Paralegal - Repost

　　Portland , Maine , United States | Legal | Full-time

　　Apply by: Feb. 1, 2024

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　　Workers’ Compensation Board

　　Paralegal – Portland Advocate Office - Repost

　　Code: 0884 Pay Grade: 20: $20.08 - $26.96/Hourly

　　Open For Recruitment: January 18, 2024

　　Closes: February 1, 2024

　　Purpose Of Announcement:

　　The Workers Compensation Board has one current full-time vacancy in the Portland Advocate Office.

　　Job Description:

　　This is paraprofessional support work in investigating, researching, and reviewing various legal issues. Responsibilities include assisting attorneys/advocates in a variety of complex legal work; researching and analyzing law sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, and legal codes; preparing complex and comprehensive legal documents for review, approval, and use by an attorney/advocate. This class is differentiated from the Paralegal Assistant classification by the more complex paralegal work performed and the assignment of full responsibility for conducting alternative dispute resolution processes. Work is performed under limited supervision.

　　Representative Tasks:(A position may not be assigned all the duties listed, nor do the listed examples include all the duties that may be assigned)

　　Researches, analyzes, and evaluates a variety of complex legal material in order to incorporate related material into draft reports and assist attorneys in completing legal casework.

　　Interprets and explains laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures in order to provide information, clarification, and/or promote understanding.

　　Abstracts complex recorded instruments, records, and legal documents in order to compile needed documentation.

　　Compiles and prepares a variety of complex legal documents and reports in order to provide draft or final documents for review and/or signature of Advocates and Hearing Officers.

　　Confers, negotiates, and/or advocates for clients, organizational representatives, attorneys, and others in order to provide advocacy, promote understanding, and/or resolve issues.

　　Compiles and prepares complex legal documents, pleadings, discovery, notices of hearings, comprehensive findings of fact or conclusions, and other similar material in order to prepare legal case documentation and/or provide information to parties.

　　Prepares a variety of comprehensive legal documentation and reports in order to provide draft or final document for review and/or signature.

　　Maintains and organizes databases compiling case data and information on various files maintained by the unit.

　　Interacts with the public and acts as a liaison between the public and the Advocates and ensure citizen complaints are directed to the appropriate authority.

　　Schedules administrative hearings and sends out notices to the respective parties.

　　Attends administrative hearings and/or meetings in order to provide administrative support and compose drafts of legal decisions.

　　Knowlege, Skills And Abilities Required: (These are required to successfully perform the work assigned)

　　Knowledge of legal principles and practice.

　　Knowledge of legal documents, court procedures, rules of evidence and litigation practices.

　　Knowledge of applicable state/federal statutes, case law, and regulations.

　　Knowledge of public records affecting titles, research procedures, legal terminology, and processes.

　　Ability to conduct complex legal research and analyze legal problems.

　　Ability to prepare for and conduct alternative dispute resolution sessions.

　　Ability to compile and prepare a variety of complex comprehensive legal documentation and reports.

　　Ability to understand, explain and interpret constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and case law.

　　Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

　　Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

　　Ability to provide negotiation and advocacy services.

　　Ability to abstract and analyze complex comprehensive recorded instruments, records, and legal documents.

　　Minimum Qualifications:

　　Training, education, or experiences in office and administrative support work that demonstrates competencies in applying a solid knowledge of the principles and practices of law firm, court, or legal services processes with the ability to research complex legal issues and analyze legal problems -OR- graduation from an approved, accredited paralegal program of instruction.

　　Preference will be given to those who submit a cover letter and resume’.

　　Benefits:

　　No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

　　Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays , 12 days of sick leave , and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.

　　Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($10,150.80-$11,942.16 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.

　　Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements .

　　Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value).

　　Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 13.41 % of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.

　　Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.

　　Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.

　　Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office .

　　Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.

　　Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive four weeks of fully paid parental leave . Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act (https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-employees/rules-policies/policy-practices-manual/Employee-Rights-and-Responsibilities-Federal) .

　　Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.

　　Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness (https://www.maine.gov/bhr/oeh/) .

　　There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

　　Thinking about applying?

　　Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.