Nature and Variety of Work
Under the direction of the Family Division Paralegal Supervisor, the candidate is responsible for providing paralegal services to litigants pertaining to family law matters, inclusive of domestic and juvenile, CINA/TPR, and child support cases.
Examples of Work
Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To, The Following
- Drafts orders and memoranda associated with substantive legal areas, including but not limited to all family matters surrounding divorce, custody, child support, monetary awards, alimony, attorneys' fees, CINA/TPR, adoption, and special, immigrant, juvenile status (SIJS).
- Distributes electronic case files within the MDEC system to appropriate queues.
- Performs independent legal and factual research relating to the area assigned. Extracts procedural and historical information from the case management system, and other various applications and/or websites.
- Conducts appropriate interviews to elicit information from and explain legal procedures to litigants. Exercises independent discretion and judgment and determines the degree of confidentiality associated with various records and case information.
- Reviews and summarizes pleadings.
- Alerts litigants, attorneys, and/or the Family Coordinating Judge to any discrepancies in areas requiring special attention and provide any necessary follow-up towards an appropriate resolution.
- Reviews issues requiring legal determination with the Family Coordinating Judge, and/or the Paralegal Supervisor.
- Screens customer requests.
- Ensures that all emergency pleadings and documents are filed in accordance with all applicable rules and procedures.
- Ensures the efficient transmission of time-sensitive motions/pleadings and outcomes to the Family Coordinating Judge and related litigants and their attorneys.
- Maintains and submits monthly statistics.
- Ensures timely and accurate responses to customer inquiries.
- Maintains regular, cordial, and timely ongoing contact with external and internal attorneys, courthouse staff, litigants, and other professionals.
- Performs duties with other staff members in a teamwork environment.
- Coordinates procedural functions with other courthouse divisions in the staff.
- Maintains daily contact with the Family Coordinating Judge and their staff.
- Provides timely updates on all assignments.
- Provides appropriate written and verbal contact with attorneys and other courthouse staff.
Minimum Qualifications
An Associate of Arts degree in paralegal studies, criminal justice, or legal studies; or a Paralegal Certificate from an accredited college or university; or one year of law school; or three (3) years of experience performing paralegal/legal assistant work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Additional Information
Funding Source: This position is 20% grant-funded and 80% general funded with full-time benefits.
All applicants are subject to a background check.
This announcement may be closed earlier than the stated deadline once 100 applications have been received.
The Circuit Court for Prince George's County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.
A request for ADA accommodations for interviews should be made at the time of notification of the interview.
The Circuit Court for Prince George's County offers a complete benefits package to regular full-time employees including medical benefits, dental care, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, pension, holidays, vacations, sick leave and deferred compensation plans.
To learn more, please visit our benefits page.
01
Which of the following best describes your level of completed education?
- Bachelor's Degree
- Associate's degree
- Paralegal Certificate
- High School or G.E.D
02
If you selected other please specify. If you did not select other, please enter "N/A."
03
Please select your field of study.
- Paralegal Studies
- Criminal Justice
- Legal Studies
- Other
04
If you selected other please specify. If you did not select other, please enter "N/A."
05
How many years of experience working as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant do you possess?
- 3 or more years or experience.
- 2 years, but less than 3 years or experience.
- 1 year, but less than 2 years of experience.
- Less than one (1) year of experience.
- I have no experience working as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant.
06
Describe in detail your experience working as a Paralegal/Legal Assistant and include the employer's name and dates of employment. Please do not type "See Resume." If no experience, enter "N/A."
07
Do you pertain advanced knowledge of family law, legal procedures, and terminology?
08
If you responded "Yes" to question #5 describe in detail your advanced knowledge of family law, legal procedures, and terminology, including the employer's name and dates of employment. Please do not type "See Resume."
