Civil Paralegal 1

State of Montana • Helena, MT

4d

About The Position

The Civil Paralegal position with the State’s Attorney’s Office in the Civil Bureau performs a variety of paralegal functions, working individually and with attorneys, management staff, and the Attorney General. The paralegal assists bureau attorneys through all phases of litigation—including intake, discovery, motions, trial, and appeal—and maintains paper and electronic files. The role is responsible for extensive brief formatting and filing in numerous state and federal courts. Other duties include assisting with administrative rule review, service of process on the Attorney General, Attorney General Opinions, and administrative tasks such as maintaining a spreadsheet of active cases and accepting and processing legal mail. The paralegal also works on miscellaneous civil matters with the Solicitor General and General Counsel, coordinates work with the bureau chief and legal support staff, and assists other bureaus and personnel in the Attorney General’s Office as needed.

The State’s Attorney’s Office in the Montana Department of Justice works to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law on behalf of Montanans. Its work includes defending state laws, addressing constitutional challenges, determining the legal sufficiency of ballot initiatives, prosecuting criminals, handling litigation from district court through appeal, and conducting complex antitrust litigation. The position is open until filled, with the first applicant review scheduled for 11/16/2026.

Requirements

• Meet at least one of the following statutory qualifications: an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies from an accredited institution; a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited college or university plus at least 18 semester credits from a qualified paralegal studies program; certification by the National Association of Legal Assistants or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations; a high school diploma or equivalent plus at least 4,800 hours of substantive legal work under a licensed lawyer, documented by the supervising lawyer(s), and at least five hours of approved continuing legal education in legal ethics and professional responsibility; or graduation from an accredited law school without disbarment or suspension from the practice of law in any jurisdiction.
• Applicants must attach a résumé marked as a “Relevant File” and include work experience, job duties, employment dates, and reasons for leaving.
• Successful applicants are subject to criminal history fingerprint/name-based and driving history checks.

Nice To Haves

• Two years working in a law office or legal environment.
• At least two years researching court rules and rules of procedure.
• At least two years formatting briefs, including generating tables of authorities.

Responsibilities

• Assist bureau attorneys with all phases of litigation, including intake, discovery, motions, trial, and appeal.
• Maintain paper and electronic legal files.
• Format and file briefs in state and federal courts.
• Assist with administrative rule review.
• Handle service of process on the Attorney General.
• Assist with Attorney General Opinions.
• Maintain a spreadsheet of active cases.
• Accept and process legal mail.
• Work on miscellaneous civil matters with the Solicitor General and General Counsel.
• Coordinate work with the bureau chief and other legal support staff.
• Assist other bureaus and personnel within the Attorney General’s Office as needed.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• State employment may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Associate degree