Overview
Litigation Paralegal Jobs in Indianapolis, IN at Amber K. Boyd Attorney at Law
Summary
The purpose of this classification is to provide legal assistance to City Attorneys regarding various legal issues, including the legal/liability claims against the City, accident losses involving City personnel or property, claim negotiations and loss settlements, litigation support, preparation of legal documents, and procedural assistance.
Essential Functions
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.
Assists in providing litigation support: provides litigation support involving assigned investigation and recordation of documentary and physical evidence and of witness testimony; coordinates litigation with outside counsel; coordinates and attends witness interviews with outside counsel; assists with interviews of claimants, complainants and City employees; obtains written/recorded testimonial statements; collects and maintains evidence; files court documents with appropriate courts; reviews case files and outlines pertinent details; assists with preparation for trial; attends court proceedings, assists legal staff, and prepares pertinent notes/records; processes notification to involved parties of legal proceedings; compiles data for auditor’s letter on pending litigation; acts as witness on behalf of City regarding legal actions when needed.
Provides information, assistance and recommendations to City officials, City attorneys, department directors, supervisory staff, or other personnel as appropriate: advises departmental supervisors regarding liability issues and makes recommendations to minimize the City’s exposure to liability; assists supervisors of various departments in following Code requirements and City policies; provides instruction and guidance within City policy, procedure, and legal limits as appropriate; discusses strategies and solutions for problem areas with supervisors.
Prepares legal documents including contracts, permits, change orders, and lease agreements: maintains tracking logs on change order for large municipal contracts; prepares agency funding contracts, cooperative maintenance agreements, and consulting agreements, etc.
Reviews contracts to ensure compliance with terms of contract by contractor: reviews invoices and requests for final payment from contractors.
Assists City Attorneys with claims investigations: assists with investigation and evaluation of liability claims initiated against the City and of accident losses involving City personnel or property; receives and investigates generalized complaints involving the City; investigates reported losses involving City property; investigates traffic accidents involving City-owned vehicles; investigates casualty incidents and claims involving City personnel or property; gathers information relating to internal investigations; responds to complaints submitted to Mayor and coordinates problem resolution with appropriate departments; responds to environmental complaints from citizens; notifies insurer of property losses.
Subject to the general supervision of a City Attorney, coordinates the claims process to ensure proper reporting of all claims: develops and maintains work/information flow process for claims; obtains incident reports, court records, or other documentation relating to claims; participates in evaluation of claims and loss reserves; reviews costs associated with each claim and develops strategies to minimize exposure; prepares review of all claims filed and associated costs; coordinate disbursement of payments to claimants.
Assists with negotiation of claims and loss settlements, within procedural limits: gathers information required for negotiation and settlement of property damage claims; analyzes files/records to evaluate liability; advises insurer and works with external adjusters to settle claims.
Reports/monitors all insurance policies: notifies appropriate departments of pertinent changes in insurance; develops and maintains property and claims manual relating to insurance policies.
Assists with collections activities: mails collection notifications and statements; supervises and coordinates activities to maintain and process accounting/financial records associated with collections.
Conducts research of state/federal laws, department files, City records, legal records, database records, electronic data sources, Internet sites, hardcopy materials, or other sources in relation to claims, litigation, and other issues.
Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, contracts, change orders, lease agreements, bid documents, permits, resolutions, ordinances, claims reports, or other documents.
Provides assistance and information related to general municipal questions, department services/activities, court issues, claims, records, procedures, documentation, or other issues; responds to public records requests; responds to complaints, researches problems, and initiates problem resolution.
Provides assistance for City Attorneys or other staff members: relieves management/officials of routine administrative tasks; screens telephone calls, mail, e-mail, and other communications and initiates appropriate action/response; types, transcribes, edits, or proofreads correspondence; maintains department calendars and schedules meetings, appointments, or other activities; coordinates travel arrangements, accommodations, conference registrations, or other travel-related plans for department staff; prepares permits for use of City facilities.
Provides direction, guidance, training, and assistance to employees; monitors status of projects, inspects completed work, and troubleshoots problem situations; assists in selecting new employees.
Compiles information and documentation to assist with development of annual budget relating to claims/insurance.
Maintains petty cash fund for area of assignment: disburses funds for expenditures as appropriate; ensures proper receipts/documentation of expenditures; balances fund and requests reimbursements as needed.
Receives and/or reviews various forms, reports, correspondence, police reports, incident/accident reports, statements, claim forms, invoices, insurance policies, insurance certificates, contracts, photographs, videotapes, vehicle maintenance reports, maps, plans, legal documents, meeting minutes, laws, policies, procedures, manuals, directories, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
Operates a motor vehicle, personal computer, general office equipment, camera, audio/video equipment, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, mapping, e mail, Internet, or other computer programs.
Maintains computerized and hard-copy file system of various files/records for the department: organizes litigation files and reviews organization of records.
Communicates with supervisor, employees, other departments, City officials, attorneys, court personnel, consultants, insurance representatives, claimants, witnesses, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
Attends various meetings as needed:, as assigned; participates in regular meetings with insurance company representatives and relays relevant information to claims attorney.
Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations; maintains an awareness of new trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate.
Performs notarization of documents as needed.
Performs general/clerical tasks, which may include making copies, sending/receiving faxes, filing documentation, processing incoming/outgoing mail, or delivering documentation to appropriate parties.
Provides assistance to other employees or departments as needed.
Performs other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Paralegal Certificate or meets the minimum qualifications of Legal Assistant promulgated by the National Association of Legal Assistants; three years of experience in legal or a related field; or any equivalent combination of education, training, or experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Must possess a valid driver’s license.
Minimum Requirements to Perform Essential Job Functions
The following requirements are normal for this classification. Specific requirements may not apply to all positions within this classification, but are determined by the normal requirements for the particular position.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be physically able to operate a variety of office machines, tools and equipment, such as a motor vehicle, computer, printer, typewriter, copy machine, fax machine, camera, audio/video equipment, calculator, or telephone. Tasks require the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds).
DATA CONCEPTION: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility.
LANGUAGE ABILITY: Requires the ability to read a variety of informational and legal documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures. Requires the ability to write reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.
INTELLIGENCE: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving evaluation of information against measurable or verifiable criteria.
VERBAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.
NUMERICAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.
FORM/SPATIAL APTITUDE: Requires the ability to inspect items visually for proper length, width, and shape.
MOTOR COORDINATION: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using equipment.
MANUAL DEXTERITY: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have the ability to use one hand for twisting or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
COLOR DISCRIMINATION: May require the ability to differentiate colors and shades of color.
INTERPERSONAL TEMPERAMENT: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal stress when confronted with an emergency.
PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear (talking – expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing – perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
The City of Tuscaloosa offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time permanent employees that includes retirement, vacation and illness leave, paid holidays, medical and dental insurance, flexible spending account, life insurance, and other supplemental insurances and deferred retirement saving plans.
For a more detailed overview of our benefits package, please visit the Employee Benefits Summary within our website or contact the Human Resource Department at (205) 248-5230.
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Title: Litigation Paralegal
Company: Amber K. Boyd Attorney at Law
Location: Indianapolis, IN
