DCJ Paralegal Specialist Job at State of Connecticut - Division of Criminal Justice
State of Connecticut - Division of Criminal Justice Hartford, CT
The State of Connecticut, Division of Criminal Justice (Division) and its employees are committed to the fair and equal administration of justice in Connecticut. To this end, the Division acknowledges its duty to investigate and prosecute matters within its jurisdiction diligently, ethically and impartially, honoring its constitutional and common law foundations. By ensuring that the criminal laws of the State of Connecticut are enforced fairly and constitutionally, the Division honors the rule of law upon which our nation is founded. Accomplishing this mission depends upon skill, creativity, and constructive interaction of all Division employees with the law enforcement community and advocacy in the highest traditions of the Office of State's Attorney, the first public prosecutor in America.
We are recruiting for a full-time forty (40) hours per week DCJ Paralegal Specialist position for the Hartford Judicial District Office. This position works Monday through Friday, based on a 40-hour work week, with core hours of 8:00 am - 5:00pm.
NOTE: The incumbent will be required to complete a background check and appointment to this position is made by the Criminal Justice Commission. Salary subject to collective bargaining agreement.
Selection Plan
In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. Candidates invited to interview may be required to submit additional documentation which supports their qualification(s) for these position, such as a resume, performance reviews, supervisory references, college transcripts, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
All communication with applicants will be through the JobAps system, so applicants are encouraged to check for updates to their JobAps portal account. Please ensure that you are utilizing the correct email address for notices to be sent to you from the JobAps system. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DCJ.HR@ct.gov, 860-258-5800.
Questions about this position should be directed to the hiring agency's human resources office: DCJ.HR@ct.gov, 860-258-5800.
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Division of Criminal Justice, this class is accountable for providing advanced paralegal support in a highly complex legal unit. This class provides advanced technical leadership, research and consultation in the areas of case analysis; preparing draft legal documents and draft decisions of highly complex cases; as a resource regarding issues, procedures, process and timeframe as related to cases and presenting legal matters as needed.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- 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;
- 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; prepares legal and administrative reports;
- Updates and maintains case records, pleadings, policy manuals and filing systems;
- Analyzes highly complex cases;
- Develops positions and strategies to settle or litigate cases at formal or informal hearings;
- Prepares for and represents 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;
- Assists in the drafting of proposed legislation and advisory opinions; provides training and assistance to staff;
- May perform business mathematical computations;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge of
- legal processes and procedures;
- legal terminology and legal forms;
- legal research techniques;
- Knowledge of
- and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;
- relevant agency policies and procedures;
- 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.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
The General Experience is defined as one of the following:
- A Bachelor’s degree in legal studies and one (1) year of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.
- An Associate’s degree in legal studies and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.
- Completion of a paralegal or legal assistant certificate program approved by the American Bar Association and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.
- Completion of a paralegal or legal assistant 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.
- Completion of a paralegal or legal assistant certificate program from a business school approved by the State Department of Education and four (4) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney.
- A Law degree from an accredited Law School.
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