Paralegal II

State of Maryland • Anne Arundel, MD

2d

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. The OAG is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Paralegal II to support the legal team serving the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The OAG provides legal guidance and representation to DNR in its mission to preserve, protect, restore, and enhance Maryland’s natural resources. The DNR legal team advises, represents, and defends the DNR across a wide range of matters, including: land acquisition for conservation and recreation, management of state forests, parks, and wildlife, regulation of commercial and recreational fishing and hunting, oversight of aquaculture and endangered species protection, vessel licensing and excise tax collection, enforcement of environmental and natural resource laws by the Department through the Natural Resources Police, and legal support and advice to affiliated entities such as the Maryland Environmental Trust, the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and the Critical Area Commission. In addition to this vacant position, the unit is comprised of 13 Assistant Attorneys General including the Principal Counsel, Deputy Principal Counsel, Supervising Senior Attorney for Real Estate and Transactions, and an Office Manager.

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

• Familiarity with MDEC, PACER, litigation procedures, court rules, filing requirements, and document management practices
• Knowledge of real estate transactional procedures.
• Proficiency in legal research with online research platforms (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis, or similar).
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and formatting legal documents, including discovery materials, memoranda of law, appellate briefs, and correspondence.

Responsibilities

• Drafting correspondence and documents for discovery
• Research, drafting assistance and formatting for memoranda of law and appellate briefs
• Keeping all litigation paper and electronic files current
• Organizing exhibits
• Assisting attorneys during litigation proceedings
• Legal research and title research
• Document preparation and/or review
• Provide general administrative support to the unit
• Schedule and prepare for hearings and meetings
• Distribute and track mail
• Maintain paper and electronic files
• Oversee the technological needs of the Office

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; and 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