Paralegal

State-of-Minnesot; Crookston (MN); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

State-of-Minnesot is seeking a paralegal to assist staff attorneys with preliminary and specialized tasks, including drafting documents, organizing files, and interviewing clients. This position offers a hybrid schedule after a 12-month probationary period.

The role requires strong legal research skills, knowledge of juvenile and criminal justice, and the ability to manage multiple tasks under time constraints. Duties include trial support, witness coordination, and post-sentencing assistance.

Qualifications

• Four-year paralegal degree from an accredited college or university.
• Two-year paralegal certificate plus two years of approved experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of juvenile and criminal justice systems.
• Knowledge of legal research sources and techniques.

Responsibilities

• Composes substantive legal correspondence.
• Organizes, indexes, and summarizes files and materials.
• Obtains discovery and conducts legal research; drafts motions, memoranda, notices, demands, jury instructions, and other documents.
• Interviews clients and witnesses; informs clients about case status and preparation.
• Assists attorneys with analyzing cases, defenses, and trial strategies.
• Assists at hearings and trials.
• Drafts questions for witnesses and coordinates witnesses.
• Examines evidence and exhibits; prepares trial notebooks.
• Locates and consults with experts and resource people.
• Manages jury surveys and subpoenas; prepares diagrams; testifies as needed.
• Assists clients with bail arrangements and post-sentencing issues.
• Monitors legislative and case developments affecting clients.
• Maintains brief bank and law library; coordinates interns and law clerks.
• May design statewide training materials; performs related duties.

Skills

Interviewing

Written and oral communications

Analytical skills

Material organization

Education

Four-year paralegal degree

Paralegal certificate + experience

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.