What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Litigation Paralegal - Municipal / Local Government (North Carolina) position at Cranfill Sumner LLP?
Cranfill Sumner LLP is seeking an experienced Litigation Paralegal to support our Municipal / Local Government practice, with a focus on North Carolina municipal law matters. This position will work closely with attorneys representing cities, towns, counties, and other public entities in litigation matters.
This role is intended for a highly experienced paralegal who can operate with a high degree of independence in municipal and local government matters. Extensive experience specializing in municipal legal work is required.
The ideal candidate will have strong litigation fundamentals and excellent organizational skills.
Summary
A Litigation Paralegal assists attorneys and legal staff in their day-to-day work, enhances attorney effectiveness by providing legal knowledge and support, and represents the attorney and firm to clients, legal professionals, and other matter-related individuals. In this role, the Litigation Paralegal will provide litigation and case management support on municipal and local government matters, including civil litigation, police law and civil rights violations, administrative proceedings, and regulatory matters under North Carolina law.
Essential Functions
The Litigation Paralegal position may involve some or all of the following duties:
- Record daily billable time in the time and billing system
- Draft correspondence, case status reports, and budgets
- Draft pleadings, including answers, motions, notices, orders, subpoenas, affidavits, and other court filings
- Draft and manage discovery requests and responses
- Assist with public records requests and responses under North Carolina law
- Communicate with municipal clients, opposing counsel, co-counsel, experts, court personnel, and vendors
- Organize, analyze, and maintain case files, including pleadings, discovery, exhibits, and trial notebooks
- Review and analyze documents for relevance, confidentiality, privilege, and work product
- Summarize depositions, discovery responses, and hearing transcripts
- Perform legal and factual research related to municipal and local government matters
- Assist with preparation for hearings, mediations, administrative proceedings, and trials
- Maintain attorney calendars and litigation deadlines
- Perform other related duties as assigned by supervising attorneys or firm management
Expectations
- Aspire to record 120 or more billable hours per month
About Cranfill Sumner
Cranfill Sumner LLP is a leading law firm committed to operational excellence, client service, and a collaborative workplace.
At Cranfill Sumner, our work is guided by our core values:
- Teamwork – collaboration and shared accountability
- Reputation – integrity and professionalism in all we do
- Client Service – anticipating needs and delivering excellence
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university, or
- Paralegal certificate from an accredited paralegal program, or
- At least ten (10) years of experience working as a paralegal
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel)
- Minimum typing speed of 50 wpm
- Knowledge of document management, billing, docketing, and eDiscovery software
- Excellent client service and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact professionally with attorneys, municipal clients, court personnel, and opposing counsel
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive public-sector matters
- Self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
- Ability to read, analyze, and absorb complex legal and factual information
- Ability to provide paralegal support for two or more attorneys
- Prior North Carolina litigation paralegal experience with a municipality focus required
- Working knowledge or familiarity with the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Evidence