Paralegal Specialist (Hybrid) #260422-6142AR-001

Introduction

Do you have experience providing advanced paralegal support in a highly complex legal unit? If so, join our team!

The State of Connecticut Department of Banking (DOB) is seeking to hire a Paralegal Specialist to provide assistance to the department's General Counsel, staff attorneys, and the designated Hearing and Freedom of Information Act Officer.

What We Can Offer You

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

About Us

The Connecticut Department of Banking is the primary state regulator for state-chartered banks and credit unions, securities, and consumer credit. Its mission is to protect users of financial services from unlawful or improper practices by ensuring regulated entities and individuals adhere to state banking, consumer credit and securities laws. The Department accomplishes this through regular, thorough, and cost-effective examinations of the entities it supervises. The Department also engages the public and other stakeholders through a variety of media platforms, educational outreach initiatives, and press communications.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

• Monday - Friday
• Full-time (40 hours per week)
• First shift
• Location: 280 Trumbull Street in Hartford, CT
• Hybrid work environment (combination of on-site and remote work)

DISCOVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO

• Perform legal research and analysis of law sources for the division staff attorneys and other staff members as needed;
• Assist division staff attorneys in preparing and reviewing legal documents for highly complex enforcement cases, settlements, regulatory approvals, advisory opinions, and proposed legislation;
• Prepare for and assist the division staff attorneys at administrative hearings or through case presentation;
• Oversee production of legal records and exhibits for administrative hearings and on appeal;
• Provide assistance and legal guidance to staff on Freedom of Information Act requests;
• Manage legal case timetables;
• Maintain and update legal files and case records;
• Prepare legal and administrative reports;
• Provide assistance and legal guidance to staff in processing license applications and with examination report findings;
• Monitor state legislative developments having an impact on the Department of Banking and keep personnel apprised;
• Follow relevant federal legislation and regulatory proposals;
• Keep abreast of new regulation promulgation processes, ensuring that draft amendments are in proper format and contain no inconsistencies;
• Provide backup support services to attorneys, such as answering correspondence and telephone inquiries concerning Connecticut’s consumer credit laws;
• Update enforcement tracking systems;
• Prepare drafts of various legal documents related to consumer credit enforcement actions for attorney review, such as subpoenas, affidavits, and referral letters to the Office of the Attorney General
• Monitor respondents’ compliance with legal settlement terms and conditions and prepare reports on such compliance for management’s review and action;
• Perform cite checks for briefs and memoranda of law (i.e. “blue booking”);
• Research, interpret, and apply relevant statutes, regulations, precedents, and policies.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for providing advanced paralegal support in a highly complex legal unit. This class provides advanced technical leadership, research and consultation in the areas of preparing draft legal documents and draft decisions of highly complex cases, and is a resource regarding issues, procedures, process and timeframe as related to cases and presenting legal matters as needed.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Performs highly complex paralegal duties as defined in the following area:

LEGAL OFFICE OPERATIONS

• Interprets complex state statutes and federal regulations governing legal records and documents;
• Determines and applies applicable state statute and/or regulation in preparing documentation;
• Interprets court rules and agency policies and regulations;
• Keeps abreast of the latest court rules, calendar changes and pending legislation;
• Monitors and adheres to court deadlines;
• Reviews legal documents and prepares legal documents such as briefs, writs and pleadings for court filings;
• Responds to relevant case information requests from courts;
• Performs legal research and analysis of law sources such as statutes, legal articles, legal decisions, opinions, rulings, memoranda and other legal material;
• Prepares draft legal documents;
• Provides assistance in the discovery process;
• Provides paralegal assistance by interpreting applicable legal provisions, regulations, precedents and policies;
• Responds to requests and obtains information of sensitive nature;
• Acts as liaison between agency, court system, relevant attorney’s offices and general public;
• Serves as agency liaison regarding relevant policies and procedures;
• Prepares legal and administrative reports;
• Updates and maintains case records, pleadings, policy manuals and filing systems;
• Assists in the drafting of proposed legislation and advisory opinions; provides training and assistance to staff;
• May perform business mathematical computations;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
• legal processes and procedures;
• legal terminology and legal forms;
• legal research techniques;
• Knowledge of
• relevant agency policies and procedures;
• and the ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations and legislation;
• Considerable
• interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• skill in fact finding techniques including interviewing clients and compiling evidence;
• Considerable ability to
• evaluate pertinent facts, cases and evidence and compile and assemble such legal data;
• compose correspondence and draft legal documents;
• Ability to
• understand complex laws and related reports;
• utilize computer software.

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

The General Experience is defined as one of the following:

• A Bachelor’s degree in legal studies and one (1) year of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
• An Associate’s degree in legal studies and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
• Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program approved by the American Bar Association and three (3) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
• Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program consisting of a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
• Completion of a Paralegal or Legal Assistance Certificate Program from a business school approved by the State of Connecticut, Office of Higher Education and four (4) years of experience providing paraprofessional legal assistance to an attorney; OR
• A Law degree from an accredited Law School.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in financial services or consumer credit industries
• Experience with consumer financial protection laws
• Experience with legal research and analysis, including case citation
• Experience working as a paralegal for two or more attorneys in a governmental agency, law firm, or corporation
• Experience drafting and reviewing legal documents and memoranda

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.