Legal Assistant (Law Department - Litigation Division)

Posting number: 2026109194172026LAWJS

Department: Law

Job classification: Legal Assistant

Posting type: Open

Categories: Legal

Summary

LAW DEPARTMENT - LITIGATION DIVISION

LEGAL ASSISTANT (PARALEGAL)

Established by the Detroit City Charter, the Law Department is an independent agency that represents the interests of the City of Detroit as a corporate body. The Department is headed by the Corporation Counsel, whose mission is to provide a variety of legal services to the City, its elected officials, departments, agencies, offices, commissions, and boards, as well as its individual employee, in their official capacity.

The Department has dozens of attorneys, specializing in various areas, who provide legal advice, opinions, and counsel to clients; defend all legal actions against the City; prosecute violations of State law and/or City Ordinances on behalf of the people of the City of Detroit. Examples of duties1.   Perform legal research under the direction of an attorney.
2.   Gather information regarding laws, ordinances, regulation, court decisions and similar materials.
3.   Draft legal documents and correspondence including, but not limited to, briefs, pleadings, opinions, stipulations, leases, deeds, contracts, and other legal documents.
4.   Prepare summaries of research results and conclusions.
5.   Interview clients and witnesses and research facts to obtain necessary information.
6.   Act as liaison among clients, various internal departments as well as with outside agencies and parties.            
7.   Assist attorneys in conducting discovery by formulating discovery requests and discovery responses.
8.   Work directly with attorneys and clients during various types of transactions through closing.
9.   Locate, collect, organize, review and summarize documents.
10. Conduct on-site investigations.
11.  Prepare histories and chronologies of events or other subject matters.
12. Attend meetings, depositions, mediations, settlement conferences, and trials with attorneys.
13.  Assist attorneys in the development of case strategy and in the negotiation and settlement of claims and lawsuits.
14. Identify and consults with expert witnesses.
15. Assist attorneys in all facets of trials including compilation of witness and trial notebooks, identification and compilation of trial exhibits.
16. Prepare oral and written reports, and presentations.
17. Maintain and operate computerized databases for docket control, case management, calendaring, and litigation support purposes.
18. Provide administrative assistance such as preparation of case statistic reports, case summaries, litigation activity reports and other reports as requested by management.
19. Organize and maintain litigation, evidence materials, case and other legal files and records.
20. File, pleadings and other legal documents with courts or administrative agencies; efile documents in all courts.
21. Assist staff attorneys in carrying out their assignments.
22. Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; and participating in professional organizations.
23. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications

• Successful completion of an American Bar Association approved paralegal/legal studies programs and three years of work experience as a Legal Assistant.                                                                                                        -OR-

• An Associate degree with a specialization in paralegal studies form an American Bar Association approved institution and two years of work experience as a Legal Assistant.                                                                                       -OR-

• Bachelor’s degree with a specialization in paralegal studies, legal studies, or legal administration from an American Bar Association-approved institution, and six months of work experience as a Legal Assistant.

LICENSE, CERTIFICATION AND OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid State of Michigan Operator License.

EQUIVALENCY 

• Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Supplemental informationEvaluation Plan

• Interview: 70%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience & Personal Qualifications: 30%
• Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%

Additional points may be awarded for:

• Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
• Detroit Residency Credit:   15 point

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Laws, policies, and procedures that affect the department
• Litigation, organization and management
• MS-OfficeSuite(Word,Excel, PowerPoint)
• Westlaw
• Research and analysis methods
• Quality management and process improvement principles
• Michigan Court Rules and Federal Court Rules related to Pleadings and Discovery

SKILL IN:

• Interpreting instructions and guidelines to make decisions and take necessary action(s).
• Preparing a variety of legal-related documents.
• Use of technology as a tool to provide support to attorneys.
• Maintain the calendars of counsel
• Coordinate and confirm court dates and appointments
• Perform electronic filing process
• Prepare Damage Claim responses 
• Prepare litigation related documents without use of an example
• Highly organized when managing multiple tasks
• Work under tight deadlines
• Draft correspondence and basic pleadings
• Actively participate in organizational change initiatives
• Analyze information to make effective decisions

ABILITY TO:

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Proofread and edit correspondence and legal documents for accurate grammar, spelling, and punctuation usage.
• Identify and solve complex problems, determine work priorities, organize work and establish priorities.
• Assist in establishing client relations, effectively manage time, follow instructions.
• Maintain composure during stressful situations occurring because of workloads and/or deadlines.
• Interact effectively with the public and departmental personnel with tact and diplomacy.
• Respond to work place dynamics in a timely, visionary and proactive manner
• Interpret and analyze data
• Manage multiple priorities
• Acquire additional training and knowledge of contemporary principles and best practices of function managed
• Work effectively with minimal supervision
• Complete specialized, technical assignments
• Develop effective working relationships with other business units as well as external vendors and customers
• Learn and effectively use new software programs (including Smartsheet and HighQ) 

Candidates considered for placement in this classification may be subject to a Criminal Background Investigation based on the requirements of the position.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to the class.  Incumbents may be required to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.  Specific job duties may vary from position to position.  The City of Detroit is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  No applicant for employment shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other criteria prohibited by City, State, or Federal law.