Job Description
Job Classification: Clerical / Admin Grade I
Job Title: Paralegal
Supervisor Title: Legal Director
Location: Salt Lake City
Date Prepared: January 2024
Prepared by: Laura Henrie
To apply: submit a resume, cover letter, and references to Laura Henrie at smejia@disabilitylawcenter.org. Only complete applications will be considered.
Minorities and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Position Purpose
The purpose of this position is to provide paralegal level support to the attorneys of the Disability Law Center and assist with other clerical duties as the workload may permit.
This position regularly interacts with Spanish-speaking communities. Ideally, the candidate will be fluent in Spanish. Experience with interpretation in a professional setting and/or translating documents is also preferred.
Qualifications, Skills and Abilities
The following knowledge, skills, and abilities are needed to successfully fulfill this position:
- Paralegal experience and/or training
- Completion of paralegal certificate program
- Fluency in Spanish preferred
- Spanish/English interpretation and document translation preferred
- Must demonstrate knowledge of local court rules, courts and hearings offices, records organization, and file maintenance procedures
- Knowledge of the multiple line phone system, voice mail, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Adobe Suite, Microsoft Suite, the copy machine, and the fax machine
- Must be highly organized, balance multiple tasks, prioritize work, and meet deadlines
- Must pay special attention to detail and have excellent editing skills.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Preferred: knowledge of CM/ECF filing system, also GreenFiling
- Commitment to the mission of the P&A and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and to deal effectively with and negotiate through confrontational situations and stressful interactions.
- Ability to work with individuals from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
Relationships
This position works directly with attorneys, clients, courts, hearings offices, opposing parties’ counsel, the Board of Trustees, and the broader disability community. This includes people with disabilities, people who identify as low income or uninsured, and/or people from diverse groups. Cooperative working relationships are maintained with these individuals to ensure that the Disability Law Center functions well internally and is seen as a friendly, knowledgeable, accessible, effective, and responsible agency.
Compensation and Hours
This is a full-time position. The DLC’s salary and benefits package for this position are competitive with other public interest law providers. Starting salary is $24-27.00 per hour depending on experience.
Daily paralegal support to the attorneys of the Disability Law Center occurs during regular office hours between 8:00am – 6:00pm (at this time, potential shifts are 9-5, 9:30-5:30, or 10-6). There is an occasional need to assist attorneys with time sensitive work after hours. Currently, many attorneys maintain a hybrid work schedule. The ideal candidate would work a hybrid schedule with approximately three days a week in the office, with flexibility as needed.
Paralegal Essential Duties include but are not limited to:
- Drafts affidavits and prepares case summaries, legal documents and reports for review, approval and use by licensed agency attorney.
- Prepares court cover sheets
- Reviews, edits, and finalizes formal hearing memoranda, court pleadings, and other court documents as directed by the attorneys.
- Files legal documents in court on behalf of agency attorneys.
- Researches federal and state statutes, recorded judicial decisions and other legal sources and reference materials in order to prepare responses to injuries, complaints, claims or legal/administrative procedural issues to assist agency attorneys.
- Assists agency attorneys in file preparation and maintenance, including organizing and maintaining all files for cases in litigation or cases being prepared for litigation
- Communicates with clients, witnesses, court personnel and other involved parties on behalf of agency attorneys.
- Schedules depositions, discovery conferences, attorneys’ meetings, mediation, and other meetings related to litigation type cases
- Finds and contacts witnesses
- Gathers information in response to discovery requests
- Copies, organizes and catalogues case documents, management of electronically stored information, evidence and pleadings.
- Prepares trial notebooks and exhibits, indexes depositions, gathers and organizes records
- Attends and assists attorneys at meetings and hearings.
- Maintains and updates the DLC’s legal calendar
- Has the ability to travel in order to facilitate signing documents and/or making deliveries to clients and opposing counsel
- Performs other duties as required, assuming no conflict with ongoing legal work and court deadlines
Secondary duties
- Assist the front desk when necessary to answer calls
- Provide clerical support for the Executive Director
- Provide clerical support for all staff
- Run general errands
- General support for outreach projects and presentations
- Assist in recruitment of staff
Reportability:
Reports to: Legal Director
Supervises: No one
Dimensions:
Clientele: Staff and Board of Trustees of the Disability Law Center, persons living with disabilities in the state of Utah, federal and local government officials, courts and hearings offices, and vendors
Problem Solving: Because this position has multiple responsibilities and works with various attorneys, the most likely problem encountered will be prioritizing and organizing the tasks that need to be done. Guidance and help can be obtained from the Legal Director.
Freedom to Act: This position has general freedom to act within the assigned responsibilities under the supervision of the Legal Director. Guidance and direction from the attorney who requested a task be done should always be sought.
