• Develop familiarity with the legal service needs of UFCU, its processes and controls, and the credit union industry.
• Stay abreast of laws, regulations, and internal policies to ensure management develops and implements appropriate procedures to meet regulatory compliance requirements.
• Regularly attend appropriate Continuing Paralegal Education Courses related to areas of responsibility, and disseminate appropriate information to applicable individuals and departments

Other

• Adhere to all company policies, procedures, and business ethics codes.
• Complete required regulatory training as assigned.
• Maintain strict adherence and compliance to all laws, rules, regulations and internal controls specific to the role, including but not limited to Bank Secrecy Act, Anti-Money Laundering, USA Patriot Act, OFAC and Fair Lending regulations.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Effective communicator, written, spoken, and through active listening.

• Ability to conduct legal research on the internet, and with Lexis and other resources.

• Knowledge of personal computers and software applications, specifically knowledge of Microsoft product suite, and willingness to gain proficiencies of proprietary applications and tools.
• Ability to maintain strong collaborative working relationships with staff, management, and members.
• Must demonstrate a bias toward integrity and ethics.

Competencies

• Leading & Developing Self
• Organizational Impact

Experience

Minimum Requirements

• High school and/or some college or university education.
• Paralegal Certification Program Completion.
• Must be bondable

Preferred Experience

• Three (3) + years of demonstrated success in legal support and coordination, preferably in a financial institution or other financial services company, or in a private law firm.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel, Power Point, Word (required) and graphics skills.
• Working knowledge of Texas banking laws and legal research engines.
• Experience with litigation and collections activities.

Things You Need to Know Before You Apply

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee, with or without accommodation, in order to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Frequent

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Employee will make extensive use of the telephone requiring the ability to effectively and accurately explain complex information.

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

• This position is required to frequently work at UFCU Plaza in Austin, Texas.
• This position may involve periodic stressful conditions.
• Occasional adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours.
• May occasionally move from one work location/branch to another.
• Public contact position, requiring appropriate professional appearance.
• Frequent computer use at a workstation up to two hours at a time.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Will help represent UFCU in courts of law.

Additional Job Information

Reports To                                      Supervision Exercised                                Department

Director – Legal/Compliance      None                                                              Legal/Compliance

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