Paralegal

JOB LOCATION

City of Aurora, Colorado

It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of: Integrity, Respect, Professionalism, and Customer Service, and we welcome all who share these values to apply.
 
Why Work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Paralegal – Civil Litigation

SALARY
•    Preferred hiring range for this position is $61,063 - $85,000
•    The full hiring range for Paralegal is $61,063 - $125,000

•    Pay will be commensurate with individual experience

Deadline to apply: September 11th, 2025 (This position is subject to close once a qualified pool of applications has been obtained) 

OVERVIEW OF POSITION / DEPARTMENT

The Litigation Section of the Aurora City Attorney’s Office, Civil Division, is seeking a paralegal to join its growing team of talented legal professionals. The Section represents the City of Aurora and its employees in civil litigation filed in Colorado state and federal courts. The most frequently filed lawsuits include claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Colorado Law Enforcement Integrity Act, Colorado tort law, matters that implicate the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, but include other types of civil matters. 

The City Attorney’s Office currently follows a hybrid work structure where employees have some required days in the office (both scheduled and as needed for case-related tasks), but otherwise can work remotely or from the office, based on the demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. Effective the first day of employment, the individuals selected must maintain Colorado residency. 

All applications must include a Resume and a Cover Letter. Applications received without these items will not be reviewed. A skills test will be administered to candidates who are offered an interview.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Liaises with City departments and clients to request and obtain necessary documents and case-related items.
• Assists in coordinating waivers of service for summons and complaints, or subpoenas.
• Files, distributes, and saves electronically stored case-related materials, including ECF/PACER, Colorado Courts E-Filing systems, and EEOC/CCRD Complaints via case portals.
• Conducts investigations in relation to legal matters.
• Schedule and participate in interviews or meetings.
• Prepares correspondence, both electronic and postal, and shell pleadings.
• Preparing, responding, and drafting objections to written discovery requests.
• Writes memos and meeting summaries.
• Assist with drafting legal documents, including pleadings, discovery, memoranda, and correspondence.
• Compiles exhibit notebooks.
• Assists as needed at trials or hearings.
• Investigates and responds to unemployment claims from former City employees.
• Manages case files and internal file management systems.
• Maintains calendaring systems and coordinates meeting scheduling with internal and external participants.
• Maintains electronic library of legal opinions, memoranda, policies, legal education, reference materials and research materials.
• Cite check legal pleadings and pull case reports.
• Performs additional duties as assigned, including administrative duties—such as invoice processing and monthly report upkeep.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Education:   

• Possession of Paralegal Certification from an ABA Certified Program OR Degree from an accredited institution. Equivalent education, training or experience that demonstrates the competencies required to perform at this level may be substituted for the minimum education requirements.

Experience: 

• At least 3 experience as a paralegal is required, though more experience is preferred. Work for a municipal government or work in a related field of specialty is preferred.  An equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered.

Licenses and Certifications Required: 

Colorado Driver’s License with a good driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Litigation, civil discovery, and calendaring experience is highly preferred.
• Prior experience assisting with trials is highly preferred.
• Experience with Bates numbering, redactions, and document organization is highly preferred.
• Electronic trial presentation experience, including exhibit presentation with Adobe, Trial Director, or similar programs, is preferred.
• Knowledge of federal civil rights laws (search and seizure, excessive force, free speech, discrimination) is preferred.
• Knowledge of Colorado tort law is preferred.
• E-discovery software experience is preferred.

• Experience with Employment law is preferred.

• Work experience with unemployment claims preferred. 
• Work experience with Colorado Open Records Act/Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act requests is preferred. 
• Work experience with municipal elections and campaign finance is preferred. 
• Work experience with reviewing and drafting bond documents is preferred. 
• Work experience with pension plans is preferred. 
• Work experience with reviewing and proofreading Procurement Contracts/Agreements is preferred. 

Knowledge:

• General office procedures.
• Legal terminology.
• Legal forms.
• Personal computers including related word processing software applications.
• Legal research and writing.
• Witness interviewing.
• Docketing deadlines pursuant to state and federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Bluebook and other similar legal citation methods.
• Legal research and filing platforms including PACER, Westlaw, and LexisNexis.

Skills: 

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Advanced skills in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, SharePoint, and Teams) and Adobe.
• Legal writing, proofreading, and editing legal filings, contracts, correspondence, memoranda, exhibits, subpoenas, and other documents.

Abilities: 

• Establish and maintain professional and effective working relationships with attorneys, citizens, court personnel, law enforcement personnel, outside agencies/personnel, support staff, and witnesses.
• Handle confidential and sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Multi-task and prioritize work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Prepare discovery and work on subpoenas.
• Maintain legal education and reference materials.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Essential Personnel:

• When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the city, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.

Physical Demands:

• Light physical work lifting 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 20 pounds, with or without assistance.
• Frequent walking to other attorney or agency offices, or to court for trials and hearings, and for transportation of file materials.
• Frequent lifting, carrying, and standing.
• Frequent hand/eye coordination to operate office equipment.
• Vision sufficient to read computer screens, reports, and related department documents.
• Dexterity to operate computer keyboards and other related office equipment.
• Endurance sufficient to sit and work at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Frequent speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and citizens.

Work Environment:

• Works primarily in clean, comfortable environment.
• The City Attorney’s Office currently follows a hybrid work structure where employees have some required days in the office (both scheduled and as needed for case related tasks), but otherwise can work remotely or from the office, based on demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. This structure is subject to change, depending on the direction from City Council.

Equipment Used:

• Uses standard office equipment including multi-line telephones, personal computers, and common office software such as email, internet, Word, Excel, and menu driven databases.
• This position may require the incumbent to use personal equipment (e.g. vehicle, cell phone, tools, etc.) in the course of their employment.

For Veterans preference:  Please show all of your employment history, including military service and related documentation (DD214) on the application.
           
The City of Aurora is an equal opportunity employer.  We are required by state and federal agencies to keep certain statistical records on applicants.  It will not be used in any way to discriminate against you because of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, disability or military status, gender identity, unless related to a bona fide occupational qualification as defined by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
                                         
Despite the changes in Colorado law, the City of Aurora maintains a drug-free workplace.  A positive test of marijuana is grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for employment with the city for one year or termination once hired.
 

Drug Testing, Thorough Criminal Background Check, and Employment References:
As a condition of employment, all applicants selected for employment with the City of Aurora must undergo a thorough criminal background check. 

Applicants selected for safety-sensitive positions are required to complete and pass a drug screening as a condition of employment. Safety sensitive positions include Civil Service positions within Police and Fire Departments and positions where their job responsibilities have direct and substantial responsibility that would impact the health and safety of others.  

Employment references will be conducted on finalists for City of Aurora vacancies.