PARALEGAL II

State of Maryland; Cambridge (MD); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid Holidays

Retirement plan

Flexible scheduling

Hybrid work

Job summary

The Office of the Attorney General in Maryland is seeking a Paralegal II to support two Assistant Attorneys General for the Dorchester and Somerset County Departments of Social Services. The role involves preparing pleadings, organizing evidence, and assisting in administrative hearings related to CINA, TPR, and adult protective services.

The position will be shared between the two DSS offices with a flexible hybrid schedule, working closely with legal staff and county agencies to prioritize

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent.
• Three years of experience as a legal assistant or legal secretary performing legal research or preparing legal documents.
• Substitutions: college credits or law school credits may be substituted for the required experience.
• Experience with subpoena preparation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and organize legal documents such as pleadings, discovery materials, filings, and correspondence.
• Support attorneys in court preparation and attend court when necessary.
• Monitor deadlines and ensure timely filings.
• Prepare materials for mediations and hearings and maintain organized case files.
• Assist in preparing reports, summaries, and client communications.
• Perform redactions to comply with confidentiality laws.

Skills

Legal research

Legal document preparation

Client communication

Education

High school diploma

Associate’s degree or higher

Tools

MDEC to Serve

Adobe Pro

Job description

Introduction

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has the general charge, supervision, and direction of the State’s legal business, acting as legal advisors and representatives of the major agencies, various boards, commissions, officials, and institutions of State Government. The OAG also protects the public by civil enforcement of antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, and securities laws and regulations and by the prosecution of organized crime, Medicaid fraud, environmental crimes, insurance fraud, state tax evasion, and other statutorily assigned matters. As Maryland’s 47th Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown leads the Office with a critical focus on equity, justice, and fairness.

GRADE

ASTD12

LOCATION OF POSITION

Office of the Attorney General
Department Human Services
Dorchester and Somerset Counties- Department of Social Services
Dorchester Location:
2737 Dorchester Square
Cambridge, MD 21613�
Somerset Location:
30397 Mt. Vernon Road
Princess Anne, Maryland 21853�

Main Purpose of Job

The OAG is seeking applicants for a Paralegal II to support the legal department representing the Dorchester and Somerset County Departments of Social Services (DCDSS and SCDSS) within the Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS is Maryland’s primary social services agency, serving more than one million residents annually through its 24 local departments. DHS is responsible for setting statewide policy, providing oversight, and supporting local offices, such as the DCDSS and SCDSS. The DCDSS and SCDSS deliver critical services directly to the community. These services include child welfare, adult protective services, and support for vulnerable children and adults.
The Paralegal will provide direct support to two Assistant Attorneys General AAG. This position plays a vital role in supporting legal proceedings related to Child in Need of Assistance CINA, Termination of Parental Rights TPR, Adult Protective Services, and Adult Guardianship. The role also includes support for administrative hearings involving child abuse, neglect, and other matters, as well as handling records requests and related legal tasks.� This position will be jointly based at the Dorchester and Somerset County Departments of Social Services (DSS).
Note:� The selected employee will divide their time between the two offices, with the schedule determined by case assignments and operational workload needs within each jurisdiction.
This collaborative environment encourages continuous learning and offers support from experienced and dedicated legal professionals, making this a rewarding and challenging role for a dedicated Paralegal.

POSITION DUTIES

Key responsibilities will be:

• Draft, review, and organize legal documents such as pleadings, discovery materials, filings, and correspondence.
• Support attorneys in court preparation, including the preparation and organization of exhibits and evidence and attend court when necessary.
• Monitor legal deadlines and ensure timely filings and submissions.
• Prepare materials for mediations, settlement conferences, and court hearings.�
• Manage case files and databases, ensuring documents are current, organized, and easily accessible.
• Assist in preparing reports, presentations, and summaries for internal and external use.
• Communicate with clients, courts, and third parties to gather information and relay updates.
• As necessary, perform investigation and review of information to obtain necessary documentation and summarize information for use in pending matters and make recommendations on releasing information according to statute or regulations to protect confidentiality.��
• Perform redactions of documents to comply with state and federal confidentiality laws.
• Schedule meetings and maintain attorney calendars

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Three years of experience as a legal assistant or legal secretary performing legal research or preparing legal documents on behalf of an attorney.

Notes: 1. Thirty credit hours or a certificate in paralegal studies from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required experience.

2. Thirty credit hours from an accredited law school may be substituted for the required experience.

3. Additional years of experience as stated above may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in paralegal specialist classifications or paralegal specialist specialty codes in the legal and kindred field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree or higher from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Experience using MDEC to Serve to file pleadings electronically.
• Experience with Adobe Pro and electronic record redaction.
• Experience preparing subpoenas.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants who meet the minimum and selective qualifications will be included in further evaluation. The evaluation may be a rating of your application based on your education, training and experience as they relate to the requirements of the position. Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and answer all supplemental questions. Please report all related education, experience, dates and hours of work. Clearly indicate your college degree and major on your application, if applicable. For education obtained outside the U.S., any job offer will be contingent on the candidate providing an evaluation for equivalency by a foreign credential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may be requested prior to interview).

Complete applications must be submitted by the closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be added. Incorrect/incomplete application forms will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

BENEFITS

• Employment Benefits: Working for the Office of the Attorney General offers a competitive benefits package designed to support your health and well‑being.
• Generous Leave:
• Annual Leave: 10–25 days per year based on service.
• Sick Leave: 15 days per year with unlimited carryover.
• Personal Leave: Up to 6 days per year.
• Paid Holidays: 12 state holidays.
• Paid Family Leave: Provides at least 12 weeks of paid leave for personal medical needs, family caregiving, and qualifying military-related reasons.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Retirement Savings: Defined‑benefit pension plan plus 401(k) and 457 supplemental retirement options.
• Work–Life Balance: Hybrid and flexible work schedules available for many roles.
• Professional Growth: Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Additional Benefits: Flexible Spending Accounts, free mass transit (eligible areas), Employee Assistance Program, and access to SECU.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The Office of the Attorney General is an equal opportunity employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, religion or belief, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, pregnancy, family or parental status, veteran status, genetic information, or any protected category prohibited by local, State or federal laws.