Paralegal I

Department: City Attorney Department

Salary: $26.95 - $42.11 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

This position is part of the City Attorney’s Office and responsible for providing comprehensive legal services and representation to One Water operation (Charlotte Water and Storm Water Services). This position is specifically responsible for providing paralegal support to One Water attorneys with different legal needs.

The position is physically located at a One Water facility. Employees perform a variety of entry-level paralegal and paraprofessional work including performing basic legal research, performing reference services, and providing responsible staff assistance. This is the entry level class in the Paralegal series.

This class is distinguished from the Paralegal II by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within the series including legal research, administrative tasks, and drafting legal documents. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or not directly related work experience.

The hourly rate for this this position is $30.32 to $33.68 commensurate with experience.

NOTE: A WRITING SAMPLE AND RESUME MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR APPLICATION.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides responsible legal support to all attorneys in the One Water legal group on various legal issues.

• Performs routine tasks and duties assigned to position within the series including drafting legal documents, correspondence, and pleadings.

• Receives instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are aware of the basic operating procedures and policies of the work unit.
• Researches and locates within the City, Courthouse, Register of Deeds and other government entities various legal documents and information for departmental use.

• Composes, prepares, and distributes a variety of correspondence, documents, and reports for attorneys, staff, and the general public.

• Maintains general contact with the client department.

• Conducts simple investigations, statistical, documentary and legal research.

• Assists in the preparation of documents and exhibits needed for trial or other court proceedings.

• Summarizes depositions, interrogatories, and testimony.

• Coordinates with other One Water staff regarding the payment of invoices, travel arrangements, or other tasks in support of the One Water legal team.
  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Basic knowledge of case, statutory, and common law.

• Basic knowledge of judicial and quasi-judicial procedures and the rules of evidence.

• Perform complex legal research in accordance with preliminary instructions as to methods of approach, source material available, and policy and precedent of the office.

• Summarize facts and evidence and prepare legal instruments.

• Communicate clearly and logically in oral and written form.
• Utilize technology in research and writing assignments.

• Highly proficient in Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, OneDrive, and PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, online/cloud-based file-sharing protocols or portals, and remote meeting platforms (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, WebEx, and the like).

• Motivated and self-directed with ability to manage several complex tasks at one time and meet multiple deadlines when needed.

• Possess excellent communication and organizational skills, initiative, semi-independent judgment, and discretion in the performance of duties.

• Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

• Interact on a professional level with clients, attorneys, and city staff.

• Maintain effective working relationships with attorneys, office staff, clients and persons contacted in the course of work.
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION:

• Notary Public.

• North Carolina Certified Paralegal designation.

• Prior experience working in a municipality or law firm setting.

• Basic knowledge of North Carolina statutes and case law.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Five (5) years direct work experience

OR

• Associate degree
• Three (3) years direct work experience

License and Certifications:

• Must have valid NC driver's license

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.