Paralegal (EMT)

This is not a Civil Service Position.  DWSD employees are subject to provisions of Court Orders entered in United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Case No. 77-71100 with regard to certain terms and conditions of employment. DWSD does not honor reversion rights for internal candidates. 

General Summary
The Paralegal/Legal Assistant is a professional who performs complex and technical administrative work in the Office of the General Counsel of DWSD and is responsible for performing technical tasks; researching relevant laws, regulations and legal articles (if certified as a paralegal); gathering and arranginglegaldocuments;filingdocumentswithcourts;draftingreportstoassistcounsel;takingdetailed notes and; drafting correspondence on behalf of counsel as well as following security and safety policies and procedures in carrying out work duties.

Job Duties

(Illustrativeonly,maynotincludeallofthedutieslistednordothelistedexamplesincludeall of the tasks that may be performed)

• Assist four attorneys in preparing for legal transactions, depositions, hearings, trial and conferences
• Complete administrative tasks, including individual cases or transactions
• Investigate the factual evidence of a transaction or case and preparing exhibits, charts and diagrams to display information
• Draft basic legal court documents, such as pleadings ,motions, affidavits and subpoenas
• Obtain due diligence materials
• Organize and track files for important transactions or case documents, including pleadings and voluminous discovery documents
• Review Discovery responses/documents for relevance
• Summarize deposition and trial transcripts
• Create and maintain a case-management database
• Conduct case research (if certified Paralegal)
• Prepare detailed reports and memorandum

Knowledge of:

• Laws, policies, and procedures that affect the department
• Litigation, organization and management
• MS-Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point)
• Quality management and process improvement principles

• Maintain the calendars of counsel
• Coordinate and confirm court dates and appointments
• Perform electronic filing process
• Prepare FOIA responses
• Prepare Damage Claim responses 
• Prepare litigation related documents without use of an example
• Highly organized when managing multiple tasks
• Work under tight deadlines
• Draft correspondence and basic pleadings
• Actively participate in organizational change initiatives
• Analyze information to make effective decisions

• Respond to work place dynamics in a timely, visionary and proactive manner
• Proficientlyutilizestandardofficeandpertinentspecializedsoftware (including Microsoft Office Suite products and Westlaw)  
• Interpret and analyze data
• Manage multiple priorities
• Acquireadditionaltrainingandknowledgeofcontemporaryprinciplesandbestpracticesof function managed
• Work effectively with minimal supervision
• Complete specialized, technical assignments
• Developeffectiveworkingrelationshipswithotherbusinessunitsaswellasexternalvendorsand customers
• Learn and effectively use new software programs (including Smartsheet and HighQ) 

1. Oralappraisal50%
2. Training, Experience,andPersonalQualifications:50%

• Valid Michigan Driver’s License

Requirements

• Paralegal certification (Desired)
• Bachelor’s degree (Desired)
• Notary Public (Desired)
• Two to five years of experience in Paralegal or Legal Assistant role
• Experience in the presentation of legal information in a public setting
• Experience in drafting, editing and serving litigation related documents including, but not limited to, discovery and TOC and TOA for litigation briefs