Litigation Paralegal: Civil Defense & Discovery Lead

Vernis & Bowling; Islamorada (FL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Vernis & Bowling seeks an experienced Litigation Paralegal to join our civil litigation defense team in Islamorada, FL. This substantive role focuses on heavy discovery and trial preparation, with responsibility for managing a defense docket with minimal supervision.

The position requires 3–5 years of paralegal experience in General Liability, Government Litigation, or civil defense, and strong fluency with Florida procedural rules, MS 365, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and modern e-discovery platforms.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of dedicated paralegal experience in General Liability, Government Litigation, or civil defense.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and local court filing protocols.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel), Adobe Acrobat Pro, and modern law practice management/e-discovery platforms.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex case data and maintain organization in a high-volume litigation environment.

Responsibilities

• Draft, prepare, and review substantive legal documents, including pleadings, motions for summary judgment, appellate briefs, and complex discovery materials.
• Manage the complete discovery lifecycle, including drafting interrogatories, organizing exhibits, and preparing responses to subpoenas.
• Synthesize and summarize voluminous medical records, deposition transcripts, and court files for attorney review.
• Conduct targeted legal research utilizing statutes, judicial decisions, and public records to support motion practice and trial strategy.
• Serve as the primary liaison coordinating case logistics and strategy with experts, fact witnesses, clients, and opposing counsel.
• Drive trial preparation by assembling trial notebooks, managing digital exhibits, and coordinating trial data.

Skills

General liability

Government litigation

Civil defense

Discovery management

Tools

Microsoft 365

Adobe Acrobat Pro

e-discovery platforms

Job description

Vernis & Bowling seeks an experienced Litigation Paralegal to join our civil litigation defense team in Islamorada, FL. This substantive role focuses on heavy discovery and trial preparation, with responsibility for managing a defense docket with minimal supervision.

The position requires 3–5 years of paralegal experience in General Liability, Government Litigation, or civil defense, and strong fluency with Florida procedural rules, MS 365, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and modern e-discovery platforms.