Paralegal/Hearings Administrator

Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, is seeking a Paralegal/Hearings Administrator to support hearings and legal proceedings. Under the General Counsel, you will manage dockets, records, and administrative tasks for adjudicatory matters, ensuring ethical and efficient processing of cases.

The role emphasizes oral and written communication, collaboration with stakeholders, and compliance with privacy and security protocols.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or related paralegal experience in litigation, administrative law, or records management.
• Strong verbal and written communication and judgment in handling confidential information.
• Excellent organization, detail orientation, and ability to manage multiple projects.
• Ability to work independently and interact diplomatically with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency with MS Office and willingness to learn agency electronic systems.
• Knowledge of Westlaw or LexisNexis for legal research and a commitment to ethics.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal, technical, and administrative support to Legal Division and Hearing Officers.
• Develop familiarity with key laws governing the Commission's work.
• Prepare, review, and disseminate meeting materials and minutes.
• Assemble large document sets, redact per law, and create tables of contents and logs.
• Support regulatory promulgation, public hearings, and processing of public comments.
• Organize internal training and maintain policies and advisories.
• Develop and maintain adjudicatory dockets and electronic file systems.
• Prepare and file reports with government offices.
• Organize remote and in-person adjudicatory proceedings and conferences.
• Provide technical instruction and assistance to Commission staff.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Project management

Case management

Independent work

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Office Suite

Westlaw

LexisNexis

Electronic systems

Job description

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Job Title\: Paralegal/Hearings Administrator

Reports to\: General Counsel

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor's degree and/or related experience as a paralegal in litigation, administrative law, regulatory matters, records disclosure or management, or another relevant field;


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;


• Excellent judgment in handling confidential and sensitive information;


• A strong work ethic and commitment to producing work at the highest levels of quality;


• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail;


• The ability to take ownership of, prioritize, and complete multiple projects under time constraints and with available resources;


• Strong project and case management skills;


• An ability to work independently, efficiently, and creatively in an evolving environment;


• Excellent interpersonal skills; an appreciation for teamwork and collegiality; and an ability to interact diplomatically with people at all levels within the Commission, stakeholders, outside counsel, outside vendors, and members of the public;


• A willingness to perform routine administrative and clerical duties, as needed;


• A proficiency with computers and the MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and willingness to learn state- and Commission-specific electronic systems;


• A working knowledge of reference and related sources available for legal research (Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis);


• An appreciation for the mission of the Commission;


• A commitment to performing ethically;


• A commitment to ongoing professional development and satisfying any internal continuing education requirement;


• An appreciation of the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and the importance of interacting respectfully and sensitively with people of different backgrounds; and



• A commitment to adhere to the "Residency and Work Location" requirements stated above.

OTHER VALUED EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

• Public sector law;


• The Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, the Conflict of Interest Law, Public Records Law or Administrative Procedure Act;


• Legal research, writing, or editing;


• Court case management, clerk’s offices, or operations;


• Supporting judges or other adjudicators;


• Civil or criminal litigation;


• Administrative agency adjudications or informal hearings;


• Professional licensure or discipline;


• Policy development;


• Building a new entity;


• Training or compliance initiatives;


• Conference or event planning;


• Handling confidential information in accordance with privacy or security protocols;


• Electronic document management system;


• Virtual hearing platforms;


• Digital content creation and electronic system development; and


• Salesforce technology systems.

OVERVIEW OF THE AGENCY AND THE POSITION

The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission is an independent agency that oversees law enforcement departments and officers throughout the Commonwealth. The Commission is charged with the following:

• Establishing certification standards for law enforcement departments and officers;


• Determining whether those standards have been met;


• Developing regulations and policies governing law enforcement;


• Decertifying, suspending, or ordering retraining for, or imposing other sanctions on officers who commit misconduct or otherwise fail to satisfy requirements;


• Maintaining, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding law enforcement; and


• Conducting investigations, adjudicatory proceedings, and public hearings regarding such matters.

The Commission is governed by, implements, and enforces Chapter 6E of the Massachusetts General Laws. Pursuant to that statute, the Commission collaborates with the Commonwealth’s Municipal Police Training Committee in several areas of its work.

