Paralegal - Lewiston

State of Maine•Lewiston, ME

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Maine Commission on Public Defense Services (PDS) is an independent commission that provides efficient, high-quality representation to indigent citizens entitled to counsel at state expense. The Paralegal supports multiple attorneys in parental defense, adult and juvenile criminal defense, and appellate practice. The role performs case preparation, investigation, and information-gathering tasks necessary to support effective assistance of counsel, and may communicate with court officials, law enforcement, legal and social agencies, jail and prison officials, clients, and clients’ family members. The successful candidate is self-directed, highly organized, accurate, and able to work efficiently and independently. Strong interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic, teamwork, and adaptability in a fast-paced legal environment are essential. The position requires proficiency in word processing, legal document preparation, document, record, data and file management, calendar management, and communications. The role is based in Lewiston. Applicants must submit a cover letter, current resume, and three professional references. The selected candidate must pass required background checks; fingerprinting may be required.

Requirements

Training, education, or experience in office and administrative support work demonstrating solid knowledge of the principles and practices of law firm, court, or legal services processes, and the ability to research complex legal issues and analyze legal problems; or graduation from an approved, accredited paralegal program.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to manage highly confidential and sensitive material.
Knowledge of Titles 17-A and 29-A and the life of a criminal case.
Knowledge of Title 22 and the life of a child protection case.
Ability to communicate effectively with individuals who may be under emotional distress.
Knowledge and skills with Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Pro.
Ability to navigate an electronic court filing system and adapt to evolving technology.
Ability to write clearly and effectively.
Ability to work as part of a team to foster a positive working environment.
Ability to learn and effectively use case management software.
Applicants must provide a cover letter, current resume, and three professional references; relevant experience on the resume must include month and year, and duties and responsibilities, with non-full-time experience identified.

Responsibilities

Support attorneys and track large caseloads.
Use Microsoft Office Suite for day-to-day tasks.
Manage heavy email traffic across multiple shared inboxes.
Communicate with clients about court dates, case status, and other matters as directed by Assistant Defenders.
Communicate with courts, jails and prisons, legal and social agencies, and clients’ family members.
Draft routine documents, including discovery requests, motions, and client correspondence.
Track and maintain an accurate calendar of scheduled court dates.
Process incoming court documents and maintain up-to-date case files.
Process incoming and outgoing mail for Assistant Defenders.
Collect, manage, and organize discovery.
Use Adobe Pro to compile documents and electronic discovery binders.
Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the Legal Administrator.

Benefits

13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually; vacation accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
State-paid employee-only health insurance premiums of 85%–100%, depending on salary; participation in the health insurance premium credit program can decrease employee-only premiums by 5%.
State-paid 100% of employee-only dental insurance premiums.
State contribution of 14.06% of pay to MainePERS retirement.
Gym membership reimbursement of up to $40 per month.
Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness.
Employee assistance through the Living Resources Program.
42 consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave for employees welcoming a child; additional unpaid leave may be available under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary deferred compensation through a MaineSaves 457(b) account.
Additional wellness benefits; benefits may vary by collective bargaining agreement and are prorated for less than full-time employment.