Paralegal

General Description:

Performs support work for the legal department to achieve the representational, governance, and other work for the organization.

With shared vision and purpose, we will drive organizational change and effectiveness through a focus on staff and team development accountability, and equity and inclusion.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Monitors Legal Department email and mail, responds to basic inquiries or clarifies requests and assists with tracking of inquiries.
• Maintain timelines for grievances once advanced to arbitration based on applicable collective bargaining agreements; includes tracking arbitration cases for timeliness, requesting arbitrator appointment, or request list of arbitrators for selection and meet with employer representatives to select arbitrator; schedule arbitrations in consultation with other legal department staff, arbitrators and employer representatives.
• Working with other Legal Department staff, maintain the SEIU Local 503 governing documents, bylaws and administrative policies and procedures (AP&P) and any other related governance documentation as needed (including sublocal bylaws). Assist with supporting Rules Committee communications with sub-locals concerning amendments to sublocal bylaws and formatting of final adopted amendments. Assist with the Union’s General Council processes as assigned.
• In coordination with other legal staff and teams, provide support for union officer elections and sublocal elections as assigned.
• Assist contract enforcement organizers with questions related to grievances and arbitrations. Work with contract enforcement organizers as needed to prepare, research, document cases for arbitration screening or other required processes.
• Coordinate with supervising attorney and outside counsel regarding contracted arbitrations. Coordinate the retrieval and transmittal of records to outside counsel. Provide or coordinate note taking for arbitration and unfair labor practice hearings.
• Initiate legal holds pursuant to demand letters or subpoenas. Provide support to other legal department staff to collect and review records responsive to subpoenas and prepare responses for review by supervising attorney.
• Draft letters and complaints as assigned. Conduct legal research and analysis, and research past arbitration awards, statutes, OARs, CFRs, etc. as directed or as required in connection with research. Coordinate with other departments to collect information and conduct research and/or prepare legal memos as assigned.
• Develop and maintain regular communication with attorneys, staff, representatives of employers, court and agency personnel and arbitrators on various grievance/arbitration or case-related issues.
• Process correspondence and legal pleadings prepared by attorneys by proofing documents/pleadings for content, style, appropriate format (including electronic), accurately cite references, punctuation and spelling. Draft correspondence and legal pleadings using established templates or by creating templates for review and adoption by the attorneys. Ensure proper filing and service of documents.
• Create and prepare files and materials for events such as trainings, arbitrations or problem-solving meetings and various Union Committee work.
• Maintain the legal/research library, filing materials and publications.
• Maintain bargaining unit affiliation and certification records. Track timelines and prepare notifications to employers, Employment Relations Board, and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) regarding reopening collective bargaining agreements for negotiation.
• As necessary, perform research of rules for State and Federal Civil Procedure and Appellate Rules. File complaints, charges, answers and other formal and informal documents with courts, Employment Relations Board, or National Labor Relations Board.
• Participate in union-wide membership drives, political campaigns and other field activities as assigned which may include worksite visits, phone banking, house visits, door-to-door canvassing and literature drops.
• Other duties as assigned.
• This is a nonexempt-salaried position.

Qualifications:

• Degree (Associate or other) in Paralegal Studies plus at least one year of experience; or
• Two years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant; or
• Three years of experience as a contract enforcement organizer or equivalent position.
• Project management skills, ability to self-initiate tasks;
• High degree of independent judgment, analysis, and complex decision-making skills;
• Understanding of legal principles, concepts, systems, processes and terminology;
• Ability to write reports and business correspondence;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision;
• Good public relations skills including ability to remain calm and professional;
• Ability to readily learn new procedures and technology;
• Ability to handle a complexity of tasks and carry out detailed instructions in a timely manner;
• Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers and members;
• Ability to work well in a team environment;
• Accurate typing skills of 50 wpm; excellent proofreading skills, good English grammar and spelling skills;
• Ability to work well under pressure with staff and members
• Others duties as assigned.

Working Environment:

Group 3 - Very Limited Physical Exertion

Technology and Equipment:

• Telephone
• Computer Software: (Salesforce, SharePoint, and other 503 computer systems)