Paralegal (Legal Services)- GUADALUPE, AZ

The Legal Services Department Paralegal is responsible for coordinating legal calendar, providing information of legal service procedures, creating and coding case files, performing legal research, completing legal documents, and assisting with case preparation including attending court hearings as needed. Positions assigned to Legal Departments are required to maintain confidentiality within recognized legal parameters.

1. Coordinate activities associated with court proceedings, which may include scheduling court-hearing dates in applicable database, schedule and notify applicable individuals for appearance at hearings, disseminate court calendar. Research and resolve conflicts in court hearing dates and times, prepare reports and related documents for court proceedings, distribute legal documents to appropriate parties prior to court dates, verify required information is documented in motions and/or other applicable areas ensure appropriate forms are attached to motions, and/or other applicable paperwork.
2. Conduct legal research; prepare summary documentation; organize research findings and submit to appropriate individual(s).
3. Prepare cases for litigation and trials in various Arizona jurisdictions; prepare and maintain notebooks, motions, orders, and/or other related legal case file information.
4. May be directed to meet with clients, to gather facts, which will allow the attorney to ascertain the extent of the legal issue and develops a course of action to address those legal issues.
5. Receive and perform preliminary reviews of case files; organize and prepare files for Attorney review.
6. May be required to present cases to administrative bodies or courts where non-lawyers are permitted to practice.
7. Assist in overseeing case files by reviewing forms and documents for compliance with operational procedures; ensure accuracy and completeness.
8. Perform other duties of a similar nature or level as requested by supervisor or director.

Knowledge of:

• Office policies and procedures
• Time management techniques
• Legal research techniques
• Organizational techniques and methods
• Court records retrieval methods and procedures
• Applicable federal, state, and local rules, laws, statutes, ordinances, and codes
• Legal reference materials
• Customer service principles
• Investigative techniques and methods
• Legal procedures, principles, and practices
• Legal document preparation methods, conventions, and techniques
• Legal terminology
• Indian law, including the legal relationships between Indian Nations and Federal or other governments
• Pascua Yaqui Tribal Code and Constitution and/or a willingness to learn.
• Yaqui culture, customs, resources, and traditions and/or a willingness to learn.

Skills and Abilities:

• Manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Prepare legal documents including motions, subpoenas, pleadings, and related documents
• Manage projects and/or caseloads
• Conduct legal research
• Apply legal issues to cases
• Analyze information
• Locate discovery materials
• Obtain court records
• Prepare reports
• Understand and apply legal procedures
• Operate a variety of office equipment, including a computer and related software applications
• Good communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with co-workers, supervisor, management, Council members, and the public
• Have ability to sufficiently exchange or convey information and receive verbal and written work instructions.

Associates Degree in Paralegal studies, plus four (4) years of experience as a Legal Assistant or Legal Secretary; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

• Certified Document Preparer by the Arizona State Bar Association is preferred
• Experience in a law office is preferred
• Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred

Special Requirements:

• Current Notary License or to obtain within six (6) months of hire
• PYT Tribal Court Certification or able to obtain with six (6) months of hire
• Must possess and maintain a valid Arizona Driver's License
• This position will require the incumbent to work non-traditional hours, nights, and weekends.