Paralegal

Essential Duties and Tasks Include:

• Coordinate and perform a variety of professional paralegal duties under direct attorney supervision.
• Prepare routine legal documents and contracts; prepare written reports for internal and external audiences; track legal documents and route them to appropriate parties; track and update legal department statistical data and other information.
• Examine legal documents to verify accuracy and completeness; track deadlines and processing requirements; advise attorney(s) of legal timetables and deadlines.
• Research Assistance: under the supervision of the Town Attorney, thorough and accurate research on a very wide variety of legal and operational issues that arise in local government.  Research and analyze a variety of sources such as statutes, ordinances, court decisions, legal documents, and articles for use in preparing legal documents, opinions, contracts, ordinances, resolutions, briefs, and pleadings.
• Client Services: management and facilitation of all interactions, communications, and meetings with all department-clients, Town management, and Town officials.
• Case Management: establish, maintain, and update all department files, including case files.
• Litigation Support: organization and preparation of pleadings and discovery; scheduling of hearings; calendaring of response deadlines and court dates.  Assist with case preparation by compiling and assembling files and required materials.
• Review contracts, ordinances, resolutions, policies and other legal documents for proper form, accuracy, and completeness.
• Prepare responses to routine information requests from other departments and the public.
• Manage legal research resources, references, and other library materials.
• Take a lead role on special projects and assignments. 
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines
Knowledge of:

• Computer applications such as document management, case management, calendaring, data capture and management, and word processing.
• Principles of professional business letter writing, report preparation, and other communications.
• English language skills, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Legal terminology, legal forms, and other legal documents used in the field.
• Legal office methods, procedures, terminology, and documents.  Modern office procedures, methods and equipment.
• Related federal, state, and municipal laws, codes, and regulations.
• Town ordinances, policies, and procedures.
• Legal research procedures, forms, and tools.
• Court rules and procedures.
• Standard legal references and their contents.
• North Carolina local government operations.
• Principles and methodologies for filing systems and case management.

• Understand, interpret, and apply administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as pertinent laws, regulations, and ordinances.
• Implement excellent English language skills, including high proficiencies in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Review documents and other information at a very high level of detail and precision.
• Think analytically: analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, identify desired outcomes, implement recommendations in support of desired outcome.
• Locate various legal references including statutes, codes, regulations, and citations.
• Effectively research and extract accurate and pertinent data from a variety of sources.
• Independently prepare correspondence and memoranda.
• Organize and prioritize workflow; work independently in the absence of supervision; exercise good judgment and make sound decisions; maintain confidentiality.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Serve as an effective diplomatic liaison between the Legal Department, clients, and the general public.
• Proficiently operate a computer and type at least 60 words per minute.

• Certificate of completion of a Paralegal Program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and two (2) years of full-time paralegal experience.

• Certificate of completion of a Paralegal Program at, or a degree from, a post-secondary institution that has been accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization, which MUST include successful completion of a minimum of 24 semester/36 quarter college-level units in law-related course work and two (2) years of full-time paralegal experience.

• Bachelor's Degree or higher AND two years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.

• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Physical Requirements

• Work in this class is usually light but occasionally requires lifting medium-weight materials such as files, binders, books, and file boxes.   
• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of standing, fingering, talking, and hearing. 
• Must occasionally lift 10 to 20 pounds (files and other items related to legal office operations). Must possess the visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, perform reporting tasks, operate a computer terminal, do extensive reading, meticulously inspect the computer-generated and hard-copy work of others, and operate a motor vehicle.

• Recruitment - Application Submission
• Panel Interview w/ Written Assessment
• Department Interview
• Selection