Paralegal (Civil Recovery Section) - Salem or Portland

Initial Posting Date:

Application Deadline:

Agency:

Salary Range:

Position Type:

Position Title:

Job Description:

The Oregon Department of Justice is seeking an experienced Litigation Paralegal to join the Civil Recovery Section in Salem or Portland for a hybrid in-office/remote position. Training will be in person at our Salem legal office. After training is complete this position offers a hybrid schedule which requires a minimum of 3 days in office and up to 2 days remote work. The Civil Recovery Section assists Oregon state agencies in a variety of investigative and litigation matters, including issues relating to wildfires, contract disputes, recovery of overpayments and other monies owed, wage claims, judicial foreclosures, injunctions, bankruptcies and receiverships. If selected, you will provide crucial investigative and litigation support to the Civil Recovery Section, working closely with the Assistant Attorneys General to investigate, analyze, and prepare cases for pre-filing action, such as issuing demands and settlement/mediation conferences, through litigation and trial, and post-judgment tasks.

If you are a legal professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, we’d like the opportunity to consider you.  If selected, we’ll ensure you are paid well and equitable to your peers, make work-life balance attainable, and show you the door to professional development and job satisfaction.

What You Will Do
 

Paralegals are primarily responsible to perform specifically delegated legal work which, for the most part, would otherwise have to be performed by an attorney. You’ll be entrusted and expected to (in part):

• Independently manage a heavy and varied investigation and litigation caseload. This will include tracking deadlines; drafting appropriate pleadings, motions, orders, judgments and other court filings and correspondence; preparing trial notebooks; organizing files; electronically filing documents in state and federal court.

• Assist with the factual investigation of cases, including arranging, preparing for, and assisting with issuing subpoenas, civil investigative demands and managing document collection from state agencies, defendants and third-parties.

• Prepare a variety of case-related pleadings and other legal documents requiring the application of judgment and legal analysis, in accordance with approved pleading and practice forms and subject to review by an attorney.

• Review, organize, summarize and analyze document production from our state agencies, third parties, and opposing parties. Depending on the case, you may use e-discovery platforms which may include Relativity, EDT, or Everlaw.

• Review, coordinate and organize materials in response to or in receipt of production requests; prepare responses to requests for admissions and interrogatories.

• Read, understand, and summarize depositions and documents relevant to legal issues. Assist in the process of preparing for depositions, including identifying potential exhibits, organizing and preparing exhibit sets, and assisting in depositions.

• Conduct and summarize legal research and assist in applying facts to legal theory to develop case theory and strategy. ​

• Complete required data entry and retrieval for case management and docket system.

• Independently and accurately track, summarize, and enter work performed on all matters on time keeping software.

Required Experience 

Research suggests that women and people of color are less likely to apply unless they are confident they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. We strongly encourage all interested individuals to apply, and allow us to evaluate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that you demonstrate, using an intentional equity lens.

• Two-year Associate degree in Paralegal or Legal Assistant Studies;

OR

• Eighteen months of Paralegal experience;

OR

• Any combination of training and experience that demonstrates experience in legal work, independent judgment, legal terminology principles, concepts, systems, and processes. Experience must include discovery and trial methods and procedures, legal ethics and skill in preparing legal documents, interviewing witnesses and explaining legal issues.

Work experience is based on a 40-hour work week. (Example: 20 hours a week for one year would equal six-months of work experience.)

Preference may be given to those with working professional experience as a paralegal and experience working with e-discovery and/or digital litigation software.

Desired Skills, Experiences, and Attributes

• Ability to organize and prioritize work duties and deadlines.

• Experience working independently as a paralegal in all aspects of a civil litigation caseload that includes a variety of matters and legal issues.

• Experience drafting complaints, petitions, motions, discovery requests and subpoenas.

• Experience reviewing, analyzing, processing and organizing large volumes of documents, including working in databases such as Relativity, EDT, or Everlaw.

• Experience assisting attorneys in litigation matters, including electronic filing in both federal and state courts.

• Experiencing interviewing witnesses, deposition preparation and summarizing depositions.

• Experience working with clients and third parties, including written or oral communications.

• Experience maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive case information.

• Proficiency with Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, Relativity and Everlaw.

• Experience using an electronic case management system.Work collaboratively as a team.

• Ability to communicate clearly and efficiently.

• Dependability, flexibility and adaptability with change and shifting priorities.

What’s In It For You

• Exposure to a variety of practice areas within the Civil Recovery Section.

• Permanent, full-time employment.

• Vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays a year, and special days off. 

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision benefits.

• Pension and retirement programs.

• Peer and management support, and representation by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

• Opportunity to expand your professional skills.

For more information about our benefits, you can learn here.

Application Process

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.  The Department of Justice is an equal opportunity employer, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability, and is committed to workplace diversity.

• Click "Apply" and complete the online application and all supplemental questions.

• Attach your resume.

• Attach a cover letter identifying your attributes that meet the desired and requested skills.

ALL APPLICANTS: You will only have one opportunity to upload the required resume and cover letter. Drag and drop your resume into Workday when prompted to upload your resume. If you are concerned that the requested document didn't attach to your application, if you need an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), have questions, or need assistance with the application process, please contact doj.recruitment@doj.oregon.gov. Any materials emailed will be associated on your behalf if received before the posting deadline.

CURRENT STATE EMPLOYEES: Login to Workday using your state-issued login and apply via the Jobs Hub Worklet located on your home page. Using a private account disrupts the hiring process for all internal candidates. Prior to clicking "Apply", update your employee profile to reflect your Education, Skills, and Job History (including your current job).

For additional information regarding benefits and application assistance, click HERE.

Oregon Department of Justice
1162 Court St NE
Salem OR, 97301
DOJ.recruitment@doj.oregon.gov

Phone: (503) 947-4328
Fax: (503) 373-0367