Paralegal III

Justice; Wake Crossroads (NC); On-site; USD 63,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

North Carolina Department of Justice seeks a Paralegal II to support appellate and post-conviction attorneys in preparing state briefs, motions, petitions, and other legal documents. The role includes proofreading, indexing, and filing in state and federal courts, with travel as needed.

Under supervision, you will organize case information, manage document collection, and assist in discovery for capital and non-capital cases, ensuring accuracy in authorities and authorities tables for filings.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited institution for paralegal training and three years of paralegal experience.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and three years of substantive paralegal experience.
• High school or GED diploma and seven years of paralegal experience performing delegated, substantive legal work.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience as allowed by the posting.

Responsibilities

• Provide paralegal and clerical support to Appellate and Post-conviction attorneys preparing the State’s briefs and other legal documents.
• Proof, cite check, run tables of contents and authorities for filings and other duties for the section as needed.
• Prepare templates for documents, proofread and edit all documents, prepare tables of authorities, tables of content and appendices for briefs and other appellate filings.
• Electronically file documents in the United States and North Carolina courts.
• Prepare service copies and exhibits for filings.
• Collect and prepare discovery documents for capital and non-capital criminal cases.
• Check citations to applicable legal authorities, make corrections as necessary and independently review in final edits.
• Organize attorney case information and manage document collection and storage.
• Track attorney cases.
• Some travel, including some occasional overnight stays, is required.

Skills

Paralegal

Legal research

Document management

Proofreading

Education

Paralegal training certificate

Bachelor’s degree + 3 years paralegal experience

GED + 7 years paralegal experience

Job description

Agency Dept of Justice Division DOJ Legal Services Job Classification Title Paralegal III (S) Position Number 60010319 Grade LG05

About Us The North Carolina Department of Justice, led by the Attorney General of North Carolina, represents the state, state agencies, and elected officials, and defends the rights of the people of North Carolina. The Department handles all state criminal appeals cases and assists district attorneys with complex criminal cases at their request. Additionally, the Department of Justice includes the North Carolina State Crime Lab, the North Carolina Justice Academy, and the Sheriffs’ and Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Divisions.

Description of Work

Recruitment Range: $63,367 - $63,448 IMPORTANT NOTE: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date listed.

The primary purpose of the Paralegal II position in the Appellate & Post-Conviction Section is to provide legal, administrative and clerical support to the Supervisor and Section staff attorneys to relieve them of routine matters and, while working under their guidance, to assist them in conducting complex tasks associated with active litigation. The secondary purpose of the Paralegal II Position is to provide legal, administrative, and clerical support, including word processing services, for the Section’s staff attorneys in their preparation of briefs, motions, petitions, answers, responses, correspondence and other legal documents, as well as independently formatting and composing a variety of letters and memoranda. Other office support functions provided by this position include file/information management, office equipment operation, and management of incoming and outgoing mail.

• Provide paralegal and clerical support to Appellate and Post-conviction attorneys preparing the State’s briefs, motions, petitions, responses and other legal documents.
• Proof, cite check, run tables of contents and authorities for filings and other duties for the section as needed.
• Prepare templates for documents, proofread and edit all documents, prepare the Tables of Authorities, Tables of Content and Appendixes for briefs and other appellate filings.
• Electronically file documents in the United States and North Carolina courts.
• Prepare service copies and exhibits for filings.
• Collect and prepare discovery documents for capital and non-capital criminal cases.
• Check citations to applicable legal authorities, make corrections as necessary and independently make review decisions with minimal review in making final edits.
• Organize attorney case information and manage document collection and/or storage.
• Track attorney cases.

Some travel, including some occasional overnight stays, is required.

The primary purpose of the Appellate and Post-Conviction Section of the Criminal Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice is to represent the State in criminal matters after a defendant’s trial is completed.

1. handling direct appeals of criminal convictions in any of the judicial districts of the State before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of North Carolina as well as state post-conviction petitions filed in the State appellate courts;
2. researching and preparing the State’s briefs and presenting oral argument in federal habeas corpus litigation in the federal district courts and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals;
3. the section handles the most difficult and complex criminal appeals and petitions, and therefore, because of its expertise, serving as a resource for all of the attorneys in the Department of Justice who handle occasional criminal appeals as part of their duties through the criminal brief rotation;
4. representing the State of North Carolina in capital (death penalty) litigation, particularly at the state and federal postconviction levels before the North Carolina Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the lower federal courts;
5. assisting District Attorneys in all aspects of such state capital litigation, both at trial and in post-conviction proceedings;
6. acting as liaison with Attorneys General and prosecutors on criminal law issues;
7. representing the State in non-capital state postconviction petitions filed upon the request of District Attorneys and approval of the Division Head;
8. the responsibility to defend against non-capital federal habeas corpus actions filed in federal courts by State prisoners seeking to overturn their North Carolina state court convictions, and thereby prevent expensive and time consuming retrials or the premature release of criminals who cannot be retried.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

Paralegal Certification

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details. Graduation from an appropriately accredited institution for paralegal training and three years of experience as a paralegal; or Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of substantive paralegal experience; or High school or General Education Development (GED) diploma and seven years of paralegal experience performing delegated, substantive legal work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

North Carolina State Government is one of the state’s largest employers, with over 76,000 employees all working toward a common goal: a safer and stronger North Carolina. We are a large organization comprised of various agencies, offices, and universities, each providing important public services. Eligible state employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits, including a variety of leave options, professional development opportunities, insurance, and more.

To learn more about the benefits of being a North Carolina state employee, visit the N.C. Office of State Human Resources' website.