Paralegal 1/2

State of Louisiana • Baton Rouge, LA

2d

About The Position

The Department of Public Safety (DPS), Public Safety Services (PSS), Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) is hiring a Paralegal 1 or 2 to provide a variety of legal assistance to attorneys and legal advisors in the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Public Safety Services, Office of Legal Affairs. The position supports a team of attorneys and contributes to the agency’s public-service mission.

Requirements

• Complete an approved Paralegal or Legal Assistant program approved by the American Bar Association or at an accredited college or university; or possess a Certified Paralegal (CP) certification issued by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.; or hold a Juris Doctorate.
• Disbarred attorneys and attorneys who permanently resigned from the practice of law in lieu of discipline may not be hired for a position connected with the practice of law.
• Suspended attorneys, or attorneys transferred to disability inactive status during suspension, may not be hired for a position connected with the practice of law unless the required registration statement has first been submitted to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research on a wide variety of issues using Westlaw, the law library, and other legal resources and materials.
• Communicate professionally by phone, email, and formal correspondence with the public, judiciary, law enforcement officers, legal professionals, and Public Safety Services staff.
• Accept legal citations and subpoenas served on the agency and its employees and distribute them appropriately.
• Assist with composing briefs, memoranda, and other legal correspondence.
• Assist with drafting pleadings, arranging interviews with potential witnesses, and gathering information to prepare for hearings and trials.
• Maintain files and reference materials while preserving confidentiality as necessary.
• Communicate with legal staff about documents received in the office and deliver or pick up materials when needed.
• Maintain the organization of the OLA legal library.
• Create and maintain electronic files in the OLA database and assist with retaining and destroying paper files in the OLA file room.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree