Cannabis Paralegal

Summary:      Staff designated at Dickinson Wright PLLC (“the Firm”) as a Cannabis Paralegal are responsible for providing professional support services to attorneys and clients of the Firm on a full time basis unless otherwise arranged with the Firm. As the Cannabis Paralegal, you will provide support to the Firm’s dynamic, multi-jurisdictional cannabis practice.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential duties and responsibilities of staff designated as Cannabis Paralegals at the Firm include, but are not limited to:

1. Prepare and manage state and local cannabis license applications and transfer requests across multiple jurisdictions and state agencies;
2. Conduct and present in-depth legislative and regulatory research and analysis, with a focus on cannabis law developments at the state and local levels;
3. Oversee complex multi-agency licensing projects from initiation through approval, ensuring all regulatory requirements and deadlines are met;
4. Coordinate with clients, government agencies, regulators, and internal teams to facilitate application processes and resolve compliance issues;
5. Monitor and track cannabis-related legislation, proposed regulations, and enforcement trends that may affect client operations;
6. Develop and maintain internal processes, standardized forms, and checklists to increase efficiency and ensure consistency across cannabis-related matters;
7. Prepare detailed memos, timelines, and status reports for clients and attorneys regarding licensing status and compliance tasks;
8. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records, including calendars and databases for application deadlines and renewal cycles;
9. Assist attorneys in preparing responses to regulatory inquiries and enforcement actions;
10. Provide litigation and administrative hearing support, including drafting legal documents and compiling exhibits when needed;
11. Other responsibilities as may be assigned.

Qualifications, Skills and Abilities Required:

Cannabis Paralegals must:

1. Maintain strong working knowledge of state and local cannabis regulations, including compliance protocols, licensing processes, and applicable legislative frameworks;
2. A Bachelor’s degree from an ABA-approved program preferred;
3. Have experience with managing license transfer requests, tracking evolving legislation, and preparing complex filings for cannabis businesses;
4. Be a proactive self-starter who thrives in a collaborative team environment, but is also capable of working independently with minimal supervision;
5. Possess strong attention to detail with excellent proofreading and documentation skills;
6. Demonstrate the ability to assess risks, interpret complex legal documents, and provide sound recommendations;
7. Ability to independently lead and manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timelines and objectives are met;
8. Be comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving industry; able to pivot quickly and manage changing regulatory landscapes;
9. Possess strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; able to communicate clearly with regulators, clients, and internal stakeholders;
10. Be willing to work overtime or extended hours when necessary to meet project deadlines;
11. Exercise discretion and maintain client confidentiality at all times;
12. Be proficient in Microsoft Office 2016 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Windows 10. Familiarity with project management tools and legal research databases is a plus;
13. A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in cannabis, regulatory, compliance or administrative law is preferred, but not required;
14. Previous experience interacting with government agencies, licensing boards or compliance teams is a plus, along with familiarity in cannabis-related business operations such as cultivation, retail, product manufacturing, etc.

Working Conditions:

Normal law office environment with little exposure to noise, dust, temperature.   

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job.  It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements. Please note that a variety of factors determine compensation, including geographic location, experience, relevant degrees and certifications, and other applicable factors authorized by law.

Dickinson Wright offers a generous benefits package for eligible fulltime employees within our U.S. offices, including health, dental, and vision; 401(k) and profit sharing plans; paid vacation; and parental leave. Additional elective programs include: a health flexible spending account, a health savings account, identity theft protection, a dependent day care reimbursement account, commuter benefits, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, an employee assistance program, and emergency travel assistance.

We are an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.