Paralegal, Temporary

City of New Haven; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of New Haven seeks a professional Paralegal to support attorneys with legal research, drafting, and case management. This temporary assignment will work under direct supervision, handling pleadings, depositions, and coordination of meetings.

Responsibilities include drafting contracts, researching statutes, maintaining case files, and ensuring accurate documentation. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in a Legal Studies/Paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association.
• One to three years’ experience in a law office, performing tasks such as legal research, document drafting and memoranda writing, or any equivalent combination of training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Prepares draft legal pleadings, including appearances, answers, motions, and memoranda under the direction and supervision of staff attorneys.
• Maintains case documents in proper order, both in paper files and digital database.
• Maintains and updates office digital databases, ensuring accurate and organized case information for easy retrieval.
• Prepares drafts of simple contracts for review and revision by attorneys.
• Conducts investigations as assigned by attorneys by asking employees and/or department heads, as witnesses, a variety of questions relevant to the case in question; prepares accurate reports of such investigations upon request.
• Schedules and coordinates depositions, ensuring all parties are informed and necessary documents are prepared.
• Interviews witnesses as requested by attorneys.
• Schedules & notices public meetings; prepares meeting agendas & minutes; posts minutes to City website in compliance with public meeting laws; and provide other support to attorneys as requested.
• Schedule meetings & webinars for attorneys using current approved technologies.
• Provides administrative support for attorneys.
• Performs related work as required.

Skills

Legal research

Civil law knowledge

Legal documents drafting

MS Word / Office suite

Confidentiality

Education

ABA-approved Paralegal program

Four-year college degree

1-3 years law office experience

Tools

Legal software

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Teams

Zoom

Job description

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS

This is a professional, legal assistance position requiring the ability to work under the supervision of attorneys; to understand and solve given legal problems; to conduct investigations for a variety of cases as requested by attorneys. The job will require legal research skills and a willingness to work independently once given a problem. This position involves performing legal research and writing, preparing draft trial pleadings, contractual documents, and agreements, responding to trial discovery, coordinating fact-gathering activities in a variety of cases, and organizing, monitoring and maintaining case files and other assignments under the direction and supervision of attorneys. The Paralegal is expected to exercise independent, professional judgment to maintain client confidences and to perform work assignments within established time frames. The work will be under the direct supervision of the Corporation Counsel and other staff attorneys.

This is a temporary assignment that will end no later than December 24, 2026.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepares draft legal pleadings, including appearances, answers, motions, and memoranda under the direction and supervision of staff attorneys.
• Maintains case documents in proper order, both in paper files and digital database.
• Maintains and updates office digital databases, ensuring accurate and organized case information for easy retrieval.
• Prepares drafts of simple contracts for review and revision by attorneys.
• Conducts investigations as assigned by attorneys by asking employees and/or department heads, as witnesses, a variety of questions relevant to the case in question; prepares accurate reports of such investigations upon request.
• Schedules and coordinates depositions, ensuring all parties are informed and necessary documents are prepared.
• Interviews witnesses as requested by attorneys.
• Schedules & notices public meetings; prepares meeting agendas & minutes; posts minutes to City website in compliance with public meeting laws; and provide other support to attorneys as requested.
• Schedule meetings & webinars for attorneys using current approved technologies.
• Provides administrative support for attorneys.
• Performs related work as required.

EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in a Legal Studies/Paralegal program approved by the American Bar Association; One to three years’ experience in a law office, performing tasks such as legal research, document drafting and memoranda writing, or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the following knowledge, skills, and abilities.

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of legal research techniques, understanding case law and statutory materials.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of civil law.
• Knowledge of legal documents, pleadings, and litigation procedures.
• Proficiency in using legal software and applications for research, document preparation, and case management.
• Proficiency in utilizing office software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and Zoom.
• Ability to understand legal issues and to do statutory and case law research.
• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals to enhance investigative work assigned by staff attorneys.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of case files for investigative purposes.
• Ability to express ideas clearly both orally and in writing.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the public.
• Must possess strong organizational skills to effectively prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Must demonstrate high ethical standards, maintaining confidentiality and upholding professional integrity in all interactions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

Physical Requirements

Amount of Time

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3

Over 2/3

Stand

X

Walk

X

Sit

X

Use hands to finger, handle, or feel

X

Reach with hands and arms

X

Climb or balance

X

Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl

X

Talk or hear

X

Taste or smell

X

Lifting or force to be exerted?

Amount of Time

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3

Over 2/3

Up to 10 pounds

X

Up to 25 pounds

X

Up to 50 pounds

X

Up to 75 pounds

X

Up to 100 pounds

X

More than 100 pounds

X

Working Environment

Amount of Time

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3

Over 2/3

Wet / humid conditions (non-weather)

X

Work near moving mechanical parts

X

Work in high, precarious places

X

Fumes or airborne particles

X

Toxic or caustic chemicals

X

Outdoor weather conditions

X

Extreme cold (non-weather)

X

Risk of electrical shock

X

Work with explosives

X

Risk of radiation

X

Vibration

X

SALARY, BARGAINING UNIT & TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

This is a Special Fund, "Non-Tested" position.

This is a TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT that will end no later than December 24, 2026.

This position is included in a collective bargaining agreement with Local 3144, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Bargaining agreements available to review HERE.

Special Funded employees shall not be covered by the City pension but shall continue to be covered by Social Security.

The City of New Haven does not sponsor employment visas. All applicants must have current authorization to work in the U.S. without employer-sponsored visa support.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of: (1) a pre-employment background check, (2) a pre-employment physical examination, including pre-employment drug screening in accordance with the City’s Drug Free Workplace Policy*, and (3) a 90-day probationary period. Instructions and information on this pre-employment process are included in Conditional Offer of Employment.

Pursuant to the Federal Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, The City of New Haven has a adopted a Drug Free Workplace Policy. The City of New Haven requires a pre-employment drug test, which includes screening for marijuana.