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Paralegal Aide Job Specifications |
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C-XI PARALEGAL CODE NO. 30080 OCCUPATIONAL GROUP [202]
PARALEGAL AIDE
Duties and Responsibilities
This class of positions encompasses responsible paralegal (legal assistant) work of varying degrees of difficulty and responsibility performed under supervision of high level staff and/or attorneys. The following are typical assignments. All personnel perform related work.
ASSIGNMENT LEVEL I
General Statement
Under supervision, assists and receives training from attorneys, formal referees and higher level paralegal aides in the management of cases through various stages of legal proceedings, may draft legal papers for review by higher level staff and/or attorneys, independently performs routine paralegal tasks. Performs one or more of the following types of paralegal duties.
Examples of Typical Tasks
Assists in preparing and processing subpoenas, summonses, motions, affadavits, legal notices, closing binders, mortgage loans. other project closing documents, and/or other forms and papers which relate to legal proceedings and transactions.
Assists in reviewing, updating and maintaining case files, log books and attorneys schedules, including the court calendar or administrative hearing calendar. Assists in assembling tax and lien data from files and other official records.
Collects, assembles and reviews routine data, such as tenant rent payment histories and records of housing code violations, and secures various forms and documents relating to legal proceedings and transactions; may contact court clerks, title abstract specialists, process servers, city marshals and others in order to request and secure necessary forms, dates and legal documents.
Assists in reviewing background data to be used in preparation of agency contracts and/or in monitoring contractor compliance.
Locates and retrieves court decisions, statutes, regulations, and other items of legal research.
Assists in performing routine legal research.
ASSIGNMENT LEVEL II (See also Special Note under Qualification Requirements)
General Statement
Under general supervision, with latitude for the exercise of independent initiative and judgment, manages a caseload through various stages of legal proceedings or performs moderately difficult paralegal work; performs one or more of the following types of paralegal duties.
Examples of Typical Tasks
In all agencies:
Manages a caseload within a legal office; maintains control of all relevant data and documentation pertaining to all cases or transactions in the caseload; reviews, updates and maintains case files, log books, attorneys' schedules, court calendars and administrative hearing calendars, monitors the movement of cases and coordinates the flow of legal documents through the various stages of litigation; arranges for and oversees the service of legal papers; files motions and supporting documents with court clerks; helps to insure that all filing deadlines are met; reports changes in case status to an attorney or formal referee.
Prepares and reviews subpoenas, summonses, motions, affadavits, notices loan commitments, resolutions, closing documents and other forms and submits to an attorney or formal referee for approval.
Interviews and confers with clients, witnesses, victims, complainants, tenants, landlords, representatives of community groups, Human Resources Administration caseworkers, real estate managers, attorneys, formal referees, court clerks, city marshals and others in preparation for litigation or with regard to matters relating to litigation; arranges for and assists in preparing witnesses for court or formal referee appearances; resolves court or formal referee scheduling and related administrative problems; schedules evictions with city marshals.
May assist attorneys in the more difficult forms of legal proceedings, transactions, programs and projects, including appearances before judges for the purpose of submitting legal documents.
Prepares statistical and narrative reports relating to individual and groups of cases, and transactions.
Performs routine legal research under guidance of an attorney or formal referee and may assist in performing more difficult research.
Collects, assembles and assists in evaluating evidence and technical data for use in trials and proceedings.
May collect and analyze data to determine the effectiveness of program.
Monitors compliance with Federal and State guidelines for grant projects.
Prepares analyses of routine legal testimony.
May assist in the conduct of departmental investigations, including the locating of potential witnesses for administrative hearings or legal proceedings.
May supervise Paralegal Aides serving at the first assignment level.
In the Department of Housing Preservation and Development:
Attends closings on behalf of the City where the City performs ministerial functions only, such as delivering a deed in exchange for a previously agreed upon purchase price.
Negotiates rent agreements with tenants of city-owned buildings who are in rent arrears and against whom eviction proceedings have been initiated; recommends approval of the terms of pre-trial rent agreements to attorneys.
Negotiates pre-trial recoupment agreements with landlords and private real estate management groups to recover funds expended by the City for emergency building repairs and recommends approval of terms to supervisor.
Conducts routine real estate last owner searches and assists in performing title searches; prepares abstracts of title and submits to an attorney for legal opinion and disposition.
Qualification Requirements
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college; or
2. An associate degree or completion of 60 semester credits from an accredited college and two years of full-time satisfactory experience, acquired in the United States, in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services; or
3. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and four years of full-time satisfactory experience, acquired in the United States, in the performance of paralegal (legal assistant) services; or
4. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above. Paralegal Certification obtained in the United States from an accredited program or from a program approved by the American Bar Association can be substituted for 12 months of experience. Undergraduate credit can be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for 12 months of experience. However, all candidates must have at least a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.
To be acceptable, experience in paralegal (legal assistant) services must have involved the American Legal System.
Experience which is primarily legal secretarial or includes only incidental paralegal (legal assistant) services is not acceptable.
Special Note
Individuals must have one additional year of pertinent paralegal experience or have a baccalaureate degree in addition to the requirements listed above to be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II duties and pay of Paralegal Aide.
Direct Lines of Promotion
From: None To: Principal Administrative Associate (10124)
R 3.31.99
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