Paralegal

Salary : $63,242.00 - $98,103.00 Annually
Location : 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC
Job Type: Full time with benefits
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26-05939
Department: City Attorney
Opening Date: 05/15/2026
Closing Date: 6/5/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Position Description
Work. Serve. Thrive. With the City of Durham.

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.
Hiring Range: $63,242 - $85,000
Hours: 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.
Be part of the dynamic and diverse legal team providing legal services and representation to the Durham City Council, City Manager, and City government departments. The City Attorney's Office is seeking an experienced litigation paralegal to join the City Attorney's Office!
The Litigation Paralegal will provide litigation and case management support on municipal/local government matters, including civil litigation, condemnation/eminent domain, police law and civil rights matters, and administrative proceedings under North Carolina law. As a key member of our team, this position requires attention to detail, high level decision-making skills and a proactive work ethic.
In this role, you serve the mission of the City Attorney's Office and the overall mission of the City of Durham. The role provides interesting work that impacts the local community, work/life balance, and no billable hours. The ideal candidate will have a strong commitment to public service.

Duties/Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL DUTIES :

• Draft, review, and analyze legal documents, including complaints, answers, motions, notices, orders, subpoenas, affidavits, and other court filings.
• Draft and manage discovery requests and responses, including interrogatories, requests for admissions, requests for production, etc.
• Assist with public records requests and responses under North Carolina law, including law enforcement agency recordings.
• Organize, analyze, and maintain case files using matter management software.
• Perform legal and factual research and investigations, including using legal research platforms such as Westlaw and LexisNexis, and cite-checking under attorney supervision.
• Schedule and maintain litigation calendars and track deadlines, monitor and provide notification of court and other deadlines, as well as appointments and meetings.
• Prepare correspondence, case status reports, and monthly litigation reports.
• Assist with preparation for hearings, mediations, administrative proceedings, and trials.
• Communicate directly with client departments, opposing counsel, outside counsel, experts, court personnel, etc.
• Provide general administrative support for the City Attorney's Office.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
• Experience supporting attorneys in civil litigation.
• Strong oral and written communications skills.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines.
• Ability to draft complex legal documents with minimal to no errors.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive public-sector matters.
• Proactive self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to read, analyze, and absorb complex legal and factual information.
• Ability to perform statutory, local law, and case law research.
• Knowledge of rules of civil procedure and local court rules.
• Experience with PACER and NC eFiling system.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Associate's Degree in paralegal studies OR an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation..
• Three (3) years of paralegal experience.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Proficient with paralegal research.
• Experience drafting pleadings.
• Experience with matter management software.
• Paralegal certification or Juris Doctor.
• Notary Public Commission or ability to attain within six months of hire.
• Experience in state or local government.

Benefits - General Full-Time Employees

• 12-13 paid holidays per year
• 13 standard work days of vacation per year
• 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
• 2 weeks paid military leave per year
• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
• State and City retirement plans
• Short and long term disability plans
• Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
• City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
• Paid funeral leave
• Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
• Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
• 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
• 4 hours parental leave each year
• Workman's Compensation Insurance
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
• State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
• Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
• Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service

01


Where did you first hear about this opportunity?

• City of Durham Website
• Walk in
• Job fair
• Employee referral
• Professional organization ***Please list the organization in "other" box below***
• Internet posting ***Please list the specific web site in the "other" box below***
• Craig's List
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• GlassDoor
• governmentjobs.com
• Monster.com
• Indeed.com
• Employment Security Commission
• Magazine/Newspaper
• Other

02


If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.
03


Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.

• Less than a High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
• High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• PhD or Juris Doctorate

04


How many years of paralegal experience do you have?

• No related experience
• Less than 1 year of related experience
• 1 year but less than 3 years related experience
• 3 years but less than 7 years related experience
• 7 or more years related experience

05


How would you rate your proficiency with legal research?

• No experience
• Beginner level
• Intermediate level
• Advanced level
• Expert level

06


How would you rate your experience drafting pleadings?

• No experience
• Beginner level
• Intermediate level
• Advanced level
• Expert level

07


How would you rate your experience level with matter management software?

• No experience
• Beginner level
• Intermediate level
• Advanced level
• Expert level

Required Question