Litigation Paralegal

Job Summary:

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is looking for a highly motivated individual to join our team as a Litigation Paralegal. This position serves as a high-level legal assistant offering paralegal services for complex litigation cases to the General Counsel Unit.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Case Management: Assist attorneys in managing complex litigation cases involving the agency. Maintain organized case files, track deadlines, produce reports and ensure compliance with court procedures. Coordinate with both internal and external legal teams to streamline case progression.
• Legal Research and Investigation: Conduct thorough legal research on relevant statutes, regulations, and case law. Gather facts, analyze evidence, and prepare summaries for attorneys. Collaborate with investigators and experts to build a strong defense strategy.
• Document Preparation: Draft and review legal documents, including pleadings, motions, legal hold/preservation notices and discovery requests. Prepare responses to requests for information. Maintain indexes of previous filings and organize case-related documents.
• Witness and Client Interaction: Interview witnesses and gather statements. Communicate with agency personnel, clients, and other stakeholders. Assist attorneys during witness preparation for depositions and trial.
• Outside Counsel Management: Work closely with external law firms retained by the state agency. Manage relationships, monitor billing, and ensure efficient collaboration. Facilitate communication between outside counsel and internal legal teams.
• Courtroom Support: Assist in preparation for court appearances, including coordinating logistics, organizing exhibits, witness lists, and trial notebooks. Attend court proceedings and provide support to attorneys during proceedings.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:
• Concepts, terminology principles and procedures of American law
• Methods and techniques of writing briefs, opinions, reports, and other documents in established formats
• Methods and techniques of legal research
• Use of statutes codes and other legal resources
• Rules, regulations and policies governing the grievance and appeals process
• AHCCCS program, the interrelationship between AHCCCS divisions and agency administrative policies and procedures
• Legal and medical terminology
• Arizona and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the basic legislative process, and Westlaw and/or Lexis

Skills in:
• Office administration, such as prioritizing and multi-tasking
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including skill in writing legal documents
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in dealing with public and external entities
• Computer skills including utilizing MS Office software, ProLaw database, ServiceNow, PMMIS mainframe system, office hardware such as fax machines, printers, copiers and phone system
• Customer service and discretionary skills (in dealing with angry, confused and frustrated clientele)
• Exceptional organizational skills

Ability to:
• Extracting and utilizing information in statutes, court decisions, legal documents and records
• Interview and elicit information in a legal investigation; write legal documents/reports
• Establish and maintain work relationships with representatives of the courts and Federal, State and local government agencies
• Apply work management principles, and techniques, plan, prioritize and manage time, multi-task, communicate effectively
• Work independently and main confidentiality
• Develop and maintain positive working relationship with division and agency staff

Qualifications:

Minimum:
• Arizona Driver License
• 1-3 years experience working in a legal environment.

Preferred:
• Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or a closely related field, and/or a paralegal certificate.
• Acceptable paralegal certifications include an ALP, PLS, CLP or PP from a NALS or CP or AP from NALA.
• Strong litigation focus is preferred.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code .)

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply:

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Benefits:

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child. Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here.
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program . For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our

Retirement:

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program
• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program
• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.