Senior Paralegal - Mass Tort

About the Company

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us. Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place. K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world. The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Mass Tort Litigation Paralegal to join the Pittsburgh office. The Mass Tort Paralegal assists lawyers and paralegals, performing a variety of information management functions and factual investigations. The individual holding this position has demonstrated the ability to manage all aspects of a case in the mass tort area, works effectively and efficiently with paralegals and project assistants across the platform, and performs legal tasks that require significant independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Quickly, proactively learn and master new and emerging technologies to streamline and enhance both new and existing projects and processes within MT&PL practice area
• Demonstrated agility with technology, particularly in leveraging artificial intelligence applications
• Leverage adeptness with AI programs and other firm applications, combined with mass tort knowledge, to innovate and optimize workflows
• Creatively problem-solve by thinking outside the box and developing novel solutions to recurring challenges
• Skilled in analyzing workflows to identify inefficiencies and areas for enhancement
• Adaptable to change and responsive to evolving needs or feedback, adjusting strategies as necessary
• Works well with diverse teams to gather insights and implement improvements collaboratively
• Open to exploring tools and methods that automate repetitive tasks and improve processes in alignment with organizational goals
• Prepare, file, and serve documents electronically in state and federal courts in compliance with all relevant procedural requirements
• Monitor litigation deadlines and assist in the timely submission of filings to avoid delays and sanctions
• Tracks all relevant case deadlines
• Provides support for hearings, mediations, court appearances, and depositions
• Examines, organizes, analyzes, and summarizes information relating to particular questions and organizes the communication into a logical and usable work product
• Utilizes the firm’s software and technology, specifically any practice-group driven technology
• Investigates factual issues using a variety of sources, including libraries, websites, client repositories, and other outside sources
• Maintains client-, matter-, or practice-group-specific resources in electronic format or hard copy
• presents results of all projects in effectively written memos, emails, or another logical format
• Assists in all aspects of case including, but not limited to, drafting and proofreading documents and pleadings in accordance with court rules and deadlines, coordinating document productions, and creating and maintaining relevant databases and spreadsheets
• Maintains all the administrative standards set by the firm, including preparing and submitting daily time entries, attending administrative meetings, legal keying all client-relevant and firm information, and performing other administrative tasks as assigned
• Coordinates with vendors and service providers for outside services, following the firm’s procurement policies and client billing requirements
• Trains project assistants on project specific duties and responsibilities when necessary
• Performs legal tasks that require significant independent judgment
• Develops procedures and systems to provide effective legal services

Qualifications

• College degree preferred with at least 5 years of paralegal experience in the relevant subject area
• Experience in specific litigation areas, such as asbestos, mass tort, and product liability
• Demonstrates proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and specific practice group technology, including Excel, data management systems and databases
• Produces accurate results and take ownership of projects, tasks, and responsibilities delegated by the supervising lawyers or other paralegals
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with team members across the country
• Anticipates plans and prioritizes work
• Manages competing demands to meet deadlines
• Possesses excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrates the ability to meet obligations with confidentiality, integrity, and sensitivity
• Requires high attention to detail and the ability to follow up on assignments with little or no guidance from leadership
• Requires critical thinking skills sufficient to make independent decisions regarding daily work tasks
• Follows detailed instructions and handles complex work
• Brings problems, concerns, or discrepancies to the attention of the supervising lawyer
• Has working knowledge of basic accounting principles and Excel
• Maintains current knowledge of practice area industry trends and the legal profession

Required Skills

• In addition to the qualities and skills discussed above, candidates for practice area specific positions require certain educational credentials and skills. These candidates are expected to have academic expertise in the practice area of interest, as well as the generic skills previously described.
• This job operates in an office setting and is largely sedentary, requiring the routine use of a computer and other standard office equipment. The ability to open file cabinets, lift files, bend and stand on a stool may also be required.

Pay range and compensation package

$87,000 - $146,000. The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

Equal