What are the responsibilities and job description for the Paralegal, Trial Section position at Attorney General & Dept of Law?
Title: Paralegal, Trial Section
State Role Title: Paralegal
Hiring Range: Commensurate with Experience
Pay Band: UG
Agency: Attorney General & Dept of Law
Location: Office of the Attorney General
Agency Website: www.oag.state.va.us
Recruitment Type: General Public - G
Job Duties
- Clerical Duties: Provide secretarial support to up to attorneys in the General Civil Unit of the Trial Section. Duties include: prioritizing work assigned by the attorneys; typing and editing briefs, pleadings, discovery requests and responses, correspondence and memoranda, and preparing same for filing by mail, in person, or electronically; drafting correspondence for attorneys' signatures; proofreading and performing quality checks on all work product; scanning pleadings and correspondence received electronically and by U.S. mail into electronic database; attending to all aspects of discovery; opening and distributing mail; managing the opening of new cases and the closing of ended cases in the Office’s case management database; other administrative tasks related to active trial practice.
- Paralegal Duties: establish files and organize and maintain electronic file for all discovery; upload discovery documents to file sharing platform; calculate litigation deadlines; communicate with clients, experts, and opposing counsel; proofread and perform quality and cite checks on all work product, including referring to Lexis Advance, Westlaw and the Bluebook; assist in preparation of responses to discovery requests; conduct telephonic and in-person fact gathering; draft memoranda documenting interviews; draft affidavits and declarations; assist in preparation for hearings and trials; prepare trial exhibits and materials; contact and schedule witnesses for meetings and depositions; prepare and track subpoenas and arrange for service; other paralegal tasks related to active trial practice.
- Administrative Duties: prepare and process travel vouchers and requests for travel as well as purchase, reimbursement and payment forms; arrange for conference rooms and schedule court reporters; provide backup paralegal support to other units in the Trial Section; electronically file, where applicable and appropriate, in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Courts in the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Court of Appeals of Virginia, using VACES and the CM-ECF/Pacer system.
Minimum Qualifications
- A minimum of three (3) to five (5) years working in a litigation practice.
- Competent working knowledge of legal terminology, court procedures, case management systems, and document management systems.
- Candidate must demonstrate the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment and to adjust priorities without close supervision.
- The position requires exceptional written and verbal communication skills, proficiency in time management, and the ability to work independently and as a team member.
- Candidates must also demonstrate the ability to work well under pressure and adjust priorities without close supervision.
- Candidates also should be able to interact effectively with a diverse workforce and the general public.
- The successful candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and will be subject to a criminal background check.
- This position presents an exciting and rewarding opportunity for the right candidate to be part of a dynamic team and to perform a valuable public service.
Preferred Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree or a paralegal certificate is preferred. However, an equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the required qualifications may substitute for educational criteria.
- Proficiency using personal computers is required, and a solid working knowledge of Microsoft Word, databases, cite-checking, and legal search engines is preferred.
Special Instructions
You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.
Please apply on-line at https://jobs.virginia.gov. Application materials should include a discussion of all relevant experience and a résumé. Veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.
Contact Information
Name: Human Resources
Phone: 804-786-2071
Email: helppersonnel@oag.state.va.us
In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor within the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their Certificate of Disability. If you need to get a Certificate of Disability, use this link: Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities, or call DARS at 800-552-5019, or DBVI at 800-622-2155.
Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer
