Paralegal (Social Services)

Union County; Monroe (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Union County is seeking a Paralegal to support attorneys with drafting and reviewing contracts, memoranda, pleadings, and court filings in North Carolina. The role requires handling multiple time-sensitive tasks, managing workflow, and ensuring accuracy in legal documents.

Responsibilities include preparing contracts, researching laws, and assisting with subpoenas and discovery. A valid NC driver’s license and notary status are preferred; a fingerprint background check may apply.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED plus 3 years of relevant experience in a law office or similar setting.
• Valid Driver's License required; ability to maintain safe driving history.
• Certified North Carolina Notary Public or the ability to obtain within one year.
• Fingerprint background check may apply per NC statute for positions involving work with children or sensitive records.

Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and review court documents, legal motions or pleadings, and related correspondence.
• Draft and prepare contracts and negotiate changes.
• Research applicable laws, regulations, case law, and prepare legal memoranda.
• Ensure proper service of court filings and deadlines for pleadings and court dates.
• Maintain document retention and disposition per NC law; assist with managing office budget and resources as needed.
• Assist in Social Services related filings, if assigned.

Skills

Contract review

Drafting and editing legal documents

Litigation support

Law office administrative support

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Electronic court filing systems

Job description

POSITION SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS:

The Paralegal, under general supervision of a North Carolina licensed attorney, provides legal assistance to the attorneys in drafting and reviewing legal documents to include contracts, legal memoranda, pleadings, and court filings. Spends a significant amount of time reviewing and drafting County contracts and other forms of agreement. Must have the ability to manage workflow and work under tight deadlines and other time constraints while responding to competing and shifting priorities.

Drafts, edits, and reviews court documents, legal motions or pleadings, correspondence, and complex legal documents with substantive and detailed knowledge of legal procedures, legal terms, and legal rights and responsibilities.

Drafts and prepares contracts, negotiates changes, and prepares related correspondence.

Drafts and/or reviews for attorney review: legal memoranda, ordinances, resolutions, and other documents as assigned.

Researches applicable laws, regulations, sources, citations, supporting case law, courthouse and Register of Deeds records.

Completes necessary court filings, including the use of electronic court filing systems.

Maintains with careful accuracy deadlines and due dates for court pleadings, court dates, subpoenas, projects, memoranda, and other legal and office matters to ensure adequate preparation and compliance.

Collects, collates, and prepares responses to subpoenas and other discovery for attorney review.

Ensures proper service of court filings.

Records documents with Register of Deeds.

Assists in reviewing documentation related to public records request responses.

May assist in managing office budget, legal resources, legal records, and other administrative matters.

Maintains documents in accordance with the document retention and disposition schedules as defined pursuant to North Carolina law; delegates administrative duties to a Legal Secretary as necessary.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Social Services

Drafts, edits, reviews and files orders, petitions, motions, notices, subpoenas and summons.

Attends court when needed to assist attorneys in hearings and trials.

Reviews petitions, court reports and other information prepared by Social Work staff for court.

Reviews all documentation and evidence in advance of court to ensure all necessary documentation is available.

Ensures proper service of subpoenas and/or orders to outside entities to ensure appropriate documentation, evidence and/or witnesses are available prior to hearings and trials.

Ensures proper service of orders, notices and motions to the appropriate parties.

Assists attorneys in preparing for case reviews, hearings and trials.

Ensures compliance with records requests and subpoenas for DSS records and proper redaction on those documents are completed.

Follows the NC General Statutes and case law regarding juvenile law and civil procedure; AOC regulations regarding Social Services; policies implemented by AOC, DHHS, DOJ and others; and special AOC forms and local court rules to prepare appropriate legal documents.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or an acceptable equivalency diploma (GED), and three (3) years of relevant experience in a law office or similar environment supporting areas of legal practice such as contract review, drafting and editing legal documents, litigation support, or law office administrative support.

Licenses or Certifications:

Must have a valid Driver's License and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.

Certified North Carolina Notary Public or the ability to obtain within the first year of employment.

Special Requirements:

This position may be subject to a fingerprint background check. Per NC General Statute 153A-94.2(b), applicants for a position of employment required to work with children in any capacity will be required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or five (5) years of experience supporting attorneys in a law office environment.

Licenses or Certifications:

Certification equivalent to Paralegal.

Certified North Carolina Notary Public.

Must have a valid Driver's License and be able to maintain a safe driving history as defined by the Union County Vehicle Use Policy.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must be physically able to operate standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners, CD Rom, calculators, programmable telephones, postage machines, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert a negligible amount of force to move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a safe and secure work environment that may periodically have unpredictable requirements or demands.