Paralegal

Reporting to the Legal Director, the Paralegal will work under the supervision of our attorneys to provide legal services to CJI clients in protective order and complex family law matters. The Paralegal may assist with document gathering and review, case document management, legal research and will work as part of a litigation team. Successful candidates must be able to independently perform case file reviews, communicate with clients, gather and summarize information/documents provided by clients and witnesses, update case files and data management systems, and provide litigation support from client case acceptance through post-trial actions. The Paralegal will also assist CJI clients with accessing resources for non-litigation needs, as appropriate.

The ideal candidate is organized, professional, responsible, and committed to helping us meet all of our clients’ needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

·Provides client-centered legal support to CJI attorneys and clients in complex family law cases, including child custody and some divorce cases, as well as related matters such as contempt, modification, appeals, and shielding hearings in the Circuit and District Courts throughout Maryland.

Supports and assists attorneys and other staff in all aspects of case litigation.

Identifies legal and procedural issues in individual cases and promptly brings to the attention of attorneys.

Prepares opening, closing and case status memoranda, as directed.

Updates, contemporaneously, case files and client management systems.

Requests, gathers, reviews, redacts, and secures documents from potential clients, clients and witnesses.

Summarizes documents, develops and maintains indices and binders for litigation.

Maintains email and phone contact with clients during the pendency of litigation.

Schedules appointments, maintains case calendar, apprises attorneys of upcoming litigation due dates, and provides reminder calls and contacts to clients.

Documents all contacts with clients and third-parties.

Drafts simple correspondence, document requests and responses, subpoenas, and notices for trial or deposition and arranges for service of same, as directed.

Compiles, inventories, and maintains files of all responses and documents related to discovery or litigation requests and prepares trial exhibits and summaries.

Works with clients to draft answers to discovery, obtain documents, and to respond to requests for information.

Redacts documents as appropriate and ensures that protected information is filed under seal or otherwise.

Files court documents, manually and/or via MDEC.

Drafts retainer or engagement agreements for clients and experts.

Drafts legal documents including, but not limited to, discovery, memoranda of law, motions, orders, answers, complaints, counter-complaints, and correspondence, as directed.

Maintains and organizes case files.

Locates additional resources and referrals to address clients’ litigation and non-litigation related needs.

Attends regular staff meetings, team meetings, in-house training and continuing legal or paralegal education.

Maintains case statistics and develops regular reports of project achievements for inclusion in grant reports, and other CJI products, as directed.

As part of the CJI team, provides occasional staffing for events, participates in project and membership development, attends and participates, as time permits, in committees and policy-making bodies concerned with child protection and interpersonal violence.

Other duties as assigned.