The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. With more than 25,000 employees, USC is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. The university is comprised of twenty-one different schools and academic units that serve more than 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Since 2009, the university has operated an academic health system known as Keck Medicine of USC, which includes three university-owned hospitals, numerous outpatient and satellite clinics and more than 900 faculty physicians practicing in USC Care Medical Group. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students and staff that make the university what it is.

Department Overview

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC), provides legal services to USC and its subsidiaries and certain affiliates. The mission of the Office of the General Counsel is to assist USC and the USC Health System with legal issues and transactions, to advise USC’s administrators and faculty with regard to the laws applicable to USC’s operations, and to defend against litigation. 

Position Summary

This position serves as a P aralegal in the OGC and will provide support for attorneys who serve the University Park (UPC) campus and periodic support for attorneys who serve the USC Health System. This position will provide paralegal-level support with managing litigation, responding to personnel file requests and subpoenas, assisting with information requests, occasionally assisting with regulatory filings and contracts, and working on special projects as needed. This position requires a team player who is interested in taking on a wide variety of work projects that vary in complexity and who is able to work cooperatively and professionally with employees across the University and with outside counsel.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Specialized/technical training.

• 1 year providing litigation support as a paralegal in a law firm or in-house setting.

• Paralegal Certification from an ABA approved program.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.

• 5 or more years of experience as a litigation paralegal and/or an employment law paralegal.

Job Accountabilities:

• Handles all aspects of litigation data and case management, including coordinating legal work with internal departments, working closely with in-house and outside counsel, updating the case management system, preparing regular case reports and chronologies, working with insurance carriers, and tracking case updates in real-time. Assists with tracking litigation and monitoring trends. Assists outside counsel in coordinating witness interviews.

• Reviews document production requests and subpoenas, determining scope and identifying required resources; confers with lead attorney on most efficient approach to comply within all parameters and deadlines given. Drafts and disseminates communications cross functionally for the preservation and collection of evidence, including eDiscovery.

• Maintains original and electronic files pursuant to office protocols and as directed. Scans and files documents in electronic document management system, ensuring appropriate description, classification, and file location. Populates file with commonly requested litigation documents, as well as other documents.

• Coordinates document collection with outside counsel for litigation matters and demand letters. Acts as liaison between outside counsel and internal partners/custodians.

• Coordinates document preservation and preservation notices. 

• Coordinates case opening and closing tasks.

• Handles personnel file requests and subpoena requests. Tracks deadlines for personnel file requests/subpoenas/demand letters/administrative complaints and major litigation dates/deadlines.

• Conducts research projects.

• Reports, coordinates with, and updates Risk Management regarding litigation matters.

• Conducts research.

• Handles other special projects as assigned.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

The University of Southern California values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment.

The hourly rate range for this position is $34.40 – $45.41. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer