Paralegal – Investment Funds

The Paralegal is responsible for assisting all fee earners when asked, and is expected to act proactively and offer to help fee earners. The Paralegal will assist lawyers in the department and will be responsible for training and where appropriate, arranging training for paralegals and legal secretaries in department processes and procedures. Further, the Paralegal will serve as the primary contact regarding changes to case matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research

• review and monitor new and updated laws and regulations
• perform legal, factual and records research, identify relevant judicial decisions, statutes, legal articles, codes and other pertinent material
• organize, analyse, cross-check and validate information

Reports, correspondence & drafting

• prepare written reports
• draft legal documents including agreements, contracts and legal memoranda
• prepare correspondence and applications
• check and edit legal forms and documents for accuracy

Administration & organization

• manage and oversee the department’s support staff to enable effective department operation, efficiency and execution of department goals
• build and maintain databases and files
• organize and track new and on-going matters
• assist with archiving completed matters including preparing boxes of documents for archives so they are correctly detailed and recorded (hard and soft copy) and submitted to Archives

Billing & collection

• enter the fee earners’ time
• assist with raising pre-bills and drafting detailed narratives as well as compiling pre bills and fee notes to send to clients
• assist with managing department WIP levels
• assist with collections, including any necessary efforts to locate old pre-bills and chase bills

General support

• oversee assistance provided to the lawyers in the team on all matters assigned
• prepare matters for completion and attend completion
• work proactively and chase matters where required, keep the supervising fee-earners fully appraised on matters,
• diarise key dates and deadlines, update the client periodically on particular matters, liaise with the client  on new matters  and billing, draft  documentation  and research
• obtain stamps for documents to be filed at the relevant court registry
• physically file and lodge documents at the relevant court registry, checking to ensure that the correct time/date has been ink stamped on the documents
• ensure documents are delivered, processed and returned  within the set deadline (including if paralegal has arranged for filing, lodging and pick-up to be effected by the messengers), scan relevant documents
• on to the system, email copy to relevant lawyer, and ensure the original documents are saved to the appropriate hard copy file

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in law
• 2 years plus experience working in an similar role
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent communicator
• Able to prioritize and multitask
• Able to research and analyze case information
• Works well with others
• Keen attention to detail