Major Crimes Unit Paralegal - (Administrative Technician)-Major Crimes, State's Attorney's Office

Howard County Government; Maryland; On-site; USD 51,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plan

Wellness programs

Job summary

Howard County Government is seeking a paraprofessional to perform senior secretarial and routine paralegal work in the State's Attorney's Office, under general supervision. Starting salary is $56,925 annually or $27.37 hourly, with no collective bargaining unit eligibility.

Typical duties include case prep, witness coordination, legal research, discovery management, and trial support. Requires associate's degree and related experience; preferred bachelor’s in criminal justice or paralegal cert.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree and three (3) years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or related field preferred.
• Paralegal Certificate preferred.
• Thorough knowledge of legal nomenclature.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system, laws, regulations and procedures.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in deciding when to act independently and when to refer situations to a higher authority.
• Ability to perform legal research.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work on a cooperative, courteous and effective basis with associates, officials and representatives of public and private agencies and the public.
• Ability to pass a background check and obtain NCIC Record access and Howard County Police Record access.

Responsibilities

• Case Preparation and File Management: Review statements of charges, information, and indictments to identify essential witnesses.
• Case Preparation and File Management: Secure missing reports, statements, and other necessary documents for case files.
• Case Preparation and File Management: Prepare exhibits, organize files, and copy documents for trial.
• Witness and Records Coordination: Summons all necessary witnesses for trial.
• Witness and Records Coordination: Subpoena required records such as hospital and phone records.
• Legal Research and Writing: Under attorney supervision, identify legal issues, research case law, and prepare memoranda on assigned topics.
• Legal Research and Writing: Obtains criminal records through the NCIC/MILES database system.
• Discovery Management: Prepare draft discovery requests, interrogatories, and document production requests.
• Discovery Management: Track and organize responses.
• Trial Support: Assist attorneys during trial preparation and proceedings, including attending trial and providing direct support as needed.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Secretarial/administrative support

Records coordination

Background check clearance

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree in criminal justice

Paralegal Certificate

Tools

NCIC/MILES database

Job description

Howard County:

Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.

Howard County Government:

Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2024, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 63 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.

What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs.
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Paraprofessional legal work in the State's Attorney's Office.

STARTING SALARY IS $56,925 ANNUALLY AND $27.37 HOURLY:

***This is a State Authorized Exempt position and is ineligible for membership in a collective bargaining unit.***

CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Performs senior secretarial or routine paralegal work, which include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work typically involves independent and confidential secretarial work as the appointed secretary to a Circuit Court Judge; or work may involve writing briefs, conducting research and providing other paralegal support to a legal staff.

Case Preparation and File Management:

• Review statements of charges, information, and indictments to identify essential witnesses.
• Secure missing reports, statements, and other necessary documents for case files.
• Prepare exhibits, organize files, and copy documents for trial.

Witness and Records Coordination:

• Summons all necessary witnesses for trial.
• Subpoena required records such as hospital and phone records.

Legal Research and Writing:

• Under attorney supervision, identify legal issues, research case law, and prepare memoranda on assigned topics.
• Obtains criminal records through the NCIC/MILES database system.

Discovery Management:

• Prepare draft discovery requests, interrogatories, and document production requests.
• Track and organize responses.

Trial Support:

• Assist attorneys during trial preparation and proceedings, including attending trial and providing direct support as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities. Associate's degree and three (3) years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Paralegal Certificate.
• Thorough knowledge of legal nomenclature.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system, laws, regulations and procedures related to assignment.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in deciding when to act independently and when to refer situations to a higher authority.
• Ability to perform legal research.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work on a cooperative, courteous and effective basis with associates, officials and representatives of public and private agencies and the public.
• Ability to pass a background check and obtain NCIC Record access and Howard County Police Record access.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.