Paralegal Specialist

Official Title: Paralegal Specialist

Functional Title: Paralegal Specialist

Primary Location: United States-Massachusetts-Boston-100 Cambridge Street

Job: Legal Services

Agency: Department of Housing & Community Development

Schedule: Full-time

Shift: Day

Job Posting: Feb 13, 2019, 11:44:40 AM

Number of Openings: 1

Salary: $52,015.34 - $74,146.02 Yearly

Bargaining Unit: 06-NAGE - Professional Admin.

Confidential: No

The Paralegal Specialist provides legal and administrative support to the Division of Hearings including Deputy General Counsel/Hearings Manager, the hearings officers, and he Division’s adjudicatory process.  Provides legal and administrative services and support to the Chair of the Housing Appeals Committee (Committee), the Committee itself, committee staff, and the Committee’s adjudicatory process. 

Candidate is detail oriented and has excellent organizational skills. The incumbent is able to communicate effectively, prioritize his/her work and meet deadlines.  Candidate has demonstrated experience working both independently and as part of a team.  He/she has strong word processing and database management skills, including, at a minimum advanced proficiency using Microsoft Word, Access and Excel.  The ideal candidate has a Paralegal Certificate.  The ability to speak Spanish is a plus. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

For the Emergency Assistance (EA) Program  

1. Schedules hearings and prepares notices in conformity with statutory requirements; maintains Division’s calendar. 

2. Maintains the official docket of cases, including the record in individual cases.

3. Interacts with program staff, lawyers, applicants and/or recipients of programs administered by DHCD, and other parties, regarding scheduling of hearings and other matters related to the Division.

4. Prepares files for hearings officers prior to hearing, and otherwise assists hearings officers in preparing for hearings.

5. Maintains electronic database and paper files of all appeal requests.

6. Answers the Division telephone and responds to inquiries concerning matters related to the Division.

7. Responds to case-specific inquiries from litigants and their counsel.

8. Performs word processing, database management, copying, printing, scanning, filing, mailing, and other administrative functions and tasks as needed.

9. Assists Hearings Manager on other tasks as needed.

10. Assists in preparing cases for appeal by reviewing and organizing pleadings and exhibits.

11. Prepares Division response and compilation of requested materials in response to public record requests.

12. As necessary, attends hearings and meetings and prepares notes and minutes.

13. Other duties as assigned. 

For the Housing Appeals (HAC) Committee

1. Collects and processes filing fees.

2. Maintains the official docket of cases, including the record in individual cases (receiving, filing, and indexing pleadings, exhibits, transcripts, and correspondence) for all active and inactive cases, including maintaining data and preparing status reports.

3. Schedules hearings, pre-hearing conferences, motion sessions, site visits, and HAC meetings; prepares notices in conformity with statutory requirements; maintains the HAC official calendar.

4. Attends hearings and committee meetings, and assists in preparation upon request.

5. Maintains library of HAC decisions, and provides assistance to the Mass. Admin. Law Library, Westlaw, DHCD Information Services and other libraries and/or publishers as requested.

6. Responds to inquiries concerning public records requests, the Comprehensive Permit Law and/or interpretations of the Committee’s regulations involving hearing procedures.

7. Interacts with attorneys, developers, municipal boards and officials, state and local housing officials and members of the public.

8. Performs word processing/typing, database management, copying, printing, filing, mailing and other administrative functions/tasks as needed.

9. Performs other duties as requested.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Paralegal Certificate preferred.

2. A minimum of advanced proficiency using Microsoft Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

3. Ability to speak Spanish is a plus.

4. Possesses and utilizes strong oral and written communication skills, including skills required to communicate with both lawyers and the public.

5. Organizes tasks and works independently.

6. Possesses strong telephone and interpersonal skills; remains calm when interacting with agitated constituents.

7. Possesses and utilizes strong word processing and database management skills, including, at a minimum of advanced level of proficiency using Microsoft Word, Access, Excel and Outlook programs.

8. Demonstrates familiarity with judicial ethics; exercises good judgement and personal integrity.

9. Is detail-oriented and able to effectively implement changes in schedule or routine.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is within the Housing and Economic Development Secretariat and its work touches the lives of all Massachusetts residents.  DHCD's mission is to strengthen cities, towns and neighborhoods to enhance the quality of life of Massachusetts residents by providing leadership, professional assistance and financial resources to promote safe, decent, affordable housing opportunities, economic vitality of communities and sound municipal management.

COMMENTS

Salary placement is determined by years of experience and education directly related to the position and the Human Resources Division’s Recruiting Guidelines.  In the case of a promotional opportunity, the salary provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreement will apply to placement within the salary range.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

Please attach a resume when applying for this position.

QUALIFICATIONS

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, paraprofessional experience in legal research or legal assistant work, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions: 

I. An Associate's or higher degree with a major in paralegal studies may be substituted for the required experience. 

II. Completion of one year of study at a recognized, degree-granting law school may be substituted for the required experience. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's License may be required.
 

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator: Nancy DePaul - 617-573-1100