Paralegal - Water and Environmental

Location: 15151 E Alameda Pkwy, Aurora, Colorado 80012-1555

About the role

The Development and Natural Resources Section of the Aurora City Attorney’s Office is seeking a paralegal with an interest in water law, litigation, and environmental law to join its growing team of talented legal professionals. The paralegal investigates facts, researches law, and prepares documents to assist lawyers in the City Attorney’s Office. The individual will work with the City of Aurora and Aurora Water, supporting attorneys who file and appear in Colorado Water Court. This position follows a hybrid work structure, with required days in the office and flexibility to work remotely based on task demands or personal preferences. Effective the first day of employment, the selected individual must maintain Colorado residency.

Why work for Aurora?

• Make a difference in the lives of real people every day
• Diverse community
• Competitive total compensation package
• Well-funded General Employees Retirement Plan
• Light rail station minutes away
• On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs
• Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement
• Access to innovation workspaces

Responsibilities

• Prepares and manages pre-litigation activities for cases, including filing pleadings and motions in Colorado E-Filing systems or PACER, as required.
• Conducts legal research and synthesizes results for attorney(s).
• Manages and organizes case files and internal file management systems.
• Maintains calendaring systems and coordinates meeting scheduling with internal and external participants.
• Maintains an electronic library of legal opinions, memoranda, legal education, reference materials, and research materials.
• Compiles and distributes electronically stored material.
• Prepares correspondence, both electronic and postal, and drafts shell pleadings including entries of appearance, statements of opposition, motions, briefs, agreements, water court applications, and related documents.
• Proofreads, cites, and checks legal documents.
• Supports attorneys with trials and hearings and prepares all trial materials and technology, including exhibit notebooks and trial binders.
• Liaises with City departments, clients, and outside counsel to request and obtain necessary documents and items.
• Files and accesses documents electronically in municipal, state, and federal courts.
• Assists with drafting ordinances, resolutions, and analysis of proposed legislation.
• Files ditch company compliance reports.
• Processes invoices and monthly reports.
• Supports attorneys on Council Projects as requested.
• Performs additional duties as assigned, including administrative tasks (e.g., answering phones).

Requirements

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

• Possession of Paralegal Certification from an ABA Certified Program OR Degree from an accredited institution. Equivalent education, training, or experience may be substituted.
• Associate’s Degree in paralegal studies or a directly related field.
• At least two (2) years of progressively responsible legal office and/or paralegal experience.
• At least one (1) year of progressively responsible work in a municipality, water law, or public entity.
• Paralegal certification.
• Colorado Driver’s License with a good driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• Litigation, civil discovery, and calendaring experience.
• Prior experience assisting with trials.
• Experience with Bates numbering, redactions, document organization, and E-discovery software.
• Electronic trial presentation experience, including exhibit presentation with Adobe, Trial Director, or similar programs.
• Experience working in general civil court procedures, government, Colorado Water Law, or Water Court.
• Experience working with Federal, State, and local governmental entities and Colorado water law entities, including Colorado Division of Water Resources, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado State Land Board, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, municipal water conservancy, and conservation districts.
• Knowledge of Colorado water laws (Prior Appropriation Doctrine, Change of use cases, Exchanges of water, and typical filings associated with water court cases).
• Genuine interest in learning Colorado water law.

Skills & Knowledge

• General office procedures and legal terminology.
• Legal forms and personal computers, including related word processing software applications.
• Legal research and writing, including electronic filing platforms (CCEF and PACER).
• Water court or general civil court procedures, docketing deadlines pursuant to state and federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Legal research platforms (Westlaw and LexisNexis).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, SharePoint, and Teams) and Adobe.
• Skill in utilizing Bluebook and other similar legal citation methods.
• Skill in legal writing, proofreading, and editing legal filings, contracts, correspondence, memoranda, exhibits, subpoenas, and other documents.
• Skill in legal research and filing platforms such as PACER, Westlaw, LexisNexis, and CoCourts.
• Skill in managing and meeting competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Skill in conducting E-Discovery using E-discovery software.
• Skill in managing vendors and contracts for E-Discovery platforms.
• Skill in Bates numbering, redactions, and document organization.

Abilities

• Establish and maintain professional and effective working relationships with attorneys, citizens, court personnel, outside agencies/personnel, support staff, and experts.
• Handle confidential and sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Multi-task and prioritize work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Maintain legal education and reference materials.
• Strong organizational skills.

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $30.02 - $37.53/hourly.

Schedule

Works primarily during standard work hours to support time-sensitive legal processes. The city will implement furlough days (unpaid days off) for most employees in 2026 on the following dates: January 16, April 10, July 2, and December 24.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Light physical work lifting 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Frequent walking to court for trials and hearings and for transportation of court files.
• Frequent lifting, carrying, and standing.
• Frequent hand/eye coordination to operate office equipment.
• Vision sufficient to read computer screens, reports, and related department documents.
• Dexterity to operate computer keyboards and other related office equipment.
• Endurance sufficient to sit and work at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Frequent speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and citizens.

Works primarily in a clean, comfortable environment. This position may require the use of personal equipment (e.g., vehicle, cell phone, tools) in the course of employment.

Equipment Used

• Standard office equipment including computer, calculator, multi-line telephones, copy machines, and printers.
• Frequently answers telephone.

Essential Personnel

When a local announcement of emergency or disaster is declared by the City, all City of Aurora employees may be required to work as essential personnel.