Senior Paralegal – Air Quality, Water Quality, & Energy/Federal & Interstate Water

Details

Section:
Federal & Interstate/ Colorado River
Position Number:
LAA-00571/00128-2/25
Salary Range:
$70,140.00 - $86,400.00 Yearly
Apply By:
Thursday, February 27, 2025, 11:59 pm
FLSA:
Exempt
Work Unit:
Air Quality
Job Location:
1300 Broadway, Denver, CO, 80203 (hybrid option available)
Release Date:
Friday, February 14, 2025
Employment Type:
Full-Time
Position Type:
Classified

Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!

 

The Natural Resources and Environment Section is seeking two Senior Paralegals to join our tight knit team of professionals.  This is an opportunity to use your skills supporting attorneys and preparing for litigation in a public service role. The right candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment where all team members are encouraged to innovate and contribute to the Units’ priorities and case strategy.  If you’re looking for challenging and rewarding work in a fast-paced public service setting with flexible work arrangement opportunities, we invite you to apply so we can learn more about you!

The DOL is currently offering a sign-on bonus for new paralegal hires of $1,000.
Sign-On bonuses will be paid based on the following timeline:
$500.00 – Time of hire
$500.00 – 12 months after hire

 

 WHO WE ARE
The Office of the Attorney General/Department of Law is the “People’s Lawyer.” The Attorney General, Phil Weiser, was elected by the people of Colorado and is the State’s chief lawyer and law enforcement official. Our vision for the Department of Law is: “Together, we serve Colorado and its people, advancing the rule of law, protecting our democracy and promoting justice for all.” Our core values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, drive our actions and demonstrate our focus on being principled public servants who are innovative and better together.


Visit our website to learn more: 
https://coag.gov/.

 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Senior Paralegal (Legal Assistant II) in the Air Quality, Water Quality and Energy units (LAA-00517), will work under the supervision of attorneys who provide legal services to the Energy Office, the Air Quality Control Commission, the Air Pollution Control Division, the Air Quality, Clean Fleet, and Community Access Enterprises, and the Office of Environmental Justice. This position will also support attorneys providing services to the Water Quality Control Division, the Water Quality Control Commission, the Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board, the Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise, the Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability, and any other general legal services.

The Senior Paralegal (Legal Assistant II) in Federal & Interstate Water unit (LAA-00128), will work under the supervision of attorneys who provide legal representation and counsel to the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Division of Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources, compact commissioners, State of Colorado, and other state agencies regarding water rights and water issues related to Colorado’s interstate streams. 

We are looking for someone with a growth mindset, a positive attitude, and the desire to work in an environment that is fast paced, but also fun and interesting. This position is for you if you are excited about adding value to your team and your clients. The successful candidate will be able to absorb instructions quickly and put them into action without hesitation, while maintaining a clear line of communication with their supervising attorneys. They will be a go-getter with a desire to support their team and take meaningful ownership of every project and task assigned to them. If you are not afraid to roll up your sleeves and you take pride in your work, please apply!

Duties include:

General Counsel Support

  • Track and maintain deadlines for negotiations, cases, and other matters
  • Communicate with clients/parties/agencies to obtain information and to apprise clients of negotiation and case developments
  • Assist in the establishment, updating, and maintenance of computer systems and case files, including computer databases and software, for negotiation, general counsel support, litigation document control, and law office management
  • Review attorney work product for errors in form and content, ensuring memoranda are correctly formatted, that citation form is correct, and authority supports analysis, and that written analysis is free of typographical and grammatical errors, prepares final version for filing
  • Prepare final version for dissemination to client
  • Calendar all rulemaking scheduling; review rulemaking package, prehearing statements, and rulemaking opinions for errors in form and content, ensuring all pleadings are correctly formatted, that citation form is correct and authority supports analysis; prepare final version for filing.
  • Maintain and organize case files, including confidential materials

Litigation Support, Research and Investigations

  • Research legal issues and provides oral and written analysis
  • Draft basic motions, notices and related documentation
  • Assist unit attorneys and clients with pleadings, discovery, testimony and hearing preparation
  • Review court filing for errors in form and content, ensuring all pleadings are correctly formatted, that citation form is correct, and authority supports analysis, and that written analysis is free of typographical and grammatical errors
  • Maintain complete files with copies of all records created by the unit, the client and the commission, organized as determined by unit supervisor and team leader

Trial & Hearing Preparation Assistance

  • Work with case team on motions and discovery plan
  • Draft basic motions, notices and related documentation
  • Review and edit all pleadings and briefs to ensure the form complies with court rules and office policies, and that content is free of grammatical or typographical error
  • Arrange and attend depositions and meetings as requested by attorney; schedules hearings; identifies and prepares exhibits and trial notebooks; develops and assists with demonstrative and electronic exhibit presentations.
  • Monitor incoming pleadings, orders, decisions, and updates calendars accordingly
  • Calendar all subpoena scheduling; review all motions to protect witness; review documents and prepare final version for filing.

Discovery

  • Assist with the implementation of and compliance with procedural discovery requirements by drafting discovery requests
  • Draft discovery responses, interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission, and responses to discovery requests
  • Calendar and manage response deadlines, assisting in the gathering and organizing of potentially responsive information and documents from client agencies

This recruitment may be used to fill other Paralegal positions in the Natural Resources and Environment section.

Salary note: Although a salary range is listed, salary will be set commensurate with the successful candidate’s qualifications and in compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. Salary will be paid on a biweekly basis.

 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a dynamic individual who thrives in fast paced, fun, collaborative environments and is not afraid to own projects and look for new ways to add value their team and clients.

Minimum Qualifications: Please document all relevant experience in detail on your application. Experience will not be inferred or assumed. Any part-time experience listed will be prorated. 

This position requires:

  • Three years of work experience in a paralegal capacity which must have included conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents, and gathering and compiling data from legal references and resources.OR
  • Paralegal certificate obtained through either an American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal studies program or an accredited institution AND one year of work experience as a paralegal which must have included conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents and gathering and compiling data from legal references and resources.

OR

  • A Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school AND one year of work experience as a paralegal which included conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents and gathering and compiling data from legal references and resources.

Please document all relevant experience in detail in the work experience section of your application. It is in your best interest to be descriptive about your qualifications.

Necessary Competencies: Requires proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.

Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the minimum qualifications, the preferred applicant will demonstrate some or all of the qualifications below:

  • A growth mindset
  • Positive attitude and a desire to learn from their colleagues
  • Deep investment in their work, with ownership over their projects and a desire to add value to the team
  • Ability to anticipate the needs and take action to support the attorneys in the unit
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  • Ability to keep up with a fast-paced work environment
  • Ability to communicate effectively with attorneys, client agencies, and other paralegals
  • Strong written communication skills
  • Ability to work independently as well as with team members
  • Some experience with litigation and supporting attorneys in administrative proceedings
  • Experience working with various computer programs including timekeeping, document management, and litigation software.
  • Relevant State of Colorado experience in a paralegal capacity

Conditions of Employment: 

  • Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
  • Both in-person and remote work will be required.
  • Colorado Department of Law participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

Please view the full job description for more information, including information about compensation and benefits, and to apply online.