General Statement of Duties

A person trained as a Paralegal whose responsibilities will be to monitor the collection of legal materials and to assist inmates at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction in accessing legal materials and photocopying their legal work. Supervision Received

Supervision Received

Works under the general direction of the Shift Supervisor. Performs varied and responsible duties requiring the exercise of judgement, discretion and tact.

Duties and Responsibilities

Works directly with the inmate population, both pre-trial and sentenced individuals.
Can assist inmates on how to research cases on their own and guide the inmate in obtaining the proper materials from the court system when necessary.
Assists inmates in ensuring motions and other case filings are done properly.
Monitors changes to government guidelines or regulations regarding law collections in correctional facilities and submit reports on pertinent changes to the proper authority.
Other duties as directed by Sheriff, Superintendent or their designee.
Negligible physical effort demanded in performing duties under somewhat undesirable working conditions.
Duties present potential risk of injury typically associated with working in a correctional environment.
Errors could result in damage to public safety, adverse public relations or legal repercussions.
May have access to confidential inmate material.
Law Librarian’s schedule will be posted in the law library to facilitate the scheduling of individual appointments with inmates.
Law Librarian shall not be a relative of the defendants or their counsel.

Examples of Work:

To monitor the collection of legal materials, ensuring that the most vital and current law materials are housed in the law library, while the more dated materials will be housed in a section of the main library.
To photocopy the inmate’s original legal work.
The Law Librarian will provide guidance to an inmate regarding how to access materials relevant to a specific legal issue or issues the inmate articulates but shall not offer or provide legal advice to an inmate.

Minimum Qualifications:

Paralegal Certificate from an accredited college or third year law student.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill:

Working knowledge of LexusNexus Software.
Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System.
Ability to communicate in Spanish desirable.
To know how and where to research legal information requested by inmates.
Ability to work with sensitive and/or confidential information in an appropriate manner.

Knowledge of CORI regulations.
Must successfully pass a background investigation.