Paralegal II

State of Maryland • Baltimore City, MD

10h

About The Position

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has the general charge, supervision, and direction of the State’s legal business, acting as legal advisors and representatives of the major agencies, various boards, commissions, officials, and institutions of State Government. The OAG also protects the public by civil enforcement of antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, and securities laws and regulations and by the prosecution of organized crime, Medicaid fraud, environmental crimes, insurance fraud, state tax evasion, and other statutorily assigned matters. As Maryland’s 47th Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown leads the Office with a critical focus on equity, justice, and fairness. This position offers a salary range of $51,580- $72,159, with potential for advancement up to $79,673 based on qualifications, equity, and hiring guidelines. Initial salary offers are determined by qualifications, experience, and available budget, and typically do not exceed $72,159.
The Office of the Attorney General is seeking a Paralegal in the Contract Litigation Unit within the Civil Litigation Division to provide direct support to Assistant Attorneys General in a fast-paced environment. The Contract Litigation Unit is comprised of a dedicated team of 17, including 12 attorneys, Administrative Officer, three paralegals, and a Management Associate. The Contract Litigation Unit is responsible for representing State agencies in litigation related to State contracts. This includes agencies such as the Maryland Department of General Services, the Maryland Department of Transportation, the University System of Maryland, and Morgan State University. The Unit advocates for these agencies before the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals and in State courts on matters involving both the formation of contracts (including bid protests) and their performance (including claims). Its work encompasses defending against contractor claims as well as pursuing affirmative claims on behalf of the State. Attorneys in the Unit handle cases from trial through appellate review and frequently collaborate with other State counsel on issues arising under Maryland’s General Procurement Law.
The Paralegal will be integral to the success of the Unit, performing duties that enable the attorneys to focus on more complex legal tasks and strategy. Building on foundational paralegal experience, the Paralegal will: Assist trial attorneys in their preparation and processing of legal documents relating to contract disputes, i.e., motions and memoranda before the Board of Contract Appeals or one of Maryland’s circuit courts, deposition and trial exhibits, pre-filed testimony, expert witness reports, appellate briefs, MDEC electronic filing, and PACER filings. Be responsible for establishing and maintaining an electronic document control system for e-discovery, including the preparation, organization and maintenance of files containing documents produced during discovery, memos, correspondence, expert reports, deposition testimony, fact-witness diaries and personal records, contract specifications and drawings, progress reports and photographs, inspection reports, attorney-client correspondence, and attorney work-product. Perform legal and other research relating to contract disputes, as well as analyzing documents and select, summarizing and characterizing specific information pertaining to the issues in each case, i.e., abstracting depositions, assembling fact-witness files and preparing case chronologies. This position requires a strong working knowledge of legal procedures and documentation, as well as the ability to manage multiple priorities with precision and efficiency. The ideal candidate will possess a keen attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The collaborative environment of the Contract Litigation Unit encourages continuous learning and offers support from experienced legal professionals, making this a rewarding and challenging role for a dedicated Paralegal.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
• Three years of experience as a legal assistant or legal secretary performing legal research or preparing legal documents on behalf of an attorney.
• Thirty credit hours or a certificate in paralegal studies from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required experience.
• Thirty credit hours from an accredited law school may be substituted for the required experience.
• Additional years of experience as stated above may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.
• Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in paralegal specialist classifications or paralegal specialist specialty codes in the legal and kindred field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
• Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant, to include legal research and preparing legal documents, verifying legal citations and references.
• Experience with e-discovery platforms.
• Experience with MDEC and PACER filings.
• Knowledge of Maryland state and appellate court rules and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist trial attorneys in their preparation and processing of legal documents relating to contract disputes, i.e., motions and memoranda before the Board of Contract Appeals or one of Maryland’s circuit courts, deposition and trial exhibits, pre-filed testimony, expert witness reports, appellate briefs, MDEC electronic filing, and PACER filings.
• Be responsible for establishing and maintaining an electronic document control system for e-discovery, including the preparation, organization and maintenance of files containing documents produced during discovery, memos, correspondence, expert reports, deposition testimony, fact-witness diaries and personal records, contract specifications and drawings, progress reports and photographs, inspection reports, attorney-client correspondence, and attorney work-product.
• Perform legal and other research relating to contract disputes, as well as analyzing documents and select, summarizing and characterizing specific information pertaining to the issues in each case, i.e., abstracting depositions, assembling fact-witness files and preparing case chronologies.

Benefits

• The successful candidate will be eligible for subsidized health benefits (medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage) and life insurance
• leave, including annual (vacation), personal, sick, and paid parental leave
• will be eligible for participation in a contributory defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after ten years.
• State employees are eligible to participate in two supplemental retirement plans: the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and the 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan.
• The State also offers a free mass transit benefit for local bus and express bus services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED