Paralegal - Portland

State of Maine; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Vacation leave

Telework after probation

Job summary

State of Maine seeks a paraprofessional in the Workers’ Compensation Board—Worker Advocate Division who will assist attorneys with complex legal work, research statutes and case law, and prepare comprehensive legal documents for review.

The role involves alternative dispute resolution, document drafting, and interaction with clients to promote understanding and advocacy under limited supervision.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of legal principles, court rules, and litigation practices.
• Ability to conduct complex legal research and analyze problems.
• Experience assisting attorneys and preparing legal documents.
• Familiarity with alternative dispute resolution processes.

Responsibilities

• Researches and analyzes complex legal materials for reports and casework.
• Interprets laws, rules, regulations, policies to provide accurate information.
• Abstracts complex instruments and records to compile necessary documentation.
• Analyzes titles to determine parties to be compensated or notified.
• Drafts closing documents such as deeds, easements, and tax information statements.
• Confers and negotiates with clients and attorneys to resolve issues.
• Prepares complex legal documents, pleadings, and notices of hearings.
• Conducts alternative dispute resolution to reduce litigation.
• Provides assistance to attorneys in decision making processes.
• Prepares comprehensive legal reports and documentation for review.
• Attends hearings to provide administrative support and draft decisions.

Skills

Legal research

Alternative dispute resolution

Negotiation

Communication

Writing

Analytical thinking

Education

Paralegal certificate or degree

Law-related training

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

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Workers’ Compensation Board

Worker Advocate Division

Opening Date: October 20, 2026

Closing Date: November 3,2026

Grade / Admin Unit: 20 / Professional/Technical

Job Class Code: 0884
Salary: $21.61 - $30.18/Hourly
Position Number: 029000388

Location: Portland

Telework: Partial telework upon management approval after completion of the probation period. All telework must be performed in the State of Maine.

_ Currently, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extensions. _

JOB DESCRITPTION:

This is paraprofessional support work in investigating, researching, and reviewing various legal issues.Responsibilities include assisting attorneys in a variety of complex legal work; researching and analyzing law sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, and legal codes; preparing complex and comprehensive legal documents for review, approval, and use by an attorney.This class is differentiated from the Paralegal Assistant classification by the more complex paralegal work performed and the assignment of full responsibility for conducting alternative dispute resolution processes.Work is performed under limited supervision.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Researches, analyzes, and evaluates a variety of complex legal materialin order toincorporate related material into draft reports and assist attorneys in completing legal casework.
• Interprets and explains laws, rules, regulations, policies, and proceduresin order toprovide information, clarification, and/or promote understanding.
• Abstracts complex recorded instruments, records, and legal documentsin order tocompile needed documentation.
• Analyzes titlesin order todetermine proper parties to be compensated or notified.
• Drafts closing documents such as deeds, easements, agreements, tax information statements, and other similar documentsin order toprepare necessary paperwork for closing actions.
• Confers, negotiates, and/or advocates for clients, organizational representatives, attorneys, and othersin order toprovide advocacy, promote understanding, and/or resolve issues.
• Compiles and prepares complex legal documents, pleadings, discovery, notices of hearings, comprehensive findings of fact or conclusions, and other similar materialin order toprepare legal case documentation and/or provide information to parties.
• Conducts alternative dispute resolution processesin order toreduce litigation and resolve issues.
• Makes recommendations and provides assistance to attorneys and others in order to assist in thedecision makingprocess.
• Prepares a variety of comprehensive legal documentation and reportsin order toprovide draft or final document for review and/or signature.
• Attends administrative hearings and/or meetingsin order toprovide administrative support and compose drafts of legal decisions.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of legal principles and practice.
• Knowledge of legal documents, court procedures, rules of evidence, and litigation practices.
• Knowledge of eminent domain procedures.
• Knowledge of applicable state/federal statutes, case law, and regulations.
• Knowledge of public records affecting titles, research procedures, legal terminology, and processes.
• Ability to conduct complex legal research and analyze legal problems.
• Ability to prepare for and conduct alternative dispute resolution sessions.
• Ability to compile and prepare a variety of complex comprehensive legal documentation and reports.
• Ability to understand, explain, and interpret constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and case law.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively.
• Ability to provide negotiation and advocacy services.
• Ability to abstract and analyze complex comprehensive recorded instruments, records, and legal documents.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Training, education, or experiences in office and administrative support work that demonstrates competencies in applying a solid knowledge of the principles and practices of law firm, court, or legal services processes with the ability to research complex legal issues and analyze legal problems -OR- graduation from an approved, accredited paralegal program of instruction.

CONTACT INFORMATION: For more information or questions specific to the position, please contact [e-mail]

The selected candidate will be required to pass the required background checks (fingerprinting may be required) as a condition of employment.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—“Dirigo” or “I lead”—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce’s health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.06% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There’s a job and then there’s purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics.

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