Senior Paralegal – (Employment Practice) $1000 Sign On Bonus

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Employment Practices and Civil Rights Unit defends the state and its agencies and institutions of higher education in employment and labor disputes. This includes providing preventative legal training to appointing authorities and human resources directors and their staff. In addition, this Unit litigates personnel cases before the State Personnel Board and in state and federal court. This Unit also provides advice and litigates civil rights cases before the Office of Administrative Courts and appellate courts.

The Senior Paralegal will join an existing paralegal cohort and will primarily support approximately four to five attorneys. In this role, the paralegal will be crucial in managing a large caseload, ensuring deadlines are met, conducting legal research, and preparing legal drafts. Responsibilities include:

• Drafting all types of legal documents by reviewing case files and communicating with client agencies;
• Performing research to assist the Unit’s attorneys in preparing case strategies and responding to client requests for advice;
• Preparing and responding to discovery requests;
• Assisting attorneys in preparing for administrative hearings before the State Personnel Board, administrative courts, and other state and federal courts;
• Assisting attorneys in providing proactive trainings for clients;
• Communicating orally and in writing with court personnel, witnesses, parties, clients, counsel of record, and the public to obtain information and keep interested parties and attorneys apprised of case developments.

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 dedicated public servant who thrives in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. The ideal candidate for this role should work well in a team-based environment and should not be afraid to 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.

Minimum qualifications are:

• Three years of work experience in a paralegal capacity which 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 included conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents and gathering and compiling data from legal references and resources. This experience must include working as a litigation paralegal.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. This experience must include working as a litigation paralegal.Note: Candidates possessing a foreign degree must submit a translation (evaluation) of their degree from an accredited institution, such as The National Association of Credential Evaluations Services in order to be given credit for the degree.

Required Competencies: 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite
• Effective oral and written communication with internal and external customers
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills
• Excellent document management skills

Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the minimum qualifications, if you possess any of the following specifically include the details on your application. This information will be used to assess your qualifications and may be used to determine a top group of applicants.  

• Familiarity with ProLaw or similar case management and tracking systems
• Familiarity with the State Personnel Board and/or administrative courts
• Experience working on a team with a collaborative focus
• Ability to research, analyze, and compile data
• Solid time-management skills, including the ability to multi-task and effectively manage competing priorities in order to meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work well with a diverse range of customers

Conditions of Employment: 

• Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.

Please view the full job announcement for more information and to apply online