PARA-LEGAL ASSISTANT II

About the role

Keeping the City's Legal Matters on Track – The Department of the Corporation Counsel, Counseling and Drafting Division, seeks a Para‑Legal Assistant II to assist Deputies Corporation Counsel with administrative hearings and appeals, drafting legal advice and opinions, and defending the City in litigation before the State of Hawaii Circuit Court, United States District Court, and state and federal appellate courts. The role involves organizing case files, managing and calendaring deadlines, conducting legal research, preparing legal documents and exhibits, and coordinating case‑related materials to keep matters organized, on schedule, and moving toward resolution. Some notifications will be sent via e‑mail; you are responsible for monitoring instructions and correspondence from this office by checking your email account in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Compile and organize case files, legal materials, exhibits, and discovery documents
• Coordinate with the attorneys to exchange case‑related materials
• Conduct legal research and summarize laws, cases, and statutes
• Draft legal correspondence, memoranda, briefs, and related documents
• Prepare materials for administrative hearings, litigation, and appeals
• Track and ensure compliance with court orders, subpoenas and case‑related deadlines

Qualifications

• At the time of application, you must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident alien of the United States or a non‑citizen eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment.
• Education requirement: equivalent to graduation from high school. Responsible work experience demonstrating the ability to perform the essential functions of the job may be substituted for education.
• Experience requirement: five (5) years of progressively responsible experience involving the research, application, interpretation or explanation of laws, rules and regulations, two (2) of which shall have demonstrated a thorough working knowledge of legal procedures and terminology and the drafting, review and processing of legal papers and documents in a law office.
• Substitution: relevant education and training from a regionally‑accredited college or university in a paralegal, legal assistant or law program may be used to substitute for some of the required general experience involving the research, application, interpretation or explanation of laws, rules and regulations. The amount of time credited for the substitution will be dependent on the specific program you completed. There is no substitution for the required work experience in a law office.
• Some examples of relevant programs may include: Paralegal Studies certification program, Associate's degree in a Paralegal Studies or Legal Assistant program, Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies, Juris Doctorate in Law.
• Education verification: education information must be listed clearly on your application. If available, please attach a legible electronic copy of your diploma, official transcripts, and/or applicable foreign credential evaluation to your application. As part of the hiring process, you may be asked to furnish documentation to verify your education to move forward for further consideration.

Skills

• Solid understanding of legal terminology, court forms, and criminal procedures
• Experience with legal research, discovery, and fact‑finding methods
• Understanding of the rules of evidence and courtroom proceedings
• Strong legal writing and document drafting skills
• Skilled in reviewing case materials, including jury‑related documents
• Competence in analyzing laws and applying them to specific situations
• Ability to research, compile, and clearly summarize complex information
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills
• Effective interviewing and information‑gathering techniques
• Professional interpersonal skills for working with colleagues and the public
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and handling sensitive information

Benefits

Enjoy excellent employment benefits including generous time