Job Overview:

Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. is seeking to hire a paralegal to join our team of legal researchers. You will be supporting our organization by preparing documents like affidavits and legal correspondence, as well as organizing and maintaining files. You will also be asked to file pleadings with court clerks and help prepare for trials by organizing exhibits and assisting with other tasks as required.

To be successful in this role, you will need to be proficient with Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel. You will also need to be able to multitask effectively and essentially thrive in a busy, team-oriented environment.

Essential Functions

1. Preparing affidavits, legal correspondence and other documents for attorneys.
2. Organizing and maintaining documents in a paper or electronic filing system.
3. Meeting with clients, attorneys, and other professionals to talk about case details.
4. Filing pleadings with court clerk.
5. Helping prepares for trial by organizing exhibits and assisting with other tasks as needed.
6. Preparing briefs, wills, contracts, real estate closing statements, pleadings, appeals, and other legal documents.
7. Investigating facts and laws of cases and searching public records and other resources to prepare cases and determine causes of action.
8. Directing and coordinating law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
9. Gathering and analyzing statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, documents, and other data.
10. Calling on witnesses to testify at hearings.
11. Keeping law library up to date by monitoring legal volumes.
12. Other duties assigned

Working conditions

This position operates in a professional office environment.

Physical requirements

1. Preparing affidavits, legal correspondence and other documents for attorneys.
2. Organizing and maintaining documents in a paper or electronic filing system.
3. Meeting with clients, attorneys, and other professionals to talk about case details.
4. Filing pleadings with court clerk.
5. Helping prepare for trial by organizing exhibits and assisting with other tasks as needed.
6. Preparing briefs, wills, contracts, real estate closing statements, pleadings, appeals, and other legal documents.
7. Investigating facts and laws of cases and searching public records and other resources to prepare cases and determine causes of action.
8. Directing and coordinating law office activity, including delivery of subpoenas.
9. Gathering and analyzing statutes, decisions, and legal articles, codes, documents and other data.
10. Calling on witnesses to testify at hearings.
11. Keeping law library up to date by monitoring legal volumes.

Direct reports

None

Salary and Benefits:  

The starting salary for this position is $38,500, which is based on a union scale and adjusted upward depending on experience. FRLS offers a very generous benefits package that includes 403(b) with employer-paid contribution; health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents; paid leave (up to 5 weeks of PTO, 2 personal days, and 13 holidays). FRLS Paralegals operate in an in-office environment, requiring work in their assigned office five days a week.

EEOC Statement:

Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc., does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other characteristic protected by federal, state of local law.