Paralegal 2

Description

JOB TITLE: Paralegal II
REPORTING TO:  VP General Counsel
LOCATION: Chicago, IL

Looking for a job that can grow into a lifelong career?

At Lactalis USA, we believe in promoting from within and giving our employees meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or bringing years of experience, we’ll provide the tools and support you need to succeed.

Lactalis is the world leader in dairy—a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Every day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together every day.

In the US, we offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with sour cream and a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We’re building a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us make an impact. 

From your PASSION to ours 

Lactalis. (Approximately 50% of time)

• Field initial questions from stakeholders. Answer routine questions; forward non-routine questions to counsel; and redirect non-legal questions
• Serve as marketing’s first legal contact for all marketing-related questions; escalate as necessary 
• Draft non-disclosure agreements and other routine agreements from Company NDA templates
• Upload completed contracts to Company’s contract management database
• Coordinate legal projects by maintaining project plan, tracking progress against goals
• Liaise with Engineering and Plant management on CapEx projects 
• Assist with preparation of corporate governance documents
   

Labor & Employment. (Approximately 30% of time)

• Prepare documents for production in response to personnel file requests, subpoenas, administrative agency charges, and class action complaints 
• Prepare draft discovery responses and other legal documents in coordination with internal stakeholders, under supervision of Lead Counsel for Labor & Employment
• Support compliance-related tasks at direction of Lead Counsel for Labor & Employment, including intake and proper distribution of legal documents and demands, updating documents for compliance with applicable law, and identifying potential process improvements
  
   
• Other Functions. (Approximately 20% of time)
  Other legal projects, as assigned, that are intended to benefit all Divisions within Lactalis USA

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Education/Experience

• Associate or bachelor’s degree. 
• 5+ years of paralegal experience in a law firm or in-house legal department, preferably at a CPG company.
• Paralegal certificate is a plus but is not necessary.
• Familiarity with marketing law, litigation and/or employment law is a plus but is not necessary.
  
   
• Skills/Abilities
  Very strong computer skills with a high proficiency level in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. 
• Self-motivated and inspired to improve.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills. 
• Strong independent judgement.
• Able to work well within a team is necessary. 
• Skilled at communicating important concepts to all levels of management. 
• Must maintain strict confidence with respect to all Legal Department matters.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.