Paralegal

State of Montana•Helena, MT

15d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Services team supports lawful, effective public service that benefits Montana communities, workers, and businesses. As a Paralegal, you will provide vital legal and administrative support that helps the Office of Legal Services deliver timely, accurate, and well-organized work. This role offers an opportunity to apply and grow your legal-support skills in a collaborative environment that values professionalism, sound judgment, and continuous improvement. Legal Services provides legal guidance, representation, and support to advance the work of the Employment Standards Division. The Paralegal conducts legal research, prepares and files legal documents, organizes case materials, and supports staff attorneys in managing matters before courts, administrative agencies, and hearing offices. This position helps ensure that legal work is accurate, timely, and accessible by maintaining reliable case records, monitoring deadlines, and coordinating effectively with internal and external partners. The successful candidate will balance multiple assignments while providing professional, service-oriented support to the Office of Legal Services.

Requirements

Legal research and analysis: Research, interpret, and apply statutes, regulations, court decisions, rules, and other legal authorities; analyze case law; and verify that legal authority remains current.
Legal document preparation: Draft, format, proofread, and revise a variety of legal documents with close attention to accuracy, completeness, consistency, and attorney direction.
Court and agency filing: Prepare and submit legal documents to state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and hearing offices while following applicable filing requirements and procedures.
Case management and organization: Maintain organized, complete, and accessible case files, legal records, evidence, correspondence, and related materials.
Deadline and calendar management: Track hearings, briefing schedules, filing dates, and other critical deadlines; organize priorities; and take proactive steps to support timely completion of work.
Fact investigation and documentation: Gather, evaluate, and organize information through witness interviews, evidence collection, document review, and other case-development activities.
Professional communication: Communicate clearly, respectfully, and diplomatically in writing and verbally with attorneys, clients, court staff, agency personnel, and external partners.
Accuracy and adaptability: Produce high-quality work with strong attention to detail while managing changing priorities, multiple assignments, and time-sensitive legal matters.
Demonstrated experience supporting legal work through legal research, writing, litigation support, case preparation, document review, records management, or comparable administrative coordination.
Experience researching, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, regulations, court requirements, policies, procedures, or other authoritative materials.
Experience preparing, proofreading, organizing, and filing formal documents requiring accuracy, consistency, confidentiality, and careful deadline management.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience interacting professionally with diverse audiences and explaining or coordinating complex information.
Experience maintaining confidential case files, legal records, sensitive documents, or other materials requiring sound judgment and appropriate privacy practices.
Proficiency using Microsoft Outlook, calendar tools, office software, and electronic records, case-management, or document-management systems; knowledge of legal practice-management software is preferred.

Nice To Haves

A bachelor’s degree, or formal training in paralegal studies, legal studies, criminal justice, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above.
Equivalent combinations of education, training, and directly related experience will be considered.

Responsibilities

Conduct legal research: Researches and analyzes statutes, regulations, codes, court decisions, rules, and other legal authorities to support staff attorneys and case preparation.
Prepare legal documents: Drafts briefs, pleadings, appeals, contracts, affidavits, subpoenas, discovery requests, amended articles, and related documents for attorney review and use.
File legal materials: Prepares and files documents with state and federal courts, administrative agencies, and hearing offices in accordance with applicable requirements and deadlines.
Investigate case matters: Assists with fact development by interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence, reviewing information, and organizing supporting documentation.
Manage case records: Maintains, organizes, and updates case files and legal records to promote accuracy, accessibility, confidentiality, and efficient legal operations.
Track critical deadlines: Calendars hearings, briefing schedules, filing deadlines, and other key dates; provides reminders to attorneys and relevant parties.
Coordinate professionally: Communicates and collaborates effectively with attorneys, clients, court personnel, agency staff, and outside parties in a professional and diplomatic manner.
Prioritize legal support: Manages multiple cases and assignments, adjusts priorities as needs change, and completes work accurately within tight deadlines.

Benefits

Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP
Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan
Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73%25 - 9.07%25 of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness
Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.
This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)