Description

Cranfill Sumner LLP is looking for a Workers' Comp Legal Assistant to join the team in our Raleigh, NC office. This position will start as a fully administrative role, growing into a hybrid administrative/paralegal role as the candidate and team have need. A Workers' Comp Legal Assistant assists attorneys and legal staff in their day-to-day work, enhances attorney effectiveness by providing administrative and legal knowledge and support, and represents the attorney and firm to clients, legal professionals and other matter related individuals. A Workers' Comp Legal Assistant further supports the attorney by drafting legal documents, maintaining files, performing research and preparing for upcoming events, including hearings, depositions, mediations and trials.

• Set up new files, including preparation of conflict worksheet (including review of new file contents for names and relationships of parties and communication with attorney(s)); organize file contents; prepare Contact Sheet; docket all answer/response/client guideline dates; maintain Client Portal; review Client Guidelines and Reporting Forms;
• Setup any templates for reports, answers and/or discovery in document management software;
• Maintain attorney client list, deadlines and calendar;
• General file maintenance and management, with focus on creating systems to help identify location of documents and what documents have been received and/or produced;
• File general correspondence, e-mails and/or other legal documents in document management software;
• Prepare and edit general correspondence, pleadings and/or discovery from attorney dictation, with same day turnaround time desirable; otherwise, next day turnaround time;
• Draft form or enclosure letters to court personnel, opposing counsel, employer, etc.;
• Related copying, scanning, faxing, etc.;
• Prepare documents for filing with the Industrial Commission; sending filed copies to proper parties;
• Request files from the Industrial Commission;
• Field and handle phone calls that may come in for attorney in attorney’s absence;
• Review and process incoming and outgoing mail; scan and save to document management software;
• Possible scheduling of meetings, hearings, depositions, mediations, etc., and calendar same;
• Prepare and update indices of pleadings, discovery, and other file materials (including medical records if not preparing chronology);
• Draft, process and/or maintain Medical Records requests;
• Request checks for any filing fees or other court expenses;
• Process vendor invoices;
• Request court reporters and reserve conference rooms for depositions, mediations, etc. as needed;
• Prepare closed files, including offsite storage and/or shredding; coordinate with the Finance Department to close in our system and final bill; close matters in docketing system;
• Prepare expense reimbursements;
• Possible assistance with Marketing;
• Back up other Legal Administrative Assistant(s) as requested or assigned; and,

Workers’ Comp Paralegal:

• Record daily billable time in time and billing system;
• Draft correspondence and case status reports;
• Draft IC Forms, including Form 24 Application to Terminate Benefits;
• Draft pleadings, including motions, deposition notices, orders, requests for extensions of time, responses, affidavits, and other IC filings;
• Draft discovery requests and responses, including responsive documents pursuant to discovery or Rule 607 request;
• Draft Designation of Mediator form;
• Draft Pre-Trial Agreements;
• Draft Settlement Agreements and Releases;
• Communicate with clients and insureds regarding discovery responses, depositions, mediation, etc.;
• Communicate with opposing counsel, co-counsel, clients, insureds, expert witnesses, Industrial Commission, and others, to facilitate progress of cases;
• Locate, contact and/or interview parties, witnesses, and experts;
• Prepare information to be provided to experts, including pleadings, demographics, and medical records, and maintain a record of the same;
• Prepare medical, event and plaintiff personnel file chronologies;
• Prepare materials for meetings, hearings, depositions, mediations, and trials, including preparation of exhibits, power point presentations, notebooks, etc.;
• Prepare witness and exhibit lists, subpoenas and contact witnesses;
• Summarize depositions;
• Summarize discovery responses from other parties;
• Perform online research regarding criminal record, driving record, and civil suit histories;
• Perform online social media research;
• Perform legal research;
• Back up other Workers’ Comp Paralegal(s) as requested or assigned; and,
• Any other related tasks that may be assigned by Management or Supervising Attorney(s).

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or higher from a 4-year college or university, or
Paralegal certificate from an ABA accredited paralegal program, or
At least 10 years’ experience working as a paralegal