Corporate or Litigation Program Paralegal (Entry-Level)

About Ropes & Gray

• Able to maintain strict confidentiality of the firm's internal and personnel affairs and client information.Understands ethics of position including ethical rules in regards to confidentiality, billing, and client representation and advocacy.
• Able to interact effectively and professionally with clients and all levels of personnel, including attorneys, co-workers, management and support staff.
• Able to be a proactive, self-starter who understands the details within a much larger context.
• Able to own professional development by seeking out feedback and learning new skills.
• Able to embrace new processes and incorporate new technology to meet client demands as they evolve.
• Must be flexible in order to respond quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities; able to work under tight deadlines and handle multiple, detailed tasks.
• Must be team-oriented and able to share information, goals, opportunities, successes and failures with the appropriate parties.
• Able to plan, organize and complete multiple related tasks.
• Able to exert influence at all levels of the organization.
• Able to problem solve and work with minimal supervision.
• Able to anticipate problems and issues and exercise independent judgment for resolution.
• Must deliver high quality work product and display ownership, having the ability to follow up and follow through.
• Must possess the ability to work independently, as well as on teams, in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to effectively work in a multi-office environment and a culturally and educationally diverse environment.
• Some lifting of boxes up to 20 pounds.
• Flexibility to travel on short notice and work overtime as needed.

• Track, maintain and help to coordinate paper and electronic document collections, reviews and productions.
• Understand and utilize rudimentary e-discovery and computer forensic concepts, such as, preservation of data and chain of custody.
• Implement and maintain organizational systems for discovery phase of litigation, including, but not limited to, document collection review and production tracking logs, privilege logs, deposition material, and exhibit logs.
• Assemble and provide quality checks on exhibits and appendices for court filings and/or hearings, depositions and trials. Utilize Adobe to assist and prepare e-binders and hard copy binders for case teams.
• Create, implement and maintain case files and workroom organizational systems.
• Prepare for and attend depositions, hearings, trials and arbitrations.
• Understand database concepts and terminology. Assist with and help to coordinate litigation support projects through utilization of document databases such as Relativity (web repository or in-house) and Case Notebook. 
• Analyze and review various documents as required by lawyers. Prepare documents, such as statistical charts and graphs.
• Perform litigation due diligence searches, obtain docket sheets and other court papers utilizing electronic tools such as Courtlink and PACER. Utilize legal research software such as Westlaw and Lexis/Nexis for case retrieval and citation reference. 

• Track and maintain client files, including corporate minute books, board books and stock records. Calendar and maintain deadline-driven documents and filings.
• Prepare and file various forms with the IRS and other state taxing authorities.
• Draft and process legal response letters in connection with audit requests in compliance with established firm policy and procedure.
• Assist in the preparation and drafting of corporate documents, including but not limited to stock certificates, option agreements, and financing statements as needed.
• Assist with due diligence review of materials and retrieval of publicly available documents from state officials for corporate transactions or when requested.
• Perform public searches, including federal and state lien searches, financing statement, and secretary of state records and prepare charts or summaries to illustrate results.
• Assist with filings to and searches of Federal and state Agencies, including U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Secretary of States sites, and others.
• Coordinate and participate in the review of printer proofs (proofreading).
• Assist with the organization and maintenance of corporate closing and data rooms, whether physical or electronic.
• Assist in post closing activities and deliveries, including closing binder preparation and distribution, and with other corporate document distributions.

• Perform other work-related duties as assigned by the Paralegal Managers, Paralegal Supervisors and Paralegal Coordinators.
• Comply with department and firm administrative procedures, policies and best practices.
• General working knowledge of Microsoft office programs including MS Word and Excel needed.Prior experience utilizing Adobe Acrobat a plus.
• Responsible for billing a minimum of 1600 hours of client-related projects and other credited work.
• Communicate, correspond and interact with clients and outside entities, such as government agencies, expert witnesses, corporations and other law firms to gather information or data.

• The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree from a top-ranked institution. The position will involve significant contact with lawyers and paralegals at the Firm and requires strong interpersonal and communication skills. The candidate must be a demonstrated self-starter who is both highly organized and a team player.