Paralegal Specialist

Introduction

The State of Connecticut Office of the Attorney General is recruiting for a Paralegal Specialist located in Hartford, CT.

Responsibilities

• Interprets complex state statutes and federal regulations governing legal records and documents.
• Determines and applies applicable state statute and/or regulation in preparing documentation.
• Interprets court rules and agency policies and regulations.
• Keeps abreast of the latest court rules, calendar changes and pending legislation.
• Monitors and adheres to court deadlines.
• Reviews legal documents and prepares legal documents such as briefs, writs and pleadings for court filings.
• Responds to relevant case information requests from courts.
• Performs legal research and analysis of law sources such as statutes, legal articles, legal decisions, opinions, rulings, memoranda and other legal material.
• Prepares draft legal documents.
• Provides assistance in the discovery process.
• Interprets applicable legal provisions, regulations, precedents and policies.
• Responds to requests and obtains information of sensitive nature.
• Acts as liaison between agency, court system, relevant attorney’s offices and general public.
• Serves as agency liaison regarding relevant policies and procedures.
• Prepares legal and administrative reports.
• Updates and maintains case records, pleadings, policy manuals and filing systems.
• Assists in the drafting of proposed legislation and advisory opinions; provides training and assistance to staff.
• May perform business mathematical computations.
• Performs related duties as required.
• Analyzes highly complex cases.
• Develops positions and strategies to settle or litigate cases at formal or informal hearings.
• Prepares for and represents the state’s interest at hearings or through case presentation.
• Researches and gathers relevant evidence and documentation.
• Interviews witnesses and clients.
• Drafts legal documents, complaints, stipulations, detailed memoranda, letters and proposed findings and awards reviews substantiation appeals and provides recommendation to management regarding the legal sufficiency of substantiation findings.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of legal processes and procedures, legal terminology and legal forms, legal research techniques.
• Knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation.
• Considerable interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, skill in fact‑finding techniques including interviewing clients and compiling evidence.
• Considerable ability to evaluate pertinent facts, cases and evidence and compile and assemble such legal data; compose correspondence and draft legal documents.
• Ability to understand complex laws and related reports; utilize computer software.

Minimum Qualifications – General Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in legal studies and one year of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.
• An Associate’s degree in legal studies and three years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.
• Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program approved by the American Bar Association and three years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.
• Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program consisting of a minimum of twenty‑four semester hours from an accredited college or university and four years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.
• Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program from a business school approved by the State of Connecticut, Office of Higher Education and four years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.
• A Law degree from an accredited Law School.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference will be given to candidates who possess significant experience providing paralegal assistance to attorneys in the area of Employment Litigation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

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