Paralegal

Paralegal
Remote work acceptable
Mishawaka, IN 46545
Qualifications

● Microsoft Office: 1 year (Preferred)
● Paralegal: 1 year (Preferred)
Full Job Description
Position Title: Paralegal
Functional Title: Paralegal
Paralegals/legal secretaries are well-educated and trained with a variety of backgrounds,
experience, education, and job responsibilities working across a broad range of practice areas.
Only statutory, court authority, or a supervising attorney’s determination of the paralegal’s
competency will limit the tasks a paralegal may perform. Paralegals perform the same function
as an attorney except those generally prohibited as the unauthorized practice of law, i.e.
accepting clients, setting legal fees, giving legal advice, or representing others in court.
Paralegals/legal secretaries must be intelligent and possess an analytical and logical mind.
They must be able to recognize and evaluate relevant facts and legal concepts. A paralegal/
legal secretary must be able to organize, analyze, communicate, and administer. Interpersonal
skills are important for paralegal because they must resolve conflicts, negotiate, and relate well
with types of persons, often those in distress.
Essential Job Functions
The role of the paralegal/legal secretary is to assist the attorney in preparing cases and filing
claims. The paralegal/legal secretary may also assist in preparing cases for hearings and trials.
Paralegals and legal secretaries typically do the following:
● Organize and maintain documents in a paper or electronic filing systems
● Gather and arrange evidence and other legal documents for attorney review and case
preparation
● Write reports to help lawyers prepare for trials
● Draft correspondence and legal documents, such as settlement agreements and letters
to clients

● Get affidavits and other formal statements that may be used as evidence in court
● File exhibits, briefs, appeals, and other legal documents with the court or opposing
counsel
● Call clients, witnesses, lawyers, and outside vendors to schedule interviews, meetings,
and depositions
Specific skills required are:
● Preliminary investigation
● Obtain all documentation from a client concerning the account, including information
about the debtor, invoices, promissory notes, payments, and related correspondence
● Investigate public records for information about debtor’s financial status, including real
estate records and prior judgments
● Draft demand letter to the debtor
Commencement of formal action
● Draft complaint and prepare exhibits in support of complaint
● Monitor the date for response to a complaint and if appropriate, draft a motion for default
judgment
● Subject to legal rules/authority, appear for attorney at the initial hearing, appear and
answer and proceedings supplementary for plaintiff
● Prepare and file documents in local state and federal courts
● Draft journal entry, default or otherwise
● Obtain a copy of the certified judgment
● Update the collection management system
Post Judgment activity
● If necessary, arrange for transfer of judgment to all courts having jurisdiction over a
debtor
● Obtain a certified copy of a foreign judgment
● Draft wage and/or bank garnishment forms
● Draft Proceeding Supplementary, Appear and Answer, and Final Orders
● Draft Notice of Lien on real property
● Correspond with the client informing of the status of the collection
● When debt is collected, draft satisfaction of judgment to release judgment and if
necessary, motion to vacate garnishment order
● Draft Release of Judgment or Release of Lien
● If or when appropriate, file a Request for Dismissal
Marginal or Peripheral Functions
● Files documents with various courts
Required Qualifications

Paralegal
● Paralegal Certificate from an accredited school
● Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a team environment
● Basic legal understanding
● Basic computer skills and the ability to learn new computer systems
Legal Secretary
● Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a team environment
● Basic legal understanding
● Basic computer skills and the ability to learn new computer systems
Competencies/Skills
● Action-oriented: Enjoys working hard; is action-oriented and full of energy for tackling
challenges; not fearful of acting with minimal supervision; willing to learn.
● Approachability: Is easy to approach and to talk to; spends extra effort to put others at
ease; can be warm, pleasant, and gracious; is sensitive to and patient with the
interpersonal anxieties of others; builds rapport and trust well; is a good listener.
● Client Focus: is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and
external customers; readily deals with possible client issues and looks for ways to
improve client relations; acts with the client’s needs in mind; establishes and maintains
effective relationships with and gains their trust and respect.
● Functional/Technical Skills: Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do
the job at a high level of accomplishment.
● Listening: Practices attentive listening; has the patience to listen to people’s issues; can
accurately restate the opinions of others even if there is a disagreement.
● Peer Relationships: Can quickly find common ground and solve problems for the good of
all; can represent their own interests and yet be fair to other groups; can solve problems
with little distraction; is a team player and is cooperative; easily gains trust and support
of peers, encourages collaboration; can be candid with peers.
Equipment Used
PC (MS Windows and Office Products – including Word, Excel, etc.), Desktop

Training Required
Various depending on responsibilities
Job Location

Company office or Remote
Job Type: Full-time or part-time
●
Schedule:
● Open
Experience:
● Microsoft Office: 1 year (Preferred)
● Paralegal: 1 year (Preferred)