Paralegal

State of Minnesota Board of Public Defense; Chaska (MN); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Minnesota Board of Public Defense seeks a qualified paralegal under administrative direction to assist staff attorneys with preliminary or specialized legal tasks. The role offers a hybrid schedule after a 12-month probationary period.

Key duties include discovery, file organization, legal research, drafting motions and memoranda, witness coordination, and trial support. Strong written and oral communication, and knowledge of juvenile/criminal justice systems are essential.

Qualifications

• Four year paralegal degree or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Two year paralegal certificate plus two years of approved experience or equivalent.
• Proficient in researching legal information and using statutes/digests.
• Ability to organize, index, and summarize files and materials.

Responsibilities

• Composes substantive legal correspondence.
• Organizes, indexes, and summarizes files and materials.
• Obtains discovery, conducts legal research; drafts motions, memoranda, notices, demands, jury instructions, and other documents.
• Interviews clients and witnesses; discusses case status and preparation.
• Assists attorneys with analyzing cases, defenses, and trial strategies.
• Assists at hearings and trials; drafts questions and coordinates witnesses.
• Examines evidence, photographs and exhibits; prepares trial notebooks.
• Locates and consults with expert witnesses and resource people.
• Maintains brief bank, law library, and interns/law clerks; may design statewide training content.
• Performs related duties as required.

Skills

Interviewing

Written communications

Organizing materials

Data analysis

Education

Four year paralegal degree

Paralegal certificate + experience

Tools

Legal research tools

Job description

Under administrative direction and supervision, performs work of moderate difficulty assisting staff attorneys in performance of preliminary or specialized legal tasks.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule after successfully completing the probationary period of 12 months.

• Composes substantive legal correspondence
• Organizes, indexes, and/or summarizes files and other materials
• Obtains discovery, conducts legal research; drafts motions, memoranda, notices, demands, jury instructions, and other documents;
• Gathers information from clients and witnesses through interviews and from documents; confers with clients on case status, preparation, and other matters;
• Assists attorneys with analyzing cases, developing defenses, theory of case, and trial strategies;
• Assists at hearings and trials;
• Drafts questions for prospective witnesses; prepares witness lists; coordinates witnesses;
• Examines physical evidence, tangible objects, photographs and exhibits;
• Prepares trial note books;
• Locates and confers with expert witnesses and resource people;
• Conducts jury surveys; prepares and serves subpoenas;
• Prepares diagrams and other exhibits; testifies in court; assists clients with arrangements for bail; acts as jail liaison;
• Assists clients with post sentencing issues such as jail credit, work release, and restitution;
• Monitors and reports legislative and case developments affecting clients;
• Maintains brief bank; administers law library; coordinates activities of interns and law clerks;
• May design and present information for statewide training programs;
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of the juvenile and criminal justice systems
• Good knowledge of relevant legal information sources
• Good knowledge of the principles of legal research
• Good knowledge of legal protocol, legal vocabulary, document indexing methods and document filing methods

Skills

• Considerable skill in interviewing and listening
• Considerable skill in written and oral communications
• Considerable skill in preparing and organizing materials for use by others
• Considerable skill in analysis of facts and data.

Abilities

• Working ability to use legal research tools such as statutes, digests, practice manuals and computerized legal bases
• Working ability to develop written and oral reports
• Working ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Working ability to complete assignments under time constraints;
• Working ability to perform job duties independently, organize work-flow efficiently, set priorities and meet deadlines;
• Working ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion;
• Working ability to provide staff attorneys with a variety of legal processes.

Minimum Qualifications

• Four year paralegal degree from an accredited college or university; OR
• A two year paralegal certificate from an accredited business or technical school plus two years of approved experience as a Paralegal, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.