Litigation Paralegal

Agency Summary  

The Office of Corporation Counsel (OCC) provides legal services to the City and County through its three main divisions. First, OCC represents the City, County agencies, and City-County employees in litigation, handling adverse docket that ranges from tort and contract matters to constitutional law. Second, through its counseling division, OCC provides legal advice to City and County agencies, officials, and oversight bodies to ensure that public entities remain compliant with the law and standards of ethical conduct, to safeguard public funds, and to promote the efficient functioning of local government for Marion County taxpayers. OCC’s third division is the Office of the City Prosecutor, which is responsible for enforcing City-County ordinances. OCC also oversees the Office of Equal Opportunity, which administers the City’s human rights ordinance, protecting against discrimination in employment and other contexts. In exercising these crucial legal functions, OCC cultivates a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment that prioritizes the needs of our clients and the residents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Job Summary

Senior litigation paralegals are responsible for working with and providing legal support services for attorneys in the litigation division of the Office of Corporation Counsel. As more senior members of the office’s legal support staff, position holders exercise a greater level of individual responsibility and discretion in supporting the mission of the office and its attorneys. This position will allow for independent organization and prioritizing of responsibilities and duties along with moderate supervision according to standard operating policies and procedures.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.

The City-County is involved in a diverse array of litigation matters, including federal civil rights suits, tort claims,contract disputes, prisoner litigation, appeals at the state and federal level, and administrative and regulatory matters. The primary responsibility of senior litigation paralegals is to assist litigation attorneys with all stages of the litigation process.Significant responsibilities include: Creating and maintaining comprehensive case management files for each litigation matter for which they have primary responsibility. Exercising independent responsibility for creating and submitting more routine court filings under the overall direction of a litigation attorney. For more complex court filings (such as dispositive motions and briefs) providing active assistance to a litigation attorney with certain elements of research and drafting. Handling communications with court staff and support staff for opposing counsel. Ensuring that case management schedules are kept up to date and important litigation deadlines are not missed. Assisting with the discovery process, including the management and preparation of evidence. Performing editing, proofreading, and cite-checking. Assisting attorneys at trial and other court hearings, including by compiling evidence, creating visual aids and exhibits, creating and running slide presentations, and by assisting in all facets of pre-trial preparation. Assisting with office-wide needs, including staffing the reception desk, answering and forwarding telephone calls, greeting visitors and accepting deliveries.In addition to the responsibilities listed above, senior litigation paralegals are expected to develop expertise in office policies and procedures, case management, standard components of court filings and discovery documents, and core elements of the areas of law with which the office most frequently interacts.Senior litigation paralegals are expected to provide supervision and guidance to more junior paralegals.Senior litigation paralegals may also assist with the tort claim investigation and response process, and may assist the office’s attorneys with administrative and other matters that take place outside the civil litigation setting.This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

Minimum Job Requirements and Qualifications 

Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree. At least three (3) years’ working experience with appropriate references.? Prior professional experience working as a paralegal or in a legal support staff capacity.? Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of platforms, and familiarity with electronic records management systems. Familiarity with online court filing systems and with the “Blue Book” citation manual 

Preferred Job Requirements and Qualifications 

Prior professional experience as a litigation paralegal. Status as an Indiana Registered Paralegal (IRP) through the Indiana Bar Association, or a similar form of certification or specialized training in paralegal work. Bilingual preferred.

Work is conducted in a standard office environment.