Duties

Work includes drafting and preparing legal reports, pleadings, correspondence, and memoranda; conducting inspections; and trial preparation and support. Work is bound by Secretary of the Senate policies and procedures; the U.S. Senate Handbook ; and the Senate Ethics Manual , but requires independent judgment in setting priorities and handling assignments.

Responsibilities

Draft and prepare legal reports, court pleadings, correspondence, and other documents; review and manage all litigation documents.

Assist attorneys in preparing legal documents for filing and/or service; ensure compliance with federal laws, court and administrative rules, and court procedures; and conduct legal and factual research.

Assist attorneys with discovery phase of litigation and preparation for trial; prepare exhibits and notebooks for and attend depositions, court hearings, and trials; prepare witness files; gather and organize paper and electronic documents for discovery; prepare initial draft of interrogatories, document requests, requests for admissions, and other litigation documents; summarize deposition transcripts; prepare and arrange for service of subpoenas; and schedule court reporters for depositions.

Assist in maintaining litigation database for electronic discovery and other aspects of lawsuits; review legal documents to determine relevant legal and factual issues and use that information to establish issue fields in database; scan paper documents to electronic format; and index or file document images according to established office procedures.

Calculate filing dates and other filing deadlines; incorporate information into the Tickler to monitor deadlines; notify attorneys and staff of any updates to electronic court dockets; review legal sources for employment law-related topics; maintain files on Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) history and amendments and Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR) Procedural Rules; compile data from various sources for administrative reports; check data accuracy and draft statistical reports; create charts; retrieve, copy, and distribute legal cases, articles, and publications as requested; and train Legal Assistant to use various legal databases.

Serve as a liaison between SCCE and OCWR for biannual safety/accessibility inspections by OCWR in the Senate. Serve as a legal representative for Senate offices during safety/accessibility inspections performed by OCWR; perform pre-inspections for Senate offices to identify unsafe working conditions or accessibility issues, and coordinate repairs and safety updates with the Architect of the Capitol; prepare abatement responses to OCWR; and attend quarterly safety conferences.

Research current and past legislation using available online resources; research associated legislative history including committee reports, bill amendments, and hearing testimony.

Maintain current knowledge of the SCCE's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan; participate in periodic exercises and drills.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Work is primarily performed in an office environment with exposure to everyday risks and discomforts, and requires the use of normal safety precautions. Work is mostly sedentary with daily walking, standing, bending, and carrying items under 25 pounds, such as books, papers, and small parcels. Regular, predictable, and punctual attendance is required for performance of duties.

Work with respect to Senate office safety/accessibility pre-inspections and inspections may involve excessive walking, stooping, climbing, and bending, entering limited walkways, stairwells, attics and basements, and entering construction zones in the Capitol Hill complex. Pre-inspections and inspections may occur at offsite industrial and warehouse work sites where employees are engaged in physical labor and industrial or construction processes, and may involve uneven walking surfaces, lack of stairwell handrails, high noise levels, heat, fumes, and the need for use of safety helmets, goggles, or other eye protection, or other protective gear.

Qualifications

Work requires a college degree with five to seven years of paralegal experience, and the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Thorough knowledge of Bluebooking and cite-checking rules and guidelines.

Knowledge of federal court systems and procedures. Ability to use a computer and other common office technology.

Knowledge of and experience using computer software relevant to a modern legal office practice, including working knowledge of a litigation database and experience using eDiscovery platforms (e.g., Relativity, Summation, Concordance, etc.) to perform functions such as searching, basic analytics, review, and production. Basic knowledge of the Senate as an institution preferred.

Knowledge of legal terminology and resources.

Knowledge of and proficiency using business English and proper grammar.

Ability to access and utilize various traditional and online research resources.

Ability to locate and apply federal court rules from all jurisdictions in the United States. Ability to read, comprehend, and follow oral and written instructions.

Ability to follow departmental rules, regulations, procedures, and functions.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, vendors, and clients.

Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, and equipment.

Ability to concentrate for long periods of time and to pay careful attention to detail.

Ability to multitask, prioritize work, and meet deadlines.

Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion.

Ability to work extended and unscheduled hours as dictated by caseload.

Paralegal Certificate preferred.

Education

Work requires a college degree with five to seven years of paralegal experience.