Bankruptcy Paralegal - Legal Assistant

At Stearns Bank, we’re helping people, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and local communities nationwide reach their full financial potential. Sound like something you want to be a part of? If so, we’re currently looking for a Bankruptcy Paralegal – Legal Assistant to join our team! This is a fully REMOTE position.

Come see how we’re doing business unusual and charting our own path to reimagine a more inclusive financial services and banking ecosystem for all.

Benefits

Stearns Bank understands and respects that everyone is managing unique career, family, and wellness needs. That’s why we offer industry-leading benefits to employees to help them live healthy lives and bring their full selves to work every day. Benefits may vary for part-time positions. Some of those benefits include:

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan & 401k Plan with Employer Match
• Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision, Telehealth, Life insurance)
• 12-week Paid Medical Leave
• Paid Parental Leave: 21-weeks Primary Care Parent, 14-weeks Secondary Care Parent
• $5,000 Family Care Reimbursement
  1. Childcare, Elder Care, Student Loan Debt, Pet expenses, down payment assistance
• $1,000 Self Improvement Allowance
• PTO from 13 to 23 days depending on tenure. Cashout and Carryover options.
• 10 Days Sick Time
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 4 Days Volunteer Time
• 2 Days Self Allowance Time
• Tuition Assistance

For this position, we anticipate an annual salary range between $62,000 - $72,000. Final employment offers will be dependent upon the selected candidate’s relevant qualifications and experience.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Manager, Litigation & Asset Management, this position is responsible for handling a variety of Bankruptcy matters for the Bank. This position will work closely with various teams to provide legal guidance for purposes of safeguarding the Bank’s interest. This position will include working on probate matters as well as working with outside counsel on active litigation matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Process new bankruptcy case filings, monitor cases and communicate relevant events to Loss Recovery team.
• Oversee post-confirmation plan performance and payment processing.
• Receipt and review of daily mail and review of court’s e-notifications.
• Prepare and file Proofs of Claims, relevant amendments, and file Reaffirmation Agreements.
• Correspond with debtors, debtors’ counsel, bankruptcy trustees, other creditors, and bankruptcy court personnel as needed.
• Assist in engaging local counsel and managing litigation; maintain litigation report and keep updated from outside counsel.
• Assist in document reviews for Bank’s outside counsel.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of efficient procedures and processes. 
• Assist management to create and maintain reports for internal and external KPIs.
• Recommend safeguards and improved efficiencies to minimize exposure.
• Maintain working knowledge of all legal and regulatory compliance issues as they pertain to this position.
• Loss prevention and security as applicable for this position.
• Complete all required training.
• Assist on special projects, as needed.
• Performs all other work duties as assigned. 

REQUIREMENTS

• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 lbs.  
• Literacy in English.
• Ability to sit for extended periods of time, twist, bend, sit, walk use hands to twist, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, such as computer mouse, computer keyboard, calculator, stapler, telephone, staple puller, etc., reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, kneel, talk, or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate' degree (A.A.) or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school; and/or two years related experience.  Paralegal certification is preferred, but not required.
• Background in secured transactions, commercial transactions and litigation, collections, creditors’ rights, probate, and bankruptcy.
• Banking law experience and representation of lenders and financial institutions a plus.
• Strong critical thinking and analytic skills.
• Ability to synthesize information and communicate efficiently and effectively.
• Top-notch legal research and writing skills.
• Extremely resourceful and ability to prioritize and manage a large workload of diverse matters.

THE COMPANY

Founded in 1912, Stearns Financial Services Inc. (SFSI) is a $3.2 billion, independently owned financial institution with locations in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona, and over 35,000 small business customers nationwide. Specializing in affordable housing financing, USDA and SBA lending, and small business and equipment financing, Stearns Bank is regularly recognized as one of the country’s top-performing banks and “Best Banks to Work For” by American Banker.

As a Star Tribune Top Workplaces award recipient and an award recipient of the Minnesota Business Magazine 100 Best Places to Work in Minnesota, Stearns takes pride in their team and holds their employees in extremely high regard. We offer a competitive salary and benefit package including our Employee Stock Ownership Program-one of the best long-term incentive programs in the nation. To learn more about Stearns Bank, visit www. StearnsBank.com

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER /AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, or creed, religion, sex, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran’s status, status with regard to public assistance, or any other class protected by Federal, State, local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.