Trial Assistant – Trial Division

Coloradosupremecourt; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel in Denver, CO seeks a capable Legal Assistant/Paralegal to support trial attorneys with correspondence, pleadings, and exhibit preparation. You will manage calendars, organize materials, and assist witnesses and staff with communications in a fast-paced environment.

Ideal candidates hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least three years’ paralegal experience, and demonstrate strong typing, confidentiality, and multi-tasking skills in a professional setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and three years of experience as a Legal Assistant or Paralegal.
• Experience with drafting and editing legal documents is preferred.
• Familiarity with Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare correspondence and legal documents accurately and efficiently.
• Assemble authority exhibits, trial notebooks, and packets for committees.
• Maintain calendars, schedule conferences, and manage deposits and responses.
• Handle mail, phone calls, and client inquiries with professionalism.
• Maintain confidential case information in the office database and tickler system.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Procedural knowledge

Office software

Communication

Confidentiality

Multitasking

Spanish optional

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

PowerPoint

Microsoft Access

Job description

• This position is not covered by the Colorado Judicial Department Personnel Rules.
• Starting/Hiring Salary Range: $58,311 – $70,174 annually, depending on relevant experience.

General Statement of Duties

Assist the trial attorneys by preparing correspondence, legal documents, assembling legal authority exhibits and trial notebooks, litigation scheduling, and assists in directing questions from complaining witnesses and the inquiring public. Maintain calendars, schedules telephone conferences and meetings for trial attorneys with respondent lawyer, complaining witnesses and other witnesses. Maintain case information, including notes and documents in the office database, and manage tickle system for trial cases.

Essential Functions of the Position

Composes/prepares correspondence accurately, efficiently.

Aid trial attorneys in the drafting, editing and finalization of various correspondence, either fromdictation or form letter, such as dismissals, diversions, reports of investigations, pleadings, discovery and appellate briefs.

Calendar correspondence, diversion agreements, and pleadings for response, when appropriate. Proofread all materials and correct misspellings, and other errors. Files materials in a timely and accurate manner.

Coordinates arrangements for meetings, depositions, telephone conferences, and presentations by obtaining conference rooms, equipment, and ensuring appropriate materials are obtained or sent. Assembles packets of authority, exhibits, trial notebooks, and packets for various committees to which the office reports.

Handles incoming calls and/or takes complete and accurate phone messages and conveys information in a timely manner.

Receives and greets people in an efficient and friendly manner, both on the phone and in person. Opens, reviews, and sorts mail.

Prepares check requests and expense forms and tracks invoices, according to procedure. Maintains confidentiality of information and records.

Operates office machines and equipment.

Make notes in the office database regarding all correspondence, tickle dates, and telephone conferences or conversations with complaining witnesses, attorneys, and witnesses.

Open trial mail, review and make appropriate notes and status changes in the office database.

Direct mail to the appropriate trial attorney.

Update complaining witness or respondent lawyer name/address information in the office database as necessary.

Prepare and arrange for file reproduction of materials and documents and prepares for mailing. Maintain up-to-date tickler system to ensure timely response on all matters, if necessary.

Maintain calendars and schedules and confirms appointments and meetings (including all necessary travel arrangements).

Maintain files, keeps files properly organized, and performs filing functions in a timely manner. Assist counsel in drafting, tracking, and all follow-up of legal pleadings and documents, including formal complaints, subpoenas, service of process, for all disciplinary cases, admissions, and inventory counsel cases.

Maintain statistical information relating to the trial lawyer’s caseload.

Assist in preparing mandatory disclosures in trial cases, including bates numbering and preparation of privilege logs; and in preparing exhibits for trials.

Perform special projects as needed.

Assist other support staff when necessary, including front desk coverage.

Participate in planning and carrying out periodic file destruction.

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability

Knowledge of, or ability to learn, state laws and rules of civil procedure pertaining to the Colorado Supreme Court’s regulatory objectives and the Colorado attorney regulation system, including attorney admissions, unauthorized practice of law, client protection fund and judicial discipline proceedings.

Knowledge of, or ability to learn, the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct.

Knowledge of core law office functions and procedures.

Knowledge of standard computer applications and programs necessary to complete the functions of the job, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Powerpoint, Microsoft Access, and ability to adapt to various databases.

Ability to foster a working rapport with support staff, professional staff, and members of the public.

Ability to maintain confidentiality in the handling of sensitive information and documents.

Ability to work with and organize a large volume of documents.

Ability to perform assignments accurately and work independently.

Excellent typing and communication skills.

Ability to work unsupervised and multi-task.

Ability to interact with the public in a professional, patient and courteous manner, and to appropriately interact with complaining witnesses and attorneys in distress.

Ability to perform data entry tasks in a timely manner to aid the office in running reports, spreadsheets, and other materials requiring up-to-date statistical data.

Attend meetings and trainings as required.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Fluency in Spanish in addition to English is desirable but not a requirement for this position.

No direct supervisory responsibilities are assigned to this position. However, this position does include providing orientation and mentoring of new trial secretaries and supervision of special projects delegated to the receptionist and other staff on a project-by-project basis.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk; to sit; to use hands to perform repetitive motions; and to talk and hear. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This position is subject to many interruptions; handling multiple requests and inquiries simultaneously; and managing multiple areas of responsibility.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and three years of experience working as a Legal Assistant or Paralegal.

The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, Attn: Office Manager, 1300 Broadway, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203.

OARC is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, or military service.