Paralegal/Legal Assistant Jobs

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Summary

Department Summary

Student Legal Services, A Division of Student Life at the University of Michigan, provides legal advice and representation to currently enrolled students at the Ann Arbor campus

Job Summary

The paralegal/legal assistant will be part of the team of legal professionals and attorneys who work to assess the legal needs of students and provide them with the best course of action for their situation. The office employs a staff of five attorneys and a legal secretary. The individual in this position will support the attorney team with drafting legal documents, interacting with court personnel, and researching legal issues.

Responsibilities*

Daily Responsibilities 85%

• Maintain the client database. (PracticePanther)
• Prepare for mailing and mail documents as requested by attorneys.
• Schedule mediations, depositions, and other events as requested by attorneys.
• Negotiate on behalf of clients with various agencies, businesses, or individuals under the supervision of the attorneys.
• Be knowledgeable of current and updated software and social media utilized in a law office.
• Research legal issues and provide memos to the attorneys as requested.
• Contact agencies and implement the process of service of court documents.
• Interact with court personnel and other law offices as necessary for filing documents, securing discovery materials, and scheduling court dates.
• Draft legal documents and discovery under the supervision of the attorneys.
• Attend court hearings with attorneys as requested.
• Maintain client files and notify clients of all relevant dates and deadlines.

General Administrative Management 10%

• Handle communications, information, and data with sensitivity and confidentiality.
• If a student is requesting legal assistance, determine where the issue falls within areas covered by the SLS and determine if the student is currently enrolled and eligible for the service.
• Occasionally assist in maintaining the office library.
• Maintain general information about the department internally.
• Answers the phone and routes calls as necessary.
• Makes appointments for intake meetings with an attorney and may provide other resources that may be contacted for help.
• Assists in Maintaining the office calendar including all court appearances and other events.
• Assists in the maintenance of the office files.
• Assists former clients who request information from their file, by obtaining that file from Web Now and providing them with the requested information pursuant to the attorney’s direction.
• Shares responsibility with the other support staff in regards to closing case files, corresponding with clients regarding this closure, and filing the cases for storage or annual imaging.
• Assist in the preparation of presentations, general communication, and reports.
• Shares responsibility with the other support staff for opening new case files.
• All other duties as assigned.

Financial Management 5%

• Prepare financial transactions related to family law clients to be reviewed and processed by the legal secretary such as receipts for funds received from clients, requesting cheques for filing fees, arranging for payment for services of process or any other transaction directly resulting from family law clients.
• Promote responsible use of resources within the department.

Required Qualifications*

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years of relevant law office experience
• Paralegal/legal assistant certification from an accredited institution
• Work Authorization: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States

Desired Qualifications*

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3 years of relevant law office experience
• Notary Public or the ability to become one within three months

Additional Information

Position Criteria:

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask and prioritize efficiently, particularly during peak periods
• Responsive, flexible, positive client orientated attitude
• Demonstrated ability to work as an effective member of a law office team
• Excellent telephone manner and people skills
• Proven accuracy and attention to detail
• Willingness to perform a variety of delegated tasks having a varying degree of difficulty and priority

Working conditions

This position is located on Central Campus in the Student Legal Services Offices within Student Life.

This role may have reporting obligations under Title IX and Clery.

Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.

Salary may vary depending on qualifications, experience, and education of the selected candidate.

Relocation will not be offered for this position.

Selected candidates whose start date is 4/1/23 or after, will not be eligible for the university salary/merit plan in 2023 unless otherwise notified.

#studentlife

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.