Paralegal

Paralegal

Job Title: Paralegal

The Paralegal provides end-to-end support in contentious matters, with direct involvement in High Court, Court of Appeal and Magistrates’ Court proceedings with high levels of responsibility, procedural accuracy, and responsiveness, supporting Attorneys across all phases of litigation—from pre-action to trial and completion.

Key Responsibilities

1. 1.     Matter & Case Management

• Assist in managing litigation files from pre-action stage through to judgment and enforcement
• Maintain well-organized physical and electronic case files
• Monitor and diarise:

          o Filing deadlines

          o Case management conferences (CMCs)

          o Hearings and trial dates

• Ensure compliance with Civil Proceedings Rules (CPR) timelines and Court directions.

1. Drafting of Litigation Documents

• Supporting and assisting Attorneys with the preparation, filing and formatting of      various documents including -:

         o Claim Forms and Statements of Case  

         o Defences, Replies, and Counterclaims

         o Affidavits and Witness Statements

         o Notices of Application o Submissions and legal correspondence

• Ensure all documents comply with CPR formatting and procedural requirements
• Proofreading for accuracy, consistency, and Professional presentation.

1. Court Filing & Registry Liaison

• File documents electronically in:

      o High Court (Civil Registry)

      o Court of Appeal o Magistrates’ Courts (as applicable)

• Liaise directly with:

      o Court Registry staff

      o Bailiffs / Process Servers

• Coordinate and track service of documents (personal service, substituted service where required)
• Maintain records of filed and served documents  

1. Hearing & Trial Preparation

• Assist Attorneys with preparation for:

        o Case Management Conferences

        o Hearings and Trials

• Compile and organize:

        o Trial bundles

        o Authorities bundles

        o Witness Statements, Affidavits and Exhibits

• Coordinate logistics with clients for court appearances

1. Legal Research

• Conduct research on:

        o Local case law (Caribbean Court of Justice, Court of Appeal, High Court)

        o Statutes and procedural rules

• Prepare concise research summaries as guided by Attorneys to support litigation strategy

1. Client Interaction  

• Serve as a point of contact for clients with Attorney supervision
• Assist with:

             o Client onboarding

             o Collection of documents and evidence

             o Scheduling and follow-ups

• Maintain professional and confidential communication at all times

1. 7.     Administrative & Operational Support

• Manage attorney calendars and court schedules
• Assist with billing preparation and file organization
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all client matters

1. Technology & Efficiency  

• Utilize legal practice management systems and digital filing tools

• Leverage AI tools (where appropriate) to:

              o Support drafting and document review

              o Summarize evidence and legal materials

• Contribute to improving internal litigation workflows

1. Key Competencies

• Strong understanding of Trinidad & Tobago Civil Proceedings Rules (CPR)
• Excellent drafting and document formatting skills
• High attention to detail and procedural accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple litigation matters simultaneously
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Professional communication and client-handling ability
• Ability to work independently in a small-team environment

1. Qualifications & Experience

• Certificate or Diploma in Paralegal Studies or related field
• Prior experience in litigation support experience preferred
• Familiarity with local court systems and filing procedures is highly desirable
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and legal software