Paralegal
Overview
Paralegal - Plano, TX
Westwood Professional Services, Inc.
Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking an Paralegal to join our team. This person will provide comprehensive legal support to Westwood's Legal team, assisting with risk management and compliance, contract negotiations and client service agreements, litigation and dispute resolution, employment matters, and mergers and acquisitions.
As Associate Corporate Counsel, you’re responsible for a full range of legal counsel as a part of Westwood’s Legal Team supporting Westwood’s business operations. In this highly visible role, you’ll primarily provide counsel on contract drafting and negotiations to support the business, project managers, and leadership on all phases of client contract and subconsultant contracts and certificates of insurance. As a legal advisor, you will also be responsible for claims and litigation management, corporate compliance, risk management, and internal training and education. This position will require 10-20% travel.
Duties And Responsibilities
- Assist with the preparation, review, and modification of legal documents, including contracts, agreements, and legal correspondence.
- Conduct legal research and analysis on various company matters, ensuring compliance with current laws and regulations.
- Support the Legal team in managing case files and maintaining an organized system for tracking important deadlines and documentation.
- Facilitate communication between the Legal team and internal departments, as well as with external parties such as clients and counsel.
- Coordinate with the Project Manager and Approver in the contracting process, helping to identify risks and support negotiations.
- Prepare and file legal documents with courts and government agencies as required.
- Assist with due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate transactions.
- Provide administrative support to the Vice President, General Counsel, and other members of the legal team.
- Participate in legal team meetings and contribute to the development of policies and procedures.
- Stay informed of developments in the field of law that may impact the company.
Required Skills
- J.D. from accredited law school State bar admission and be in good standing in the state where the hired candidate will be practicing
- At least 5-7 years’ prior experience, in-house and/or at a law firm in a litigation or transactional practice
- Demonstrated ability to work well with other legal team members, other divisions of Westwood, and senior management, assess legal risk, think strategically and provide practical, sound business recommendations
- Demonstrated ability to counsel senior management and business leaders
- Advanced understanding of contract management and associated risk
- Ability to present to all levels of management and leadership within Westwood
- Team player who will roll up their sleeves and take on additional responsibilities, while also being able to work independently and think strategically
- Strong attention to detail and quality of work product
- Exceptional drafting, communication, analytical and interpersonal skills
- Able to multi-task
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and work collaboratively with several different teams daily
- Embraces teamwork and values collaboration
- Ability to manage competing demands
- Experience in risk identification and management
- Ability to travel as needed
- Experience in a fast-paced, dynamic organization
Preferred Experience
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent; paralegal certification preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience as a paralegal, preferably in a corporate environment.
- Strong understanding of legal concepts, terminology, and processes.
- Excellent research, analytical, and organizational skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and legal research software.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Detail-oriented with a commitment to accuracy and confidentiality.
About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)
Westwood Professional Services Inc. (Westwood) was established in 1972 and has since become a leader in many markets it serves. Westwood is a full-service, multi-discipline professional engineering firm that serves wind, solar, battery storage, EV, power delivery, residential and commercial development, and public infrastructure clients and their projects from over 25 offices across the U.S.
In 2023, Zweig Group ranked Westwood nationally at #12 and #30, respectively on its Hot Firms and Best Firms to Work for lists. Zweig also awarded Westwood two national 2nd place awards for Marketing Excellence. Westwood was recently recognized as #79 in the ENR Top 500 Firms in 2023. The firm consistently ranks on industry top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement on award-winning projects nationwide.
Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
