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How to hire a bankruptcy paralegal

Bankruptcy paralegal hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring bankruptcy paralegals in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a bankruptcy paralegal is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per bankruptcy paralegal on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 85,168 bankruptcy paralegals in the US, and there are currently 7,259 job openings in this field.
  • Dallas, TX, has the highest demand for bankruptcy paralegals, with 2 job openings.

How to hire a bankruptcy paralegal, step by step

To hire a bankruptcy paralegal, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a bankruptcy paralegal:

Here's a step-by-step bankruptcy paralegal hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a bankruptcy paralegal job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new bankruptcy paralegal
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your bankruptcy paralegal job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a bankruptcy paralegal for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A bankruptcy paralegal's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, bankruptcy paralegals from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of bankruptcy paralegals.

    Type of Bankruptcy ParalegalDescriptionHourly rate
    Bankruptcy ParalegalParalegals and legal assistants do a variety of tasks to support lawyers, including maintaining and organizing files, conducting legal research, and drafting documents.$14-49
    Legal ClerkA legal clerk is responsible for performing administrative and clerical duties to legal offices and organizations to ensure smooth legal business operations. Legal clerks sort and distribute documents to the appropriate personnel, update information on the database, schedule appointments, respond to clients' inquiries and concerns, and document meeting objectives... Show more$11-23
    Paralegal InternshipA paralegal intern is responsible for assisting the paralegal department of an organization, familiarizing with law standards and legal procedures, and applying law school knowledge on practical applications. Paralegal interns perform various administrative and clerical tasks under the supervision of tenured paralegal staff... Show more$15-40
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Pacer
    • Litigation
    • Debtor
    • Credit Reports
    • Law Firm
    • Bankruptcy Court
    • Real Estate
    • Affidavits
    • Relief
    • Legal Research
    • Foreclosure
    • Cm/Ecf
    • Local Counsel
    • Probate
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and organize all aspects of foreclosure cases coordinating document flow and logistical preparation for complex cases.
    • Manage large volume of documents, enabling attorneys to easily identify key documents that are critical for mediation and arbitration.
    • Prepare first and final probate court filings.
    • Draft pleadings, research court filings, and communicate with title companies to process real estate foreclosure proceedings.
    • Arrange service of subpoenas and summonses.
    • Initial set up and opening of files; including obtaining court documents from pacer.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your bankruptcy paralegal job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A bankruptcy paralegal salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, bankruptcy paralegals' average salary in florida is 59% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level bankruptcy paralegals earn 71% less than senior-level bankruptcy paralegals.
    • Certifications. A bankruptcy paralegal with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a bankruptcy paralegal's salary.

    Average bankruptcy paralegal salary

    $55,485yearly

    $26.68 hourly rate

    Entry-level bankruptcy paralegal salary
    $30,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025
  4. Writing a bankruptcy paralegal job description

    A bankruptcy paralegal job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a bankruptcy paralegal job description:

    Bankruptcy paralegal job description example

    The paralegal will work under the supervision of the supervising attorneys and provide support to the litigation and bankruptcy groups. Responsibilities include case organizing, analyzing, researching and writing. The paralegal will coordinate schedules, draft legal documents, and communicate with parties. The paralegal will assist Attorneys representing Debtors, Creditors, and Creditor Committees in large chapter 11 restructuring cases in a team environment. The candidate should have recent bankruptcy experience preferably in chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy matters.


    Essential Duties , Responsibilities and Requirements

    • Must be able to handle all facets of bankruptcy cases including client contact and attorney support.
    • Assist in analyzing due diligence materials regarding all aspects of a company's business operations.
    • Assist with the preparation and filing of petitions, resolutions, first day pleadings, drafts.
    • Cite check, research and update precedent in first and second-day pleadings filed; must be familiar with local rules of various courts; coordinate with other professionals and clients to obtain and analyze due diligence materials in preparation of exhibits and documents to be included as part of the filing material.
    • Correspond with clients, creditors and other interested parties regarding case issues.
    • Collate information and exhibits for motions, applications, notices, memoranda, proofs of claim.
    • Preparation of quarterly fee applications.
    • Assist with the preparation of monthly fee statements; maintain professional fee spreadsheets.
    • Review and edit documents and exhibits, charts and diagrams.
    • Maintain case calendars and working group lists.
    • Work closely with other practice groups and offices on matters related to restructuring cases.
    • Performs legal research, especially of the Uniform Commercial Code.
    • Corporate background search with the secretary of state.
    • Should have some experience with electronic discovery.
    • Strong e-filing experience is also required.
    • Follows up and checks status of bankruptcy cases.
    • Dockets relevant information and future follow-up dates
    • Sorts and opens mail relevant to bankruptcy matters
    • Scans and profiles correspondence and documents sent and received in electronic filing system
    • Performs bankruptcy searches on various databases and dockets results.

    Qualifications

    • Four (4) year undergraduate degree preferred but not required.
    • Paralegal certification preferred but not required.
    • A minimum of 4 years' experience working on bankruptcy and commercial litigation matters as a paralegal in Texas required.
    • Must know all aspects of litigation discovery.
    • Strong knowledge and computer skills of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Reveal, CoreRelate (Docketing), PACER, Elite, BestCase program and Adobe software is essential.
    • Average typing speed of 60+ wpm required.
    • Commitment to work overtime on evenings and weekends when necessary.
    • Detail-oriented.
    • Team player with ability to work independently, prioritize and multi-task.
    • Strong administrative and organizational skills, creativity and initiative.
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills and able to interact effectively with staff, attorneys, clients, courts and other professionals required.
    • Able to work in a fast-paced environment with challenging tasks and daily deadlines.
    • Must be able to maintain confidentiality.
    • Must possess excellent English communication skills with the ability to speak and write clearly and informatively.


    Kane Russell Coleman & Logan, PC is an

    Equal Opportunity Employer

  5. Post your job

    To find bankruptcy paralegals for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any bankruptcy paralegals they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level bankruptcy paralegals with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your bankruptcy paralegal job on Zippia to find and recruit bankruptcy paralegal candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit bankruptcy paralegals, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new bankruptcy paralegal

    Once you've found the bankruptcy paralegal candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a bankruptcy paralegal?

There are different types of costs for hiring bankruptcy paralegals. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new bankruptcy paralegal employee.

The median annual salary for bankruptcy paralegals is $55,485 in the US. However, the cost of bankruptcy paralegal hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a bankruptcy paralegal for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $14 and $49 an hour.

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