Paralegal

Incumbents are responsible for performing a variety of legal and administrative support for the City Attorney’s Office.

REPORTING STRUCTURE: Receives general supervision from the City Attorney.

Typical Class Essential Duties1. Prepares static legal documents, e.g., liens, lien releases, deeds, etc., preparing litigation support documents and litigation pleadings, e.g., timelines, witness summaries, exhibits, PowerPoints, complaints, answers, discovery, motions, memoranda, etc.

2. Drafts legal documents in all areas of law practiced in the department including ordinances, contracts, agreements, and resolutions for City Council.

3. Arranges meetings between the City Attorney's Office for interviews concerning civil, administrative, or criminal matters; coordinates depositions, professional witnesses, court reporters, other civil attorneys, and other pertinent individuals and information.

4. Manages a filing system for the collection process pertaining to documents from prosecutors, code enforcement, and local assessment district (LAD) debts.

5. Investigates cases as necessary; locates and summarizes pertinent case law, gathers necessary material, evidence, documents, and other pertinent information, and assists with discovery requests.

6. Assists with interviewing witnesses, victims, and police officers in large restitution cases or multiple defendant criminal cases; advises of testimony needed, documents, insurance papers, medical bills, and other pertinent information.

7. Manages on-going or special projects including establishing goals, timelines, tasks, and implementation.

8. Researches, analyzes, evaluates and audits data from a variety of sources; prepares statistical and analytical reports.

9. For all staff attorneys: provides administrative support and assists in preparation for all court proceeding, City Council meetings, and Civil Service meetings; maintains calendars, schedules committee meetings or any liaison/board assignments, and processes travel arrangements.

10. Represents the City of Casper by responding to the public, citizens, its employees, and others in a prompt, professional, and courteous manner while continuously maintaining a positive customer service demeanor.

11. Provides administrative support to the City’s legal staff, including screening calls and visitors, scheduling meetings, drafting and proofreading various documents, providing background information, preparing comprehensive reports and researching, compiling, and analyzing data for special projects.

12. Performs basic bookkeeping and accounting functions.

13. Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Knowledge (position requirements at entry): Knowledge of:

• Legal terminology and the forms and documents used in legal work.
• Legal procedures and practices involved in composing, processing and filing a variety of legal documents.
• Working knowledge of the rules of civil and criminal procedure.
• Access and use of legal references and their contents, including the Bluebook Uniform System of Citation.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping and reporting.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the City.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment and software.
• Public relations techniques.
• Principles and techniques of business letter writing and report preparation.
• Essential operations of Municipal, Circuit, District, and Federal Court procedures.
• Federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, statutes, codes, procedures, and practices.
• Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys and their staff.

Abilities (position requirements at entry): Ability to:

• Routinely demonstrate the City of Casper core values.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Learn and apply City rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Learn and apply format for minutes, resolutions, ordinances, and other legal documents processed through the City Council, and meet the legal requirements for publishing.
• Type at a speed necessary for successful job performance with a high degree of accuracy.
• Organize records in an easily retrievable fashion and create timelines and summaries of documents and data.
• Maintain attention to detail in a work situation with frequent interruptions.
• Perform basic legal research.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and financial reports, legal documents, correspondence, and memoranda.
• Develop and maintain accurate and complete records.
• Maintain a neat and professional appearance.
• Interpret and apply federal, state and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Follow all City safety rules and procedures and immediately report all accidents/incidents or unsafe conditions to a supervisor.
• Follow written and verbal instructions and direction.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software applications.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Skills (position requirements at entry): Skill in:

• Creating and maintaining records, documents and files.
• Legal research and writing.
• Preparing case files.
• Preparing electronic and paper discovery.
• Rules of civil and criminal procedure.
• Using CaseMap or similar application.
• Researching in Westlaw, Lexis or Casemaker/Fastcase.
• Using cloud-based applications and file management.
• Typing and data entry.
• Proofreading and editing documents.
• Time management.
• Researching, evaluating, organizing, and assembling data and information.
• Providing customer service.
• Scheduling calendars and coordinating meetings and/or events.
• Organizing and task prioritization.
• Oral and written communication sufficient to exchange or convey information and receive work direction.
• Operating in a courteous, knowledgeable and tactful manner with customers, staff and the general public.
• Proficient with operating modern office equipment, software, and operating systems/applications including Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
• Creating and working with large data base applications.

Training, Experience & Certifications

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:

• High school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.) required.
• Associate’s degree and/or Bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, criminal justice or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of two years of experience as a paralegal; litigation experience preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed below.

LICENSING and CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, certification of Notary Public by the State of Wyoming.
• Paralegal certification preferred.

Supplemental Information & Physical Requirements

The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department.Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.Employment with the City of Casper is contingent upon a successful background screen and pre-employment drug test.As a condition of employment, the successful candidate must utilize direct deposit for payroll purposes.Driving records are required for all new employees regardless of the position's driving requirements. If the employee has not held a Wyoming driver's license for the last three years, the employee must provide at their own initiation and expense a driving record from their previous state(s) of residence.Physical and Environmental Conditions: City of Casper employees that perform safety sensitive tasks are subject to pre-employment and/or random drug testing. These tasks include, but may not be limited to:

• Emergency response/rescue
• Handling or working with hazardous materials, including chemicals as well as solid and liquid waste
• Operating or maintaining water and wastewater systems
• Maintaining City computer and data systems including networks, servers, communication systems, etc.
• Driving for the City of Casper, whether essential or non-essential
• Operating power-driven machinery or equipment
• Handling confidential information, including personnel, health, financial, or attorney-client information
• Working with or around children

Positions in this class typically require: stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Incumbents in this position work indoors in an office environment and are subject to the common noises associated with office work including telephones, copiers, and printers. The position requires frequent sitting, typing, and customer contact, both by telephone and in person.

Job Type: Full-time