Paralegal III

Agency

Dept of Justice

Division

DOJ Legal Services

Job Classification Title

Paralegal III (S)

Position Number

60010315

Grade

LG05

About Us

The North Carolina Department of Justice, led by the Attorney General of North Carolina, represents the state, state agencies, and elected officials, and defends the rights of the people of North Carolina. The Department handles all state criminal appeals cases and assists district attorneys with complex criminal cases at their request. Additionally, the Department of Justice includes the North Carolina State Crime Lab, the North Carolina Justice Academy, and the Sheriffs’ and Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Divisions.

Description of Work

Recruitment Range: $61,600 - $65,425

IMPORTANT NOTE: This posting closes at 11:59:59 PM the night BEFORE the End Date listed.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Serves as Senior Paralegal Specialist in the Litigation Division, responsible for providing the full range of paralegal and general administrative support to attorneys in all legal matters and assignments; assists other Paralegal Specialists in connection with a high volume of cases.

• Investigates facts in connection with litigation, interviews and prepares witnesses, independently drafts pleadings, discovery and settlement documents. assists in brief writing and finalizes documents under the supervision of an attorney.

• Initiates systems and procedures for the tracking of filings, deadlines set by the various courts and the orders thereof, and ensures documents are properly filed with the court.

• Assists and prepares attorneys in connection with court appearances, trials and hearings as well as client meetings; independently gathers and organizes information and exhibits in a manner easily referenced by the attorneys in a courtroom setting; will conduct preliminary interviews of witnesses and make notes to assist the attorney in trial preparation; will contact and schedule witnesses to appear in court and draft affidavits to be used in various hearings; coordinates with the court clerk and court reporter concerning exhibits and transcripts. The individual is required to attend courtroom hearings and trials to assist attorneys in handling documents and exhibits to be introduced at trial.

• Research complex legal issues; must review and analyze research materials and court opinions and reach a decision as to their applicability to the issue being research.

• Distributes and balances the workload in accordance with supervisor's requirements; trains, coordinates, coaches, facilitates, and provides assistance on specific tasks, job techniques and reference materials; and monitors and reports on the status of work in progress.

• Trains litigation paralegals in case management process and procedures.

• Trains litigation paralegals in essential job functions as necessary.

• Independently writes and updates support staff procedures and guidelines.

• Serves as liaison between paralegals and attorneys when necessary and appropriate.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities/Management Preferences

1.    Experience as a paralegal in the field of civil litigation, with the ability to work independently and assist multiple attorneys.
2.    Experience in organizing and leading a team, specifically in the context of working with administrative staff, paralegals, and attorneys.
3.    Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, time management, and the ability to monitor multiple ongoing projects, track deadlines, and maintain accurate records.
4.    Experience in editing and formatting briefs to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and North Carolina Supreme Court.

Minimum Education and Experience

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Graduation from an appropriately accredited institution for paralegal training and three years of experience as a paralegal; or Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of substantive paralegal experience; or High school or General Education Development (GED) diploma and seven years of paralegal experience performing delegated, substantive legal work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Resumes and cover letters: To receive credit for your work history and credentials, you must list the information on the online application form. This information is used to determine if you meet the requirements of the position, and if you are selected, it is used to determine a salary offer.

Using the terms "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will not be accepted, and your application will be rejected as incomplete.  Cover letters are highly encouraged but not required.   

  

Credit for foreign degrees will only be given if verification of degree certification is attached to your application.  Transcripts for foreign degrees have to be evaluated by an organization like World Education Services to determine US equivalency.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

NC Department of Justice
Human Resources
[email protected]

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter:

Andrea Evet Cannon

Recruiter Email:

[email protected]