Litigation Paralegal and Practice Coordinator

JOB SUMMARY

This position exists to serve as the self-sustaining operational and data-management engine for SMI’s in-house legal department, protecting the company by managing the risk and administrative components of active litigation and external affairs. By seamlessly executing complex paralegal workflows, court filings, and e-discovery under the direction of legal counsel, the role ensures the organization remains strictly compliant with court deadlines and legal system requirements. Additionally, the position centralizes and optimizes the department's digital platforms, medical records, and matter-management data to drive administrative efficiency and control outside-counsel costs. Ultimately, the role exists to maintain organized, defensible, and cost-effective legal operations, allowing in-house counsel to focus on high-level strategic defense and advisory work.

This role requires 4 days in office for up to 6 months to learn the role and then will be able to shift to 3 days a week in office and 2 days remote. This role is located in St Louis, Missouri.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Discovery and Data Management, Fact Investigation & Medical Records: 

Discovery Management: Direct discovery for civil and worker’s-compensation cases by drafting requests and responses, monitoring deadlines, and indexing documents.

Medical Records: Retrieves and manages all medical files by issuing subpoenas, extracting treatment histories, summarizing records, and maintaining digital systems.

Communications: Acts as the primary liaison for SMI witnesses, store employees, experts, court personnel, and other communications required for legal external affairs matters as directed.

Litigation Support: Indexes deposition transcripts, organizes large datasets, drafts corporate resolutions, and prepares witness outlines.  This role also supports the records retention functions from a legal, data, and litigation perspective.

E-Discovery & Litigation Workflows: 

Workflow Management: Manages e-discovery and litigation workflows and acts as the primary liaison between the Legal and IT departments.

Litigation Holds & Collection: Issues corporate litigation holds and gathers internal e-discovery materials (such as Google Vault data, store videos, and retained emails) under SMI’s hold policies.

Data Production: Conducts complex searches to cull data and exports e-discovery load files for third parties, including outside opposing counsel, and subpoena requests, etc.

Court Operations, Pleading Execution & Research: 

Electronic Filing: Files documents across all required state and federal e-filing systems, including Missouri CaseNet, Illinois Odyssey, PACER, and CM/ECF and any other court electronic filing systems that are needed for in-house litigation counsel to perform litigation responsibilities.

Data Redaction: Redacts confidential, medical, and financial data before filing to comply with state and federal privacy rules.

Document Drafting: Drafts basic pleadings, correspondence, and routine templates for civil and worker’s-compensation cases.

Legal Research: Conducts legal research on platforms such as Westlaw and finalizes briefs by checking citations.

Legal Administration & Practice Coordination:

Mail & Service of Process: Receives, date-stamps, processes, and routes physical service of process and daily incoming litigation mail.

Scheduling & Notices: Coordinates depositions, hearings, and trials with opposing attorneys, witnesses, physicians, and court reporters, and sends notices to all parties.

File & Data Management: Creates and maintains litigation files, master lists, open-file lists, legal dashboards, and other metrics tracking civil, worker’s-compensation matters, and other legal matters as directed. 

Subpoenas & Requests: Manages direct third-party requests and teammate subpoena responses, and processes requests from attorneys and other third parties.

General Administration: Performs general administrative tasks, handles correspondence for transactional matters, and maintains Notary Public credentials.  Leverages Google Workspace and AI tools (such as Gemini) to streamline workflows, and performs regular platform maintenance for digital programs and legal dashboards.

Workflow Automation & Digital Optimization: Proactively identifies administrative bottlenecks and designs, builds, and implements automated workflows within Google Workspace (using tools like Google Sheets, Forms, App Sheet, or App Script) to streamline routine tasks; partners directly with the IT department to develop, test, and deploy advanced legal tech automations.

CounselLink & Complex Litigation Support with Google Workspace: 

System Administration: Administers CounselLink to manage legal-department reporting, data entry, and outside-counsel billing.  Actively aggregates, tracks, and reports on outside law firm performance metrics, and compiles general legal/regulatory updates provided by law firm partners. Leverages Google Workspace and AI tools (such as Gemini) to streamline workflows, and performs regular platform maintenance for digital programs and legal dashboards. 

Deadline Management: Inputs and tracks critical filing, response, and court deadlines within matter-management systems.

Class Actions & Claims: Assists with class-action recoveries when the company is a plaintiff, and liaises with the internal claims group to finalize legal settlements.

Negotiation: Negotiates resolutions and settlements for litigated and claims matters as directed by legal counsel.

Perform such other duties as requested by legal counsel

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Required Education: Associates Degree/Junior College
• Minimum Years of Experience: 5-8 years paralegal experience or certificate.
• Other Requirements: Must have a minimum of 3 to 5 years working as a civil litigation or worker's compensation paralegal or other relevant litigation practice support.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Knowledge

• Computer Programs: Google Workspace (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Vault), Gemini AI workflow tools, CounselLink, WestLaw, DOMO (or other department-specified reporting/dashboard platform), Origami or other Risk Management software, MO CaseNet, IL Odyssey, PACER, EEOC, MO/IL Human Rights portals, Adobe, Microsoft Suite (Word and Excel)
• General MO and IL civil procedure, evidence preservation, and discovery rules for civil litigation, worker's compensation litigation, and general administrative or agency actions.
• Expert knowledge of medical record indexing and state/federal redaction protocols for confidential data.
• Knowledge of how state and federal court systems function, including E-filing rules, procedures, and requirements.
• Understanding of corporate communication standards and information-sharing protocols when interfacing with external affairs, public relations, or regulatory bodies.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong and efficient factual investigations, with full autonomy over subpoena and docket tracking workflows.
• Ability to receive, organize, and process physical service of process and daily litigation mail efficiently.
• Drafting pleadings, correspondence, and checking legal citations for legal briefs and court filings.
• Must be detail-oriented with the ability to complete a large volume of work under pressure of court-mandated time constraints.
• Familiarity with proper handling of confidential and proprietary information and the ability to observe strict confidentiality at all times.

FORMAL POLICY SETTING

• Provides input to the next highest level

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT AND WORK ENIVONMENT

Walking

• Primarily Sitting

Standing

• Primarily Sitting

Lifting

• Up to 25lbs

Travel

• 0-25%

Work Environment

• The majority of work is performed during normal business hours in a standard office environment. Will require occasional travel to an SMI store to collect information and interview witnesses.

• Frequent work outside of normal business hours to meet litigation demands, deadlines, and jury trial, hearing or mediation support.

• This role will support working in an SMI store to meet operational needs in the case of a work stoppage or other seasonal needs as requested.

Additional Requirements – Internal Candidates:

• Store/Facility Teammates: minimum of six months employment with Schnucks preferred.
• Store Support Center Teammates: minimum of one year employment with Schnucks preferred.
• Must be in good standing (not on a performance improvement plan or active discipline).
• If invited for an interview, must have manager approval based on performance.

Schnucks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.