The Commission is looking for an individual to join the Legal Division as a Paralegal/Hearings Administrator. Working under the direction of the Commission’s General Counsel, the individual will predominately work on legal, policy, and administrative matters related to hearings and other aspects of the Commission’s adjudicatory process. The position will substantially, if not principally, involve facilitating the process through oral and written communications, managing dockets and records, and serving as the administrative contact for proceedings.

POSITION FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Paralegal/Hearings Administrator will work on various legal, policy, and administrative matters for the Commission, primarily those involving its adjudicatory process; manage case records; provide technical support for hearings; and prepare matters for appellate review. The individual will be expected to adhere to applicable sources of law and serve the public ethically at all times.

Core responsibilities of the Paralegal function will include:

• Providing various forms of legal, technical, and administrative support to the members of the Commission’s Legal Division and its Hearing Officers, working closely with other parts of the agency;


• Developing a familiarity with key sources of law governing the Commission’s work and the different divisions of the Commission;


• Assisting in the preparation, review, and dissemination of Commission meeting materials and minutes;


• Assembling large sets of documents; redacting them in accordance with law; and developing tables of contents, indexes, and privilege logs in connection with litigation, administrative adjudications, and public records requests;


• Supporting the promulgation of regulations, such as by organizing public hearings, managing the solicitation and processing of public comments, and filing papers with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office;


• Helping organize internal training programs;


• Maintaining and organizing policies, protocols, and advisories adopted by the Commission and its Legal Division;


• Developing and maintaining adjudicatory dockets and case management systems, and other electronic file management systems;


• Preparing and filing reports, certifications, and other official documents with government offices;


• Organizing remote and in-person adjudicatory proceedings, public hearings, and conferences; and


• Providing other Commission personnel with technological instruction and assistance.

Core responsibilities of the Hearings Administrator function will include:

• Managing the administrative aspect of the Commission’s adjudicatory system;


• Developing and updating standard operating procedures, protocols, forms, notices, and templates;


• Coordinating with parties to proceedings regarding scheduling, filings, exhibits, technology, accommodations, and procedural questions;


• Providing administrative and legal support to presiding officers before, during, and after adjudicatory proceedings;


• Preparing administrative documents including notices, scheduling orders, witness lists, exhibit lists, and other documents associated with the adjudicatory process; and


• Ensuring that the Commission records receipt of meetings and hearings documents, marks and identifies documents and exhibits, retains those documents for the required time period, and compiles those documents into an administrative record.

Other responsibilities may include:

• Developing policies and guidelines that improve hearing procedures; and


• Assisting with regulatory development, legal compliance, public records, and other legal initiatives of the Commission.

RESIDENCY AND WORK LOCATION

The Paralegal/Hearings Administrator will be required to reside within 50 miles of the Commission's Boston office while employed by the Commission. The individual will also be required to report to the Commission's Boston office in accordance with the General Counsel's instructions. Currently, Commission employees must report to the office at least two days per week and as otherwise directed.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING

To be considered for the position, apply through MassCareers by October 9, 2026, and include a cover letter, a resume, and at least one substantive writing sample reflecting your own work. You are strongly encouraged to discuss or demonstrate any experience with the areas listed within your application. If you are interested in multiple positions that have been posted by the Commission, you are encouraged to apply for all such positions.

The Commission reserves the ability to refrain from considering any application that omits a required item.

SALARY RANGE

Anticipated range: $65,000 - $80,000. There may be flexibility, commensurate with experience.

COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Details may be found at: Commonwealth Employee Benefits and Rewards!

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

The Commission is committed to building a diverse staff across its entire agency and at all levels.

The Commission is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

It is the policy of the Commission and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to afford equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals, without regard to their race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic or status that is protected by federal, state, or local law. Females, minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities, and those who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive are strongly encouraged to apply.

NOTICE OF REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECK – INCLUDING TAX COMPLIANCE

The Commission requires a background check on all prospective employees as a condition of employment.

Candidates should be aware of this requirement but should also know that such a background check is not initiated until:

1. A candidate is invited to a second or subsequent interview; and


2. The candidate has signed the Background Check Authorization Form and related releases.

This background check includes a check of Criminal Offender Record Information, and Federal IRS and Massachusetts Department of Revenue tax compliance on all prospective employees as a condition of their employment.

Candidates with advanced degrees and professional licenses may have these credentials verified. Individuals other than those references provided by a candidate may be contacted while a full background and qualification check is completed.