Paralegal

DESCRIPTION

Provides paralegal, including administrative, support to the Law Department within the guidelines of relevant federal, state, and local governmental codes and ordinances, governmental policies and procedures, and department rules. Reports to the General Counsel, or other designated person, and works with attorneys, department heads, employees in other departments, elected officials, media officials and the general public to provide paralegal support. May require a high degree of confidentiality.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conducts preliminary investigations: reviews cases; conducts research to determine appropriate jurisdiction; reviews rules of procedure and calendar deadlines; gathers and evaluates initial facts, documents and evidence; interviews clients; runs and reviews criminal histories; enters information into department database; prepares case documentation for transfer as needed; forwards information to attorneys for prosecution; and maintains all related documentation.

• Conducts discovery investigations: drafts and/or reviews interrogatories, requests for admissions, and requests for production of documents; coordinates collection and review of client files and documents; gathers, organizes, summarizes and analyzes data; drafts and/or reviews responses to discovery requests; locates and retains expert witnesses; prepares chronologies; and reviews hearing notices and publications.

• Manages document production: obtains and reviews all documents in client's possession; conducts initial review for privilege; confers with attorney to determine which documents to produce; organizes and manages document production and litigation support, including reviewing, indexing, organizing, and analyzing documents; and follows up on outstanding discovery requests. Organizes, indexes, and tracks files.

• Manages open records requests: receives, processes, and responds to requests for public records in compliance with the Georgia Open Records Act; maintains public records request tracking system to monitor and timely review and response from departments; and reviews responsive records for exempt information and apply redaction prior to release.

• Participates in trial preparation and execution: prepares pleading, deposition and trial notebooks with key documents and witness files; discusses courtroom etiquette with clients and witnesses; coordinates appearance of expert witnesses; organizes, marks and indexes trial exhibits; monitors and coordinates exchange of trial exhibits; manages evidence and equipment; attends jury selection; maintains jury information and details; and assists attorney during trial as needed.

• Provides administrative and executive secretarial support, such as coordinating meetings and agendas, making travel arrangements, drafting and editing documents, correspondence, brochures, reports, and financial information, and providing related support.

POSITION SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES MIGHT INCLUDE:

• Drafting, editing, organizing, and typing complex legal agreements, correspondence, memos, resolutions, ordinances and other legal documents

• Conducting legal research (online legal research and knowledge of traditional research practices).

• Preparing mail, composing responses to mail, answering the telephone, receiving and relaying messages, and responding to inquiries related to the services provided by the Law Department.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education: Associate's degree in paralegal studies, business or a closely related field of study

Preferred:BA or BS degree in paralegal studies, business administration, or a closely related field of study

{Please note: Upon job offer, you will be required to provide proof of education. Be sure to have the appropriate documents readily available.}

Experience: 2 years of experience as a paralegal

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Considerable knowledge of legal practices and procedures

• Basic budgetary principles

• Customer service principles

• Ability to learn applicable laws, rules, and regulation

• Augusta policies, guidelines and procedures

Skills(position requirements at entry):

• Strong organizational and proof-reading skills

• Ability to meet strict work deadline

• Ability to draft and prepare legal documents

• Ability to work independently

• Handling sensitive and confidential issues

• Solving problems and making decisions

• Skilled in conducting legal research (online legal research and knowledge of traditional research practices)

• Preparing, analyzing and interpreting various reports

• Utilizing and operating computers and applicable software

• Prioritizing and assigning work

• Providing customer service

• Tracking expenditures

• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

Licensing/Certification:

• Possession of a valid driver's license with good driving history. If State license is other than Georgia or South Carolina, applicant must obtain a license in Georgia or South Carolina within 30 days of employment.
• CLA or CP certification preferred

OTHER

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES:

• Data Utilization:Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

• Human Interaction:Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the job.

• Equipment:Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

• Verbal: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

• Math:Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions and the ability to interpret graphs.

• Functional Reasoning:Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.

• Situational Reasoning:Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

• Physical Abilities:Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station.

• Sensory Requirements:Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

• Environmental Factors:Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.