Paralegal Specialist

State of Connecticut•Hartford, CT

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The State of Connecticut Department of Banking (DOB) is accepting applications for a Paralegal Specialist. This individual will provide assistance to Staff Attorneys and support all legal functions for the department. This is a Full Time, 40 hours per week position on First Shift, Monday through Friday, located at 280 Trumbull Street in Hartford, CT. It offers a hybrid work environment (combination of on-site and remote work). The Connecticut Department of Banking is the primary state regulator for state-chartered banks and credit unions, securities, and consumer credit. Its mission is to protect users of financial services from unlawful or improper practices by ensuring regulated entities and individuals adhere to state banking, consumer credit and securities laws. The Department accomplishes this through regular, thorough, and cost-effective examinations of the entities it supervises. The Department also engages the public and other stakeholders through a variety of media platforms, educational outreach initiatives, and press communications.

Requirements

Considerable knowledge of legal processes and procedures; legal terminology and legal forms; legal research techniques.
Knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures.
Ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation.
Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills.
Skill in fact finding techniques including interviewing clients and compiling evidence.
Considerable ability to evaluate pertinent facts, cases and evidence and compile and assemble such legal data; compose correspondence and draft legal documents.
Ability to understand complex laws and related reports; utilize computer software.
A Bachelor’s degree in legal studies and one (1) year of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
An Associate’s degree in legal studies and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program approved by the American Bar Association and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program consisting of a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program from a business school approved by the State of Connecticut, Office of Higher Education and four (4) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
A Law degree from an accredited Law School.

Nice To Haves

Experience in consumer credit industries.
Experience with consumer financial protection laws.
Experience with legal research and analysis, including case citation.
Experience working as a paralegal for two or more attorneys in a governmental agency, law firm, or corporation.
Experience reviewing legal documents and memoranda.

Responsibilities

Thoroughly review legal documents, memoranda and correspondence for factual accuracy, formatting, grammar and spelling, and proper citation to statute and case law.
Prepare drafts of legal documents related to consumer credit enforcement actions for attorney review, such as subpoenas, affidavits, and referral letters.
Assist division staff attorneys in preparing and reviewing legal documents for highly complex enforcement cases, settlements, regulatory approvals, advisory opinions, and proposed legislation.
Prepare for and assist the division staff attorneys at administrative hearings and through case presentation.
Oversee production of legal records and exhibits for administrative hearings and related appeals.
Perform legal research and analysis for the division staff attorneys and other staff as needed.
Provide assistance and legal guidance to staff related to on Freedom of Information Act requests.
Maintain and update legal files and case records, including updating enforcement tracking systems.
Manage enforcement case timelines, including tracking related requirements and deadlines within the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act and Department regulations.
Prepare legal and administrative reports.
Provide assistance to examination and licensing staff with investigations as needed.
Monitor state legislative developments having an impact on the Department of Banking and keep personnel apprised.
Monitor relevant federal legislation and regulatory proposals.
Keep abreast of new regulation promulgation processes, and ensure that the division’s draft legislative proposals are properly formatted and consistent with existing statutory language.
Provide support services to attorneys, such as answering correspondence and telephone inquiries concerning Connecticut’s consumer credit laws.
Monitor compliance with legal settlement terms and conditions, and prepare related reports for management’s review and action.
Perform cite checks for briefs and memoranda of law (i.e. “blue booking”).
Research, interpret, and apply relevant statutes, regulations, precedents, and policies.
Perform related duties as required.
Interprets complex state statutes and federal regulations governing legal records and documents.
Determines and applies applicable state statute and/or regulation in preparing documentation.
Interprets court rules and agency policies and regulations.
Keeps abreast of the latest court rules, calendar changes and pending legislation.
Monitors and adheres to court deadlines.
Reviews legal documents and prepares legal documents such as briefs, writs and pleadings for court filings.
Responds to relevant case information requests from courts.
Performs legal research and analysis of law sources such as statutes, legal articles, legal decisions, opinions, rulings, memoranda and other legal material.
Prepares draft legal documents.
Provides assistance in the discovery process.
Provides paralegal assistance by interpreting applicable legal provisions, regulations, precedents and policies.
Responds to requests and obtains information of sensitive nature.
Acts as liaison between agency, court system, relevant attorney’s offices and general public.
Serves as agency liaison regarding relevant policies and procedures.
Updates and maintains case records, pleadings, policy manuals and filing systems.
Assists in the drafting of proposed legislation and advisory opinions.
Provides training and assistance to staff.
May perform business mathematical computations.
Analyzes highly complex cases.
Develops positions and strategies to settle or litigate cases at formal or informal hearings.
Prepares for and represents the state’s interest at hearings or through case presentation.
Researches and gathers relevant evidence and documentation.
Interviews witnesses and clients.
Drafts legal documents, complaints, stipulations, detailed memoranda, letters and proposed findings and awards reviews substantiation appeals and provides recommendation to management regarding the legal sufficiency of substantiation findings.