Paralegal

City of Cambridge; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Cambridge Law Department is seeking a Paralegal to support attorneys in a wide range of civil, administrative and transactional matters. The role involves drafting documents, managing records, and assisting in litigation and public records requests.

Ideal candidates have a bachelor’s degree, 3+ years paralegal experience, and familiarity with municipal or government work. Knowledge of MA eFileMA/CM-ECF is a plus, and confidentiality is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
• At least three (3) years of paralegal or similar experience assisting in review, research and compliance with laws, rules, and regulations under attorney supervision, either in a law firm or a corporate or public entity’s law department.
• Paralegal Certificate preferred.
• Municipal or other government background preferred.

Responsibilities

• Investigate, analyze, evaluate and make recommendations regarding damages claims and complaints filed against the City and/or City officials.
• Drafts pleadings, motions, discovery requests/responses, releases, contracts and real estate documents for attorney review.
• Assist with discovery, electronic discovery, and organization, case management, collection, review and production of documents.
• Perform legal research and draft research memoranda as requested.
• Prepare and file proof of claim in taxpayer bankruptcy cases.
• Coordinate the gathering of documents from other City departments for cases.
• Process subpoenas for records and coordinate attendance of City employees at depositions and court proceedings.
• Assist with appeals, including assembling the record and checking citations in legal briefs.
• Assist with drafting and implementing litigation holds across City departments.
• Prepares filing documents and ensures compliance with Superior Court Rule 9A.
• Assist in case preparation, pretrial and trial preparation, including locating witnesses and exhibits.
• Assist the Public Records Access Officers in responding to requests.
• Maintain legal opinion and contract files/databases.
• Provide backup answering phones and interfacing with public visitors.
• Assist with invoice tracking, vendor coordination, and outside counsel documentation.

Skills

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Communication

Time management

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Paralegal Certificate preferred

Municipal or government background preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Westlaw/Lexis Nexis

e-file systems (MA eFileMA, CM/ECF)

Job description

The Law Department is responsible for providing legal representation and advice to the City and its officials in numerous areas of law, including but not limited to: zoning, environmental, employment, civil rights, contracts, tax, real estate, and torts involving personal injury and property damage claims. The Law Department’s Paralegal provides support services to the Department’s attorneys. The Paralegal assists in a variety of matters including litigation, claims, transactional matters, public records requests and administrative matters. The Paralegal reports to the Deputy City Solicitor, but may be working on projects for any of the Law Department’s attorneys.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Investigate, analyze, evaluate and make recommendations regarding all manner of damages claims and complaints filed against the City and/or City officials.
• Drafts pleadings, motions, discovery requests/responses, releases, contracts and real estate documents for attorney review.
• Assist with discovery, particularly electronic discovery, and the organization, case management, collection, review and production of documents obtained from litigants and City departments and maintained in electronic databases.
• Perform legal research and draft research memoranda as requested.
• Prepare and file proof of claim in taxpayer bankruptcy cases.
• Coordinate the gathering of any documents from other City departments which are applicable to cases.
• Process subpoenas for records and coordinate the attendance of City employees at depositions and court proceedings.
• Assist with appeals, including the assembling of the record and conducting fact and legal citation checking in legal briefs.
• Assist with drafting and implementing litigation holds across various City departments.
• Prepares filing documents and ensures compliance with Superior Court Rule 9A.
• Assist in case preparation, pretrial and trial preparation, both in and outside the courtroom, including, but not limited to, locating witnesses and creating and assembling exhibits.
• Assist the City’s Public Records Access Officer and Assistant Public Records Access Officer in responding to public records requests as needed.
• Maintain legal opinion and contract files/databases.
• Provides backup with answering telephones and interfacing with members of the public visiting the office.
• Assist with invoice tracking, vendor coordination, and outside counsel documentation
• Perform related work as required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience.
• At least three (3) years of paralegal or similar experience assisting in review, research and compliance with laws, rules, and regulations under attorney supervision, either in a law firm or a corporate or public entity’s law department.
• Paralegal Certificate preferred.
• Municipal or other government background preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to work as part of a diverse team, build collaborative relationships within teams across the organization, and provide excellent customer service.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple projects with different priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (including but not limited to Word, Outlook, and Excel) and Westlaw and/or Lexis Nexis.
• Working knowledge of legal terminology, the legal process, federal laws, Massachusetts general laws, court rules, rules of civil procedure and appellate procedure.
• Working knowledge of the principals, methods, materials, and practices of legal research and investigation.
• Ability to analyze and assist in the preparation of legal documents and instruments.
• Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department colleagues, municipal officials and the general public.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality of sensitive legal, personnel, and investigative information
• Experience with e-file systems (MA eFileMA, federal CM/ECF, or similar platforms)

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Works under the supervision of the Deputy City Solicitor and support Department attorneys and staff on various projects.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Does not exercise formal supervisory authority; may provide functional guidance and training to interns or temporary staff as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in a standard office environment with fluorescent lighting, carpeted floors, and air conditioning. Attendance at meetings is required, including occasional evening meetings at various locations throughout the City of Cambridge.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Requires the ability to use a computer to access, input, and retrieve information, travel throughout the City of Cambridge to various meetings and sites, and lift up to 25 pounds.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please upload the following documents to complete your application:

• Resume

The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.