Paralegal II

The City of Lakewood is dedicated to upholding City values to include: Performance Excellence, Leadership, Respect and Collaboration. Best fit candidates will demonstrate innovation, customer service, dedication, passion and engagement. All people, citizens and employees, will be treated with respect, relevance, and importance.

HIRING RANGE: &78,717.60 - $87,464.00/year

Under minimal supervision, assists attorneys by providing journey level/advanced legal assistance for office attorneys including document preparation and review; monitoring new and active litigation, calendaring deadlines, scheduling witness meetings, gathering information relevant to open cases, assisting to organize and prepare various stages of litigation, creating documents for motions and trial.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential duties of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Responsible for independently monitoring new and active complex litigation to identify key legal issues, deadlines, and strategic considerations across multiple ongoing cases.
• Meets with attorneys, senior leadership, clients, subject matter experts and other professionals to develop litigation and legal project strategies; provides insight based on prior case experience and legal research for assigned cases or projects.
• Analyzes, drafts, reviews and refines complex legal documents including routine pleadings and motions, affidavits, and interrogatories, files motions and pleadings according to judicial procedures. Ensures legal filings comply with applicable court rules and procedural requirements.
• Conducts in-depth legal research and analysis on statutes, regulations, legal articles, judicial decisions, case law, and other legal sources; synthesizes findings into well-organized, written memoranda or strategy briefs for attorneys. Leads or conducts comprehensive client and witness interviews; evaluates testimonial value and prepares detailed, legally relevant summaries of their statements.
• Organizes documents and provides assistance with preparing and coordinating exhibits for hearings, trials, council meetings and presentations to departmental clients.
• Manages high-volume and sensitive legal case files, including opening and tracking all legal files, maintaining litigation files, project files, Master File List database and pleading indexes; ensures data integrity and confidentiality.
• Assists attorneys with trial preparation, which may include attending trials and hearings, independently preparing exhibits, coordinating with expert witnesses, and managing presentation materials.
• May assist with administrative duties, including reviewing documents prior to submission to the City Council and reviewing police body cam. 
• Proactively identifies opportunities to improve legal processes, workflows, and systems within the department.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationships

Supervision Received:  City Attorney

Supervision Exercised: none

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of legal language and principles, research methods, court pleadings and processes, and other related matters.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, and to exercise discretion and good judgment.

Technological Skills

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.

Education and Experience

A combination of job-related education and experience demonstrating the equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities required to effectively perform the functions of this position may be considered, as determined by management.

• Education: Certification in Paralegal Studies or related field preferred.
• Experience: Four years of experience working as a paralegal or legal secretary, preferably with experience providing litigation support to attorneys during trial.  
• Prior government experience is preferred.

Certification/Licenses/Specialized Training

• Paralegal certificate preferred
• Colorado Notary Public Certification preferred