Paralegal (Legal Assistant)

Paralegal (Legal Assistant)

Salary

$64,600.00 - $97,000.00 Annually

Location

DWSD -735 Randolph Detroit MI 48226, MI

Job Type

Classified- Regular (DWSD Only)

Job Number

NBP-072025-502067

Department

Water Department

Opening Date

07/13/2026

Bargaining Unit

9031-Non Union Appointees (DWSD)

• Description
• Benefits

Description

This is not a Civil Service Position. DWSD employees are subject to provisions of Court Orders entered in United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Case No. 77-71100 with regard to certain terms and conditions of employment. DWSD does not honor reversion rights for internal candidates.

Applicants for open positions at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

General Summary

The Paralegal /Legal Assistant isa professional who perform complex and technical administrative work in the Office of the General Counsel of DWSD and is responsible for performing technical tasks; researching relevant laws, regulations and legal articles (if certified as a paralegal); gathering and arranging legal documents; filing documents with courts; drafting reports to assist counsel; reviewing discovery for relevance; summarizing depositions; taking detailed notes and; drafting correspondence on behalf of counsel as well as following security and safety policies and procedures in carrying out work duties.

Requirements

• Paralegal certification (desired)
• Bachelor's degree (desired)
• Notary Public (desired)
• Two to five years of experience in Paralegal or Legal Assistant role
• Experience in the presentation of legal information in a public setting
• Experience in drafting, editing and serving litigation related documents including, but not limited to, discovery, responsive pleadings and creating a TOC and TOA for litigation briefs
• Experience in reviewing and summarizing deposition and trial transcripts and medical records.

Examples of Duties

JobDuties

(Illustrative only, may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all of the tasks that may be performed)

• Assist four attorneys in preparing for legal transactions, depositions, hearings, trials and conferences
• Complete administrative tasks, including individual cases or transactions
• Investigate the factual evidence of a transaction or case and preparing relevant exhibits, charts and diagrams to display or communicate information
• Draft basic legal court documents, such as pleadings, motions, discovery, affidavits and subpoenas without a specific example
• Obtain due diligence materials
• Organize and track files for important transactions or case documents, including pleadings and voluminous discovery documents
• Review Discovery responses/documents for relevance
• Create and maintain a case-management database
• Conduct case research (if certified Paralegal)
• Preparedetailedreportsand memoranda

Knowledgeof:

• Laws, policies, and procedures that affect the department
• Litigation, organization and management
• MS-OfficeSuite(Word,Excel, PowerPoint)
• Quality management and process improvement principles
• Michigan Court Rules and Federal Court Rules related to Pleadings and Discovery

SkillTo

• Maintain the calendars of counsel
• Coordinate and confirm court dates and appointments
• Perform electronic filing process
• PrepareFOIA responses
• Prepare Damage Claim responses
• Prepare litigation related documents without use of an example
• Highly organized when managing multiple tasks
• Work under tight deadlines
• Draft correspondence and basic pleadings
• Actively participate in organizational change initiatives
• Analyze information to make effective decisions

AbilityTo

• Respond to work place dynamics in a timely, visionary and proactive manner
• Proficiently utilize standard office and pertinent specialized software (including Microsoft Office Suite products and Westlaw)
• Interpret and analyze data
• Manage multiple priorities
• Acquire additional training and knowledge of contemporary principles and best practices of function managed
• Work effectively with minimal supervision
• Complete specialized, technical assignments
• Develop effective working relationships with other business units as well as external vendors and customers
• Learn and effectively use new software programs (including Smartsheet and HighQ)

Minimum Qualifications

EvaluationProcess

• Oral appraisal 25%
• Writing Assignment 50%
• Training, Experience, and Personal Qualifications: 25%

License, Certification and Other Special Requirements

• Valid Michigan Driver's License
• This is not a remote position. In-office attendance is required Monday through Friday.

Supplemental Information

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

The City of Detroit offers a competitive and comprehensive employee benefit package. We pride ourselves on the longevity of our employees. Part of the reason for the low turnover rate is the exceptional benefit package listed below. Benefits include, but are not limited to the following:

HEALTH

• Medical - Eligible for hospital, surgical, and prescription drug benefits.
• Dental
• Vision

INSURANCE

• Life Insurance - Optional group insurance available to employee and their family. The City pays 60% of premium for first $12,500 of employee life insurance. Employee may purchase, at own expense, life insurance for spouse and each dependent.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance (Income Protection Plan) - The City offers disability insurance through payroll deductions for persons who become disabled and who are not yet eligible for a service retirement.

PAID TIME OFF

• Sick Leave
• Vacation
• Holidays

OTHER LEAVE BENEFITS

The City also has the following paid and unpaid leaves; funeral leave, Family and Medical Leave, jury duty, military duty leave, unpaid personal leave,

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

City Employees Retirement System

As a regular City employee you automatically become a member of the General Retirement System. This entitles you to a retirement allowance after:

• Completion of thirty (30) years of service;
• At age sixty (60) if you have at least ten (10) years of service, or
• At age sixty-five (65) with eight (8) years of service.
• In the event of disability, other eligibility rules apply);
• An early, actuarially reduced, retirement is offered after you have attained at least twenty-five (25) years of service;
• Employees are vested after ten (10) years of service, regardless of age.

ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES - Employees have many opportunities for growth and career advancement throughout all City departments and divisions.

Have a successful career with the City of Detroit. Always remember that you are a part of a team with a common Vision of delivering excellent service to the citizens of the City of Detroit.

Employer City of Detroit

Address Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

2 Woodward Ave ste 316

Detroit, Michigan, 48226

Website http://www.detroitmi.gov/Detroit-Opportunities/Find-A-Job