Lead Paralegal (County Attorney)

Serves as lead for the Legal Assistant/Paralegals and clerical support staff. Performs substantive legal research work which requires knowledge of legal concepts. Assist the attorney in the preparation and the process of preliminary investigations, discovery, depositions, briefings, settlements, judgments, and post-trials.

Pay Grade: 51
Salary Commensurate with Experience and Education

1. Three (3) years of law-related experience is preferred including at least one (1) year as a legal assistant, but not required; AND

2. Graduation from an accredited high school or GED, PLUS successful completion of the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) examination, Certified Paralegal (CP) or Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE); OR

3. Graduation from an American Bar Association (ABA) approved program of study for Legal Assistants/Paralegal; OR

4. Graduation from a course of study for Legal Assistant/Paralegal, which is not ABA approved but which requires not less than the equivalent of 60 semester hours of classroom study.

1. Serves as lead Paralegal in directing the work of Legal Assistant/Paralegals and clerical support staff to ensure all legal research work is performed correctly in conjunction with Attorneys.

2. Reviews and analyzes legal material for internal use, maintains reference files, conducts research for attorneys, and collects and analyzes evidence for agency hearings.

3. Searches for and summarizes relevant articles in trade magazines, law reviews, published studies, financial reports, and similar materials for use by attorneys in the preparation of opinions, briefs, and other legal documents.

4. Prepares digests of selected decisions or opinions that incorporate legal references and analyses of precedents involved in areas of well-defined and settled points of law.

5. Interviews potential witnesses and prepares summary interview reports for the attorney’s review.

6. Participates in pre-trial witness conferences, notes any deficiencies in case materials (i.e. missing documents, conflicting statements) and additional issues or other matters requiring investigation prior to trial, and requests further investigations at the pre-trial stage.

7. Prepares and organizes trial exhibits, as required, such as statistical charts and photographic exhibits.

8. Verifies citations and legal references on prepared legal documents in accordance with blue book rules.

9. Prepares summaries of testimony, medical records, and dispositions; maintains case files.

10. Drafts and edits non-legal memoranda, researches reports, and correspondence relating to cases.

11. Utilizes Westlaw or Lexis/Nexis legal research computer, Internet, and CDs to perform various research and Shepardizes cases.

12. Assists or administers training for entry-level paralegals or legal assistants when needed.

13. Performs other related duties as directed.

1. Knowledge of statutes, regulations, precedents, and practices relating to the mission of the organization sufficient to identify the factual and legal issues and the relevant evidence.

2. Ability to prepare summaries of precedent cases, interviews, and related case material for the attorney's use.

3. Knowledge of legal reference sources and commonly used legal research procedures and methods.

4. Ability to locate, analyze, and prepare reports on pertinent statutes, court decisions, legal opinions, and other legal documents.

5. Ability to work with co-workers and the public with courtesy and tact.

6. Skilled in the use of Westlaw or Lexis/NexisLegal Research Computer, Internet, and CDs in legal research.

7. Ability to verify case/statutory citations in accordance with Blue Book rules and Key Cite/Shepardizes cases.