Paralegal Specialist

Introduction

The State of Connecticut Department of Banking (DOB) is accepting applications for a Paralegal Specialist . This individual will provide assistance to Staff Attorneys and support all legal functions for the department.

WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
• A competitive starting salary.
• Retirement plan options.
• Alternate work schedules.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

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

THE ROLE

The Paralegal Specialist can expect to:

• Thoroughly review legal documents, memoranda and correspondence for factual accuracy, formatting, grammar and spelling, and proper citation to statute and case law;
• Prepare drafts of legal documents related to consumer credit enforcement actions for attorney review, such as subpoenas, affidavits, and referral letters;
• 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 and through case presentation;
• Oversee production of legal records and exhibits for administrative hearings and related appeals;
• Perform legal research and analysis for the division staff attorneys and other staff as needed;
• Provide assistance and legal guidance to staff related to on Freedom of Information Act requests;
• Maintain and update legal files and case records, including updating enforcement tracking systems;
• Manage enforcement case timelines, including tracking related requirements and deadlines within the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act and Department regulations;
• Prepare legal and administrative reports;
• Provide assistance to examination and licensing staff with investigations as needed.
• Monitor state legislative developments having an impact on the Department of Banking and keep personnel apprised;
• Monitor relevant federal legislation and regulatory proposals;
• Keep abreast of new regulation promulgation processes, and ensure that the division's draft legislative proposals are properly formatted and consistent with existing statutory language;
• Provide support services to attorneys, such as answering correspondence and telephone inquiries concerning Connecticut's consumer credit laws;
• Monitor compliance with legal settlement terms and conditions, and prepare related reports 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.
• Perform related duties as required.

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.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.


BEFORE YOU APPLY:

• Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
• Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
• Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io.
• Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
• Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.

AFTER YOU APPLY:

• Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates- such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links-please check your Personal Status Board regularly. For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select "Update My Contact Information".
• Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
• Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
• Stay Connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at
• This employer may participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm work authorization.

QUESTIONS? WE'RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Brittney Woodley at View email address on click.appcast.io. Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!

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 one or both of the following areas:


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.

CASE PRESENTATION OR HEARING

• Analyzes highly complex cases;
• Develops positions and strategies to settle or litigate cases at formal or informal hearings;
• Prepares for and represents the state's interest at hearings or through case presentation;
• Researches and gathers relevant evidence and documentation;
• Interviews witnesses and clients;
• Drafts legal documents, complaints, stipulations, detailed memoranda, letters and proposed findings and awards reviews substantiation appeals and provides recommendation to management regarding the legal sufficiency of substantiation findings;
• 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 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 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.