Paralegal

City of Santa Fe Springs; Minnesota; Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Parental Leave (6 weeks)

Retirement Savings

11 paid holidays

2 Floating holidays

Vacation and sick time

Job summary

City of Santa Fe Springs seeks a paralegal to assist staff attorneys with preliminary and specialized legal tasks. You will compose substantive legal correspondence, organize files, obtain discovery, conduct research, and draft motions and memoranda.

You will interview clients and witnesses, assist with case analysis and trial preparation, and support hearings, subpoenas, and trial proceedings. A four-year paralegal degree or two-year certificate is required, with related experience.

Qualifications

• Four year paralegal degree or two year paralegal certificate plus two years of approved experience.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Compose substantive legal correspondence.
• Organize, index, and summarize files and materials.
• Obtain discovery, conduct legal research; draft motions and memoranda.
• Gather information from clients and witnesses; confer on case status.
• Assist attorneys with analyzing cases, defense strategy, and trial planning.
• Assist at hearings and trials; prepare witness lists and coordinate witnesses.
• Examine evidence and prepare exhibits; testify when needed.
• Maintain law library; coordinate interns and law clerks.
• May design statewide training materials and programs.

Skills

Interviewing

Written and oral communication

Legal research

Organizing materials

Analytical thinking

Education

Four year paralegal degree

Paralegal certificate (2 years)

Equivalent education/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.

Definition/Summary of Duties

• 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, Skills and Abilities

• 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.

Education and Experience

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.

Full Time Employee And Part Time Employee Benefits

The State of Minnesota offers benefits through the State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP). Benefits-eligible employees are entitled to the following insurance and pre-tax benefits:

• Medical insurance
• Single coverage as low as $38.50 a month
• Family coverage $262.66 a month
• Dental insurance
• Single coverage as low as $13.50 a month
• Family coverage $55.40 a month
• Basic Life insurance
• 6 week paid Parental Leave (eligible after 1 year of employment)
• Retirement Savings
• 11 paid holidays
• 2 Floating holiday
• Vacation and sick time along with leave of absence programs
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Additional Life insurance for yourself, spouse and children
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Metro Pass
• Deferred Compensation plan
• Pre-tax expense accounts: dependent care account, medical and dental, transit expense

Required Questions

• 01 Describe the legal research tools you are familiar with using.
• 02 Describe the types of legal correspondence you have written (briefs, memos, etc.).
• 03 Describe your experience with interviewing another person to obtain information.
• 04 Describe your experience working with co-counsel/defense team.
• 05 Describe your experience working with scientific evidence.
• 06 Describe your familiarity with the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and any experience you have with the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines.
• 07 List the software programs you can use proficiently (Word, Excel, etc).
• 08 What experience do you have working with a diverse community in either volunteer or paid positions? List organizations and job duties.
• 09 Please list your educational background as related to this position.
• Required Question