Research Assistant MSEA-D

State of Maine•Augusta, ME

3d•$54,579 - $77,459•Onsite

About The Position

This is the work of direct paralegal support out of the Augusta office. You will support two AAGs with active court caseloads. Responsibilities also are of a supervisory nature, directing and overseeing paralegal and legal secretarial staff to meet the work goals of 9 AAGs and ensure consistent application of policies and procedures.

Requirements

A Bachelors Degree and two (2) years of paralegal experience in a law firm, court, or legal services agency - OR - graduation from an approved, accredited paralegal program of instruction and one (1) year of paralegal experience.
Equivalent related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
The ideal candidate must be enthusiastic about a career in a government setting and must be committed to family law.
The ideal candidate must be self-directed but collaborative, highly organized, and efficient, with excellent writing and communication skills.
The candidate must have proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel and Adobe Acrobat.
The candidate must be able to expertly communicate with the client, attorneys, administrative staff, clerks and the public.

Nice To Haves

Preference will be given to candidates with professional experience in the subject area of family law who have a demonstrable ability to assist attorneys with heavy and complicated caseloads.

Responsibilities

Screens, interviews, selects and evaluates legal secretaries and paralegals
Determines staff allocations and work schedules in order to ensure maximum use of personnel resources and ensure work is accomplished in a timely and effective manner
Implements and complies with human resource laws, policies, procedures and practices such as: ADA/EEO, recruitment, employment, position classification, performance appraisals, training, discipline, contract administration, human resource components of security protocols of agency information security and confidentiality policies, and employee safety
Identifies and assesses problems and deficiencies in procedures in order to increase office efficiency; works with Division Chiefs to resolve identified problems
Utilizes knowledge of rules and law to draft pleadings, motions, orders and memoranda of law based upon the facts of a given case as applied to the law and rules governing the matter, ensuring that all documents comply with state and federal regulations and court rules
This paralegal serves as the direct supervisor of eight administrative support professionals in the Augusta, Portland, Bangor and Caribou Offices. This entails training and support as well as distributing workloads and planning coverage.
This paralegal also may conduct training for client staff and other administrative professionals as needed.
This paralegal will provide direct support to the Chief of the Child Support Division, which may include drafting correspondence and pleadings, engaging with constituents, as well as organizing division meetings and client trainings.

Benefits

Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).
Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 13.29% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.