Paralegal I

Job Purpose

The overall objectives of the Alