Paralegal

About Us:
We are a leading electrical construction firm serving the Chicagoland area. We are committed to delivering high-quality projects while maintaining a safe, efficient, and compliant work environment. We're seeking a Paralegal to support our internal legal/risk management functions — specifically handling workers' compensation and auto accident insurance claims.

Position Summary:
As our Paralegal, you will play a central role in claim management and legal support. You'll partner with field leadership, insurance carriers, outside counsel, and HR/safety teams to monitor, document, and resolve workers' compensation and auto accident claims. You will also assist with compliance, reporting, and document-management for legal matters in the construction context.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with intake, investigation, and documentation of workers' compensation and auto accident claims.
• Coordinate communication with insurance carriers, adjusters, medical providers, and external counsel.
• Track claims from initial notice through resolution/closure, maintaining accurate and confidential files.
• Prepare claim summaries, loss-runs, periodic reports and dashboards for leadership.
• Support subrogation, recovery efforts and insurance audits as applicable.
• Draft, organize and review legal correspondence, settlement documentation and claim-related contracts.
• Maintain both electronic and physical legal/claims files; enforce consistent document management and retention practices.
• Monitor compliance with OSHA reporting, state workers' compensation mandates and internal safety/risk policies.
• Support Safety and Risk teams as needed (incident documentation, COIs, certificate requests, insurance renewals).
• Maintain databases, logs and trackers for claims and litigation; prepare presentations and summaries for meetings.
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision; assist with general legal team tasks as needed.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Training:

• Associate or Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies, Business Administration, Risk Management or related field required; Paralegal certification (CP, CLA or equivalent) preferred.
• Minimum 3 ­–­ 5 years of experience as a paralegal, legal assistant or claims specialist — ideally in the construction, insurance defense or risk management environment.
• Demonstrated experience handling workers' compensation and general liability/auto accident claims preferred.
• Solid working knowledge of state and federal workers' compensation laws, auto/industrial accident claim processes, OSHA recordkeeping and construction-industry risk discipline.
• Familiarity with construction industry safety standards, insurance certificates of insurance (COIs), contractor risk protocols and subrogation/recovery practices.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills — extremely detail-oriented and accurate in file management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to interact professionally and clearly with employees, leadership, legal counsel, field teams and external partners.
• High integrity, confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive legal/claims matters.
• Analytical mindset: able to review claim data/trends and assist in identifying areas of exposure or process improvement.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); experience with claims/incident management or document management systems (e.g., Origami, Riskonnect, or similar) is a plus.
• Willingness to complete ongoing professional development/paralegal training and participate in annual compliance/safety training.
• Comfortable working in an office-based environment with occasional field-site visits or vendor/adjuster meetings.

Newport Industries is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to status as a protected veteran or a qualified individual with a disability, or other protected status, such as race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or age.

Pay: $ $32.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending