Legal Assistant I - Iii

Introduction
Delaware's Attorney General, the State's chief law enforcement officer, has broad responsibility to combat crime, uphold civil rights, safeguard families, fight fraud, and protect consumers in the First State. In meeting this mission, Attorney General Kathy Jennings is supported by teams of talented lawyers and staff in the Criminal, Civil, Family, Fraud and Consumer Protection, and Civil Rights & Public Trust Divisions. Each of the more than 500 staff who work in the Office of the Attorney General are dedicated to serving all Delawareans with integrity and passion. Deputy Attorneys General, with critical support from criminal investigators, social workers, paraprofessionals, and administrative staff, prosecute criminal cases, enforce consumer laws, provide counsel to state agencies, ensure the public's access to open government, protect the abused, and much more.
Summary Statement
This Paralegal (Legal Assistant) position provides expertise and paralegal support to Deputy Attorneys General assigned to the Criminal Division and will report directly to the Felony Screening Unit in New Castle County. The general paralegal duties include, but are not limited to, conducting intake interviews with police officers, collecting evidence and other materials for felony cases, and preparing and processing legal documents and subpoenas. Responsibilities may also include providing support to the Felony Screening Unit DAGs, attending court events (such as preliminary hearings) to assist the DAGs, and additional projects as necessary. The successful candidate must be capable of working independently in a high-paced work environment.
Career Ladder
This class series uses three levels of work in the Administrative Services occupational group, Legal Services occupational series and describes legal assistant work involving administrative and judicial proceedings regarding civil, regulatory, and/or criminal law. Work involves providing an agency's management staff or professional legal staff of legal support work and trial preparation.
Salary
Pay Grade 10 Salary Range $34,887/min $43,609/mid $52,331/max
Pay Grade 12 Salary Range $39,682/min $49,602/mid $59,522/max
Pay Grade 14 Salary Range $45,134/min $56,418/mid $67,702/max
(Starting salary will commensurate with experience per State of Delaware pay scale)
Essential Functions
Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Prepares legal pleadings, e.g. briefs, motions, indictments, information and appeals.
• Establishes and maintains case files ensuring that the files contain complete and accurate information essential to each step of the proceedings from pre-hearing and/or pre-trial through trial and sentencing.
• Provides reports and recommendations for new/revised operating policies/procedures.
• Interviews involved parties such as clients, defendants, plaintiffs, victims, witnesses, arresting officers, or medical personnel to gather discovery material, evidence for case preparation and to complete various legal and/or court documents.
• Acts in liaison capacity between superior and various interested parties and judicial and/or court staff, clients, defendants, plaintiffs, victims, witnesses, law enforcement agents, elected and/or appointed officials and the public to gather, clarify and provide information regarding case facts and status.
• Reviews law sources such as case law, judicial decisions, statute law, codes, regulations, and legal and subject matter articles to ensure issues are properly cited and provides superior with written details of similar cases including findings, judicial decisions, and memorandum/opinions of law.
• Reviews state and federal codes, laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance of legal actions/processes.
• Reviews various reports as well as other information such as police reports, medical reports, retail, surveillance, computer files/electronic documents, body worn camera and video/audio; summarizes pertinent details of the case for Deputy Attorney Generals; follows up as necessary for additional documents; drafts answers to litigation complaints and responses to form 30 interrogatories; issue subpoenas to obtain medical, insurance, and employment records; serves and prepares discovery; and makes required redactions for discovery and case preparation.

Job Requirements

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field.
• Please describe the number of years you have worked at the DOJ or in a similar capacity.
• Please describe the number of years and the experience you have in preparing and maintaining legal documents and case files?
• Please describe the number of years and the experience you have in drafting legal documents and such as legal briefs or memoranda of law including presenting facts, drafting legal documents and such as legal briefs or memoranda of law including presenting facts, setting out and analyzing legal issues and applying legal precedents
• Please describe the number of years and the experience you have interpreting laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures.
• Please describe the number of years and the experience you have in legal research such as researching statutes, regulations, case law and background information.
• Please describe the number of years and experience interviewing using structured or unstructured interview techniques to obtain facts, explore issues and identify courses of action
• Please describe the number of years and the experience interviewing using structured or unstructured interview techniques to obtain facts, explore issues and identify courses of action.
• Possession of an Associate’s degree or certificate in Paralegal Studies from an ABA.
• Possession of Juris Doctorate degree.

Conditions of Hire
Criminal background check: A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire.
Benefits
May be eligible Loan forgiveness (State and Federal)
State of Delaware healthcare plan
State of Delaware pension plan
Over 4 weeks of vacation per year
3 weeks of paid sick leave per year
12 weeks of paid parental leave
To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/