CDOC - Legal Assistant I (Sterling)

State of Colorado; Sterling (CO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PERA retirement benefits

Medical and dental plans

Disability coverage

Life insurance

Holidays and leave

Wellness programs

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

State of Colorado's Department of Corrections seeks a Legal Assistant I to support the law libraries and offender legal access programs. The role involves legal research, document preparation, and data entry to produce monthly reports.

This position ensures secure access to legal materials and coordinates with staff to maintain orderly libraries. A paralegal certificate is required within nine months of hire; a Juris Doctorate may substitute.

Qualifications

• Paralegal certificate from ABA approved program or accredited institution.
• Two years of paralegal experience with legal research may substitute.
• Must attach transcripts to receive credit for qualifications.
• Special requirement: paralegal certificate within 9 months of hire; JD may substitute.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal research assistance to offenders and staff to locate proper authority.
• Monitor and manage offender legal access computers and word processing.
• Identify, categorize and log material for photocopying and deliver to offenders.
• Enter data to prepare monthly reports on access, photocopy usage, and hours.
• Maintain inventories and log data on supply and equipment usage.
• Search law libraries for contraband to ensure a secure environment.
• Other duties/projects as assigned by supervisor.

Skills

Legal research

Interpersonal skills

Written & oral communication

Data analysis

Multi-tasking

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Initiative

Critical thinking

MS Office Suite

Stress management

English proficiency

Plain language accessibility

Education

Paralegal certificate (ABA approved)

Juris Doctorate substitute allowed

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and builds greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient.

In addition to a great agency and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system;
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans. Member Contribution Rates. Correctional Officers I-IV qualify as "Safety Officers" and are eligible for increased PERA benefits;
• Medical and dental health plans;
• Short and long term disability coverage;
• Paid life insurance;
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave;
• Wellness program, tuition reimbursement, training opportunities and more;
• Visit State of Colorado Employee Benefits. for more information;
• This position is compensated on a bi-weekly pay cycle.

This position assists adult offenders classified at various security levels, to include disabled offenders, regarding the use of legal materials and the selection and preparation of legal documents; monitor the daily operations and insure the security of assigned facility law libraries to maintain a secure work environment within a penal setting; to provide alternative legal access to those offenders who do not have physical access to a law library; acts as a liaison for offenders and DOC staff; provide offenders with photocopies of legal materials; receive, log, deliver all photocopied loan material; log, prepare loan sheets, enter statistical information into computer to facilitate the production of monthly statistical reports by supervisor; monitor and manage offender legal access computers, including legal research programs and word processing; provide notary services; supervise, hire and terminate offender clerks; provide appropriate services to offenders on behavioral management plans; interview and provide assistance to offenders pursuant to program policies and procedures; may be responsible for more than one facility law library. All other duties/projects as assigned by supervisor.

Job duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide legal research assistance to offenders and staff to find proper legal authority; analyze DOC staff and offender legal problems to assist in resolving legal problems and identify frivolous issues;
• Monitor and manage offender legal access computers, including legal research programs and word processing;
• Identify, categorize and log, material submitted to be photocopied and deliver to requesting offenders to provide access to the courts; provide legal materials to offenders upon request to provide access to the courts;
• Collect, compile and enter data into computer to facilitate preparation of monthly statistical reports on offender access, photocopy usage, loan of legal materials and hours of operation by supervisor;
• Maintain and log data on supply and equipment use to assure compliance with program policies and assure accurate inventories are maintained;
• Search law libraries for contraband pursuant to state statute and facility regulations to provide a secure working environment for staff and offenders;
• Other duties/projects as assigned by supervisor.

Note: Occasional travel required to provide coverage for other CDOC Facilities throughout the state.

Residency Requirement

Residents and non-residents of Colorado may apply and be hired into this position as the work will be performed primarily at a location that is within 30 miles of the state border.

Class Code & Classification Description

H5E1XX Legal Assistant I

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience

Paralegal certificate obtained through either an American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal studies program or an accredited institution. Copies must be attached to your application to receive credit.

Substitutions

Two (2) 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 will substitute for the required certificate. This experience must be clearly described, in your own words, within the work experience section of your application to meet this requirement.

Necessary Special Requirement

Requires a paralegal certificate to be obtained through either an American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal studies program or an accredited institution within 9 months of hiring. A Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school may substitute for the required certificate. You must attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts with your name, college name, degree and date conferred in order to receive credit.

Ensure that the 'Work Experience' section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. This information will be used to help determine compensation for the position. 'See resume' statements cannot be accepted in lieu of the 'work experience' section of the application. Additional work experience will not be accepted after the job announcement close date for compensation purposes.

Required Competencies

• Proficient legal research skills;
• Exceptional interpersonal/customer service skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Efficient and accurate analyzing of data/information skills;
• Keen ability to multi-task and demonstrate flexibility;
• Impeccable organizational, planning, and prioritizing skills;
• Precise attention to details;
• Strong initiative and self motivation;
• Effective critical thinking and decision making;
• Established proficiency in position-related office technologies especially Microsoft Office Suite;
• Self-control, a strong sense of ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations;
• Ability to remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure and observant throughout their shift;
• Tolerance to stress, confinement, and high-stakes interaction;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language;
• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience interpreting complex rules, regulations, policies, procedures and guidelines;
• Advanced knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules.

ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM AND SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE VACANCY WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS PROCESS.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Assessment Process

Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQ's). Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, Online Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.

Be sure the “Work Experience” section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and “see resume” statements will not be accepted in lieu of the “Work Experience” section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.

Employees who are rehired or reinstated within six months of their separation will return at either their previous pay rate if hired into the same class level or based on their time in the class series, whichever is higher. Those rehired or reinstated after six months' separation will be calculated using the same formula for new hires and promotions.

Please note that while this change in role may constitute a change in title and/or responsibility, salary adjustments are not guaranteed and may be influenced by factors such as internal pay equity, budget constraints, market benchmarks, or the individual's current compensation level. Any changes to compensation will be determined separately and communicated accordingly.

If you have transcripts, a license or other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.

If an unofficial copy of transcripts is being submitted at the time of application, transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.

Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.

In order to process a background investigation, your application must include at least ten (10) ten years of the most current work experience unless experience related to the job for which you are applying is later than ten (10) years. Failure to provide this information could result in delays and/or elimination from the background investigation process.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.

**You are encouraged to print a copy of this announcement for your records**

Conditions of Employment

• Must be 21 years of age
• Possess a valid driver's license. Drivers must maintain a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver’s license, obey traffic laws, and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. State drivers are expected to maintain a safe driving record consistent with Colorado Division of Human Resources Universal Policy Driving Standards. Eligibility to drive a State-owned vehicle, includes holding a valid Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of employment or residency change and meeting specific driving record criteria. Serious traffic violations, including DUIs or reckless driving, can disqualify drivers for up to seven years. All State Vehicles are monitored by telematics for safe operation and employees have no reasonable expectation of privacy while using an agency State Fleet vehicle.
• CDL: Below are the conditions of employment that must be completed PRIOR to operating any commercial motor vehicle for the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC). All applicants need to have the following completed and on file per Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Code of Colorado Regulations. (Any violation found, refusal to complete, or failure to complete the following initial driver qualification file documents and the required ongoing updates will not only disqualify you from consideration of employment for this safety-sensitive driving position but also remove you from any safety sensitive driving position as required by 8 CCR 1507-1 and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/):