Paralegal - Labor & Employment

Best Best & Krieger LLP is a nationally recognized law firm focused on delivering effective and client-service oriented solutions to complex legal issues facing public agencies, businesses and individuals across the U.S. BBK is proud to trace the firm's success back to the groundwork of professionalism and community service laid by its founders 135 years ago. Today, with nearly 250 attorneys in offices throughout California and in Oregon and Washington, D.C., we efficiently and meaningfully assist our clients with complex, multi-disciplinary issues and provide creative solutions.

At BBK, we place a high degree of value in creating and nurturing a work environment that attracts the best talent and reflects our commitment to culture, community and equal opportunity. We are proud of our workplace culture, where we respect and value our colleagues for their unique perspectives and experiences.

This position will work closely with the attorneys in the firm’s labor and employment practice group in the firm’s northern California offices.

Paralegals are expected to bill a minimum of 1500 hours per year, to firm client matters (including pro bono matters) or approved non-billable practice group work, special assignments or firm administration assignments, maintain regular office hours consistent with the firm's normal business hours and be available, as needed, for after-hours and weekend overtime.

Labor and Employment Litigation paralegals should have a high degree of knowledge and familiarity with federal and state labor and employment laws including but not limited to wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, workplace safety, FEHA claims, wage and hour disputes, and labor codes. The candidate must be proficient in various software, including e-discovery platforms, Case Notebook, Westlaw and the Microsoft Office group of software.  The firm expects candidates to be proactive, be able to problem solve, manage their caseload and have clear and concise communication abilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Independently manage cases and proactively monitor and anticipate the needs of attorneys throughout the progression of cases (inception to close).
• Knowledge of, ability to interpret and institute in practice various laws, statutes and regulations including civil procedure, rules of court, appellate procedure, discovery act and local rules.
• Perform e-discovery tasks using document review platforms including review for relevance, privilege, redacting as necessary, creating privilege logs with speed and efficiency.
• Research various subject matter using IT and library resources available including Westlaw, Hein Online, CEB and Rutter Guides, other commercial databases and on-line databases including the internet.
• Perform cite and fact checking, shepardizing and proof reading of briefs and other legal documents using various guides such as style manuals and Bluebook.
• Assist in pleading and discovery processes including drafting documents, research for service of process, ensuring proper service is completed timely,  drafting notices and subpoenas, preparing for deposition, propounding and responding to written discovery, preparing for expert discovery, and drafting discovery motions, drafting witness and attorney declarations.
• Perform analytical tasks, which may include preparing witness interview memoranda, reviewing and summarizing documents such as deposition and court transcripts and preparing and maintaining privilege logs as needed.
• Assist with law and motion practice, which may include drafting motion papers, assembling motion papers and exhibits, assisting with filings of pleadings and briefs and ensuring proper service.
• Attend and assist, as needed, during meetings, hearings, depositions, arbitrations, mediations, and communicate with client, opposing counsel and court staff.
• Calculate and review docketing dates for each matter and ensure proper maintenance of any required case calendars.
• Assist with trial preparation, including preparing trial subpoenas and on-call agreements, determining applicable jury instructions and jury research, participation in the voir dire process, creating trial notebooks, identifying and organizing exhibits, preparing witness lists and coordinating witness schedules, drafting various pre-trial and trial pleadings, maintaining trial calendars and communicating effectively with opposing counsel and courtroom staff.
• Prepare and/or supervise vendor preparation of graphs and demonstrative exhibits.
• Assist attorneys at trial to operate and maintain trial software or other similar technology.
• Attend administrative proceedings, trial, hearings, depositions or mediations, as requested.
• Oversee organization, maintenance, and appropriate utilization of documents and other case-related materials.
• Collaborate with practice support teams including directing of data collections, productions, and other data driven projects.
• Prepare post litigation documents including judgments, entry of judgments, memorandum of costs and attorney fees motions, abstracts of judgment and collecting on judgments.
• Familiar with appeals and writs is a plus.
• Assemble administrative records and appendices in various courts.

Qualifications

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Experience and satisfactory skill levels in all areas of Responsibility and Duties, above, with excellent skills in at least several of those areas.  Paralegals without satisfactory skill levels in one or more areas may satisfy the requirements of that skill set by demonstrating a likely ability to quickly develop such a skill level.  Substantive expertise in one or more areas of the law (i.e., municipal law, toxic tort, writs of mandate, title insurance and real estate) viewed favorably.
• Strong organizational, reasoning and research skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Attention to detail and initiative.
• Flexibility, composure and the ability to prioritize and handle many urgent tasks and requests simultaneously with a high level of competence and accuracy.
• The ability to remain composed and professional under stressful circumstances.
• Sensitivity to ethical and confidentiality requirements.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Ability to work independently, with little supervision.
• Display initiative and leadership in analyzing and resolving problems and issues as they arise.
• As necessary, supervise other paralegals, including managing work flow, assisting in the training of Paralegal I or Paralegal II, and delegating responsibilities, as authorized or requested by Firm administration.
• Observe assigned legal practice assistant support in order to meaningfully contribute and complete an annual performance evaluation, as requested by Firm administration.
• Other tasks, as required by firm attorneys or administrators.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Paralegal certificate from an ABA approved program or an affidavit re work experience sufficient to comply with California Business and Professions Code Sections 6450-6456.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience as a litigation paralegal.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copy machines, filing cabinets and fax machines.
• Normal law office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature and the like.
• Computer, telephone, copier, calculator, projector.

The reasonably expected pay scale for this position with 10 or more years of experience is $90,000 - $95,000 annually, non-exempt.  The actual salary within that range will depend on the selected candidate’s location and experience.  We encourage all interested candidates to apply.

Best Best & Krieger is an equal opportunity employer.