Paralegal Specialist – Department of Social Services
Agency Name: Department of Social Services
Official Title: Paralegal Specialist
Occupation Group: Legal
Position Type: Civil Services
Full-Time or Part time: Full-Time
Salary Range: $ 38,530.96 to $55, 671.72 Annually
Bargaining Unit: 06
Shift: Day
Confidential: No
City/Town: Springfield
Facility Location: Western Regional Office – 1537 Main Street, Springfield, MA
Application Deadline: 10-08-2007
Posting ID: J11855
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
Acts as a paralegal for the Massachusetts Child Welfare Agency. Assist lawyers and the clinical staff representing the agency in Juvenile and Probate and Family Court actions, termination of parental rights, guardianship, Child in Need of Services, and adoption cases.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:
1) Review and draft appropriate documents for purposes of filing and processing actions filed by the Child Welfare agency in Juvenile and Probate and Family Court, including actions relating to adoption, petitions under G.L. ch. 119, §23(A), guardianship, and paternity actions.
2) Assist lawyers and the area office staff with required parental/party notification on actions filed in Juvenile and Probate and Family Court.
3) Assists legal offices and the area office staff with tracking, filing in court and obtaining legal documents to comply with State and Federal mandates.
4) Maintain a working relationship with the Area Office and Legal staff and Court personnel to ensure the timely processing of permanency for children, including the compliance monitoring, reviewing and filing Permanency Hearing reports.
5) Performs related duties such as developing case tracking systems; preparing correspondence; operating office machines; scheduling appointments; ordering birth, marriage, death and divorce certificates, assisting in discovery requests, paternity issues and assisting with office operations.
6) May be requested to prepare cases for trial or administrative proceedings by collecting and evaluating evidence, organizing case file documentation and exhibits, and briefing legal counsel on case issues prior to such proceedings.
7) May be requested to research and analyze law sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, opinions, determinations and rulings in order to prepare legal digest detailing the points of law involved.
8) May be requested to assist in preparing such legal documents as briefs, summaries, and responses to interrogatories by interviewing relevant parties, reviewing and analyzing facts and points of law, and drafting documents for review and approval by legal counsel.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, paraprofessional experience in legal research or legal assistant work, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. Substitutions: I. An Associate's or higher degree with a major in paralegal studies may be substituted for the required experience. II. Completion of one year of study at a recognized, degree-granting law school may be substituted for the required experience. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class 3 Motor Vehicle Operator's License may be required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Ability to exercise sound judgment.
Ability to interact effectively with people.
Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information.
Ability to maintain accurate records.
Ability to give written and oral instructions in a precise understandable manner.
Ability to conduct interviews.
Ability to write concisely and effectively, to express thoughts clearly and to develop ideas in logical sequence.
Ability to read and understand legal documents such as decisions, briefs, opinions, and contracts.
Ability to identify and resolve problems as necessary and appropriate.
