Paralegal I

City of Charlotte•Charlotte, NC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Paralegal I is an entry-level position in the City Attorney’s Office, providing paralegal support to attorneys serving One Water operations (Charlotte Water and Storm Water Services). The position is physically located at a One Water facility. It performs routine legal, administrative, research, and document-preparation work, with guidance available for new or unusual situations. The role is distinguished from Paralegal II by its routine assignments and is typically used as a training class; employees may have limited or no directly related work experience. The posting lists a salary range of $26.95–$42.11 per hour, commensurate with experience, and also gives a position-specific hourly rate of $30.32–$33.68, commensurate with experience. Applicants must include a writing sample and resume. A valid North Carolina driver’s license is required. Final candidates must pass a background check, pre-employment drug screening, and physical examination; candidates may also be asked to take a skills test or participate in other assessments. The City of Charlotte describes its mission as delivering quality public services and promoting residents’ safety, health, and quality of life. The City is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities. A comprehensive benefits package is available to eligible employees, with details provided through the City’s benefits information.

Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent and five years of direct work experience, or an associate degree and three years of direct work experience.
Valid North Carolina driver’s license.
Basic knowledge of case law, statutory law, and common law.
Basic knowledge of judicial and quasi-judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
Ability to perform complex legal research in accordance with instructions about approach, available source material, and office policy and precedent.
Ability to summarize facts and evidence and prepare legal instruments.
Clear and logical oral and written communication skills.
Ability to use technology in research and writing assignments.
High proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, OneDrive, and PowerPoint; Adobe Acrobat; online or cloud-based file-sharing protocols or portals; and remote meeting platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or WebEx.
Ability to manage multiple complex tasks and deadlines; work independently and as part of a team; and demonstrate initiative, semi-independent judgment, and discretion.
Excellent communication and organizational skills and ability to maintain effective professional working relationships with attorneys, staff, clients, and other contacts.
Applicants must submit a writing sample and resume.
Final candidates must pass the City background check, pre-employment drug screening, and physical examination; candidates may be required to complete a skills test or other assessments.

Nice To Haves

Notary Public.
North Carolina Certified Paralegal designation.
Prior experience working in a municipality or law firm setting.
Basic knowledge of North Carolina statutes and case law.

Responsibilities

Provide legal support to attorneys in the One Water legal group on various legal issues.
Draft legal documents, correspondence, and pleadings.
Research and locate legal documents and information within the City, Courthouse, Register of Deeds, and other government entities.
Compose, prepare, and distribute correspondence, documents, and reports for attorneys, staff, and the general public.
Maintain general contact with the client department.
Conduct simple investigations and statistical, documentary, and legal research.
Assist in preparing documents and exhibits for trials and other court proceedings.
Summarize depositions, interrogatories, and testimony.
Coordinate with One Water staff on invoice payments, travel arrangements, and other tasks supporting the legal team.