PARALEGAL II

Introduction

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Maryland. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has the general charge, supervision, and direction of the Stateâs legal business, acting as legal advisors and representatives of the major agencies, various boards, commissions, officials, and institutions of State Government. The OAG also protects the public by civil enforcement of antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, and securities laws and regulations and by the prosecution of organized crime, Medicaid fraud, environmental crimes, insurance fraud, state tax evasion, and other statutorily assigned matters. As Marylandâs 47th Attorney General, Anthony G. Brown leads the Office with a critical focus on equity, justice, and fairness.

GRADE

12

This position offers a salary range of $51,580- $72,159, with potential for advancement up to $79,673 based on qualifications, equity, and hiring guidelines. Initial salary offers are determined by qualifications, experience, and available budget, and typically do not exceed $72,159.

LOCATION OF POSITION

Office of the Attorney General

Civil Litigation DivisionÂ

Correction Litigation UnitÂ

200 St. Paul PlaceÂ

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Main Purpose of Job

The OAGâs Civil Litigation Division defends the State and its employees in both state and federal courts in the most significant civil cases the State confronts, while also taking strategic legal action on behalf of the State. Beyond litigation, the Civil Litigation Division also serves as a trusted resource â offering legal guidance, coordination, and support to other divisions within the OAG. The Civil Litigation Division consists of approximately 30 attorneys across several units, including the Federal Accountability Unit, the Contract Litigation Unit, the Tort Litigation Unit, and the Correctional Litigation Unit.

The OAG is seeking a Paralegal in the Correctional Litigation Unit within the Civil Litigation Division to provide direct support to Assistant Attorneys General in a fast-paced environment. The Correctional Litigation Unit is comprised of a dedicated team of 12, including 10 attorneys, one paralegal, and one management associate.

The Correctional Litigation unit plays a critical role in defending the State against federal lawsuits filed by current and former incarcerated individuals. This team handles complex litigation brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, addressing constitutional claims under the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as violations of federal statutes like the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Cases may also have ancillary State constitutional claims and common law torts, adding depth and complexity to the work.

POSITION DUTIES

The Paralegal will be integral to the success of the Unit, performing duties that enable the attorneys to focus on more complex legal tasks and strategy. Building on foundational paralegal experience, the Paralegal will:

• Assist trial attorneys in their preparation and processing of legal documents relating to civil litigation, i.e., motions and memoranda before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, State trial and appellate courts, deposition and trial exhibits, discovery materials, expert witness reports, appellate briefs, MDEC and PACER electronic filings.
• Be responsible for establishing and maintaining an electronic document control system for e-discovery, as well as case file management, including the preparation, organization and maintenance of files containing documents produced during discovery, memoranda, correspondence, expert reports, deposition testimony, fact-witness diaries and personal records, attorney-client correspondence, attorney work-product, and pleadings.Â
• Perform legal and other research relating to civil litigation, as well as analyzing documents and selecting, summarizing and characterizing specific information pertaining to the issues in each case, including abstracting depositions, preparing medical chronologies, assembling fact-witness files, and preparing case chronologies. Â

This position requires a strong working knowledge of legal and discovery procedures and documentation in both federal and state courts, as well as the ability to manage multiple priorities with precision and efficiency. The ideal candidate will possess a keen attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

The collaborative environment of the Correctional Litigation Unit encourages continuous learning and offers support from experienced legal professionals, making this a rewarding and challenging role for a dedicated Paralegal.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Three years of experience as a legal assistant or legal secretary performing legal research or preparing legal documents on behalf of an attorney.

Notes:Â

1. Thirty credit hours or a certificate in paralegal studies from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required experience.

2. Thirty credit hours from an accredited law school may be substituted for the required experience.

3. Additional years of experience as stated above may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education.Â

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in paralegal specialist classifications or paralegal specialist specialty codes in the legal and kindred field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding your qualifications.

• Associateâs degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant, to include legal research and preparing legal documents, preparing discovery materials, and verifying legal citations and references.Â
• Experience with e-discovery platforms.
• Experience with civil case management.
• Experience with MDEC and PACER filing systems.
• Knowledge of the rules and procedures of Maryland state and appellate courts, as well as federal courts.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operatorâs license valid in the State of Maryland.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants who meet all the minimum and preferred qualifications will be included in further evaluation. The evaluation may be a rating of your application based on your education, training and experience as they relate to the requirements and preferred qualifications of the position. Applications must be submitted by the closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be added.Â

Incorrect/incomplete application forms will not be accepted. It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application to include all related education, experience, and employment dates.   Please answer supplemental questions with complete answers. Clearly indicate your college degree and major on your application, if applicable

For education obtained outside the U.S., any job offer will be contingent on the candidate providing an evaluation for equivalency by a foreign credential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may be requested prior to interview).Â

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If applicable, successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list for at least one year. The resulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar positions.

BENEFITS

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

The successful candidate will be eligible for subsidized health benefits (medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage) and life insurance; leave, including annual (vacation), personal, sick, and paid parental leave; and will be eligible for participation in a contributory defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after ten years. State employees are eligible to participate in two supplemental retirement plans: the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan and the 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan. The State also offers a free mass transit benefit for local bus and express bus services.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

Online applications are STRONGLY preferred. Please upload a resume in addition to the on-line application. If the online application process is not available, please send your paper application and supplemental questionnaire to careers@oag.maryland.gov.  TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay.

If you have specific questions about recruitment, email careers@oag.maryland.gov  Â

The Office of the Attorney General is an equal opportunity employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, religion or belief, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, pregnancy, family or parental status, veteran status, genetic information, or any protected category prohibited by local, State or federal laws.