Paralegal (Legal Assistant)
About The Position
The Paralegal /Legal Assistant is a professional who performs complex and technical administrative work in the Office of the General Counsel of DWSD. This role is responsible for performing technical tasks; researching relevant laws, regulations and legal articles (if certified as a paralegal); gathering and arranging legal documents; filing documents with courts; drafting reports to assist counsel; reviewing discovery for relevance; summarizing depositions; taking detailed notes and; drafting correspondence on behalf of counsel. The position also requires adherence to security and safety policies and procedures in carrying out work duties. DWSD employees are subject to provisions of Court Orders entered in United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Case No. 77-71100 with regard to certain terms and conditions of employment. DWSD does not honor reversion rights for internal candidates. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
Requirements
- Two to five years of experience in Paralegal or Legal Assistant role
- Experience in the presentation of legal information in a public setting
- Experience in drafting, editing and serving litigation related documents including, but not limited to, discovery, responsive pleadings and creating a TOC and TOA for litigation briefs
- Experience in reviewing and summarizing deposition and trial transcripts and medical records
- Knowledge of: Laws, policies, and procedures that affect the department
- Knowledge of: Litigation, organization and management
- Knowledge of: MS-OfficeSuite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Knowledge of: Quality management and process improvement principles
- Knowledge of: Michigan Court Rules and Federal Court Rules related to Pleadings and Discovery
- Skill to: Perform electronic filing process
- Skill to: Prepare FOIA responses
- Skill to: Prepare Damage Claim responses
- Skill to: Prepare litigation related documents without use of an example
- Skill to: Draft correspondence and basic pleadings
- Skill to: Actively participate in organizational change initiatives
- Skill to: Analyze information to make effective decisions
- Ability to Respond to work place dynamics in a timely, visionary and proactive manner
- Proficiently utilize standard office and pertinent specialized software (including Microsoft Office Suite products and Westlaw)
- Interpret and analyze data
- Acquire additional training and knowledge of contemporary principles and best practices of function managed
- Learn and effectively use new software programs (including Smartsheet and HighQ)
- Valid Michigan Driver’s License
Nice To Haves
- Paralegal certification
- Bachelor’s degree
- Notary Public
Responsibilities
- Assist four attorneys in preparing for legal transactions, depositions, hearings, trials and conferences
- Complete administrative tasks, including individual cases or transactions
- Investigate the factual evidence of a transaction or case and preparing relevant exhibits, charts and diagrams to display or communicate information
- Draft basic legal court documents, such as pleadings, motions, discovery, affidavits and subpoenas without a specific example
- Obtain due diligence materials
- Organize and track files for important transactions or case documents, including pleadings and voluminous discovery documents
- Review Discovery responses/documents for relevance
- Create and maintain a case-management database
- Conduct case research (if certified Paralegal)
- Prepare detailed reports and memoranda
- Maintain the calendars of counsel
- Coordinate and confirm court dates and appointments
- Perform electronic filing process
- Prepare FOIA responses
- Prepare Damage Claim responses
- Prepare litigation related documents without use of an example
- Draft correspondence and basic pleadings
- Actively participate in organizational change initiatives
- Analyze information to make effective decisions
- Respond to work place dynamics in a timely, visionary and proactive manner
- Manage multiple priorities
- Acquire additional training and knowledge of contemporary principles and best practices of function managed
- Work effectively with minimal supervision
- Complete specialized, technical assignments
- Develop effective working relationships with other business units as well as external vendors and customers
- Learn and effectively use new software programs (including Smartsheet and HighQ)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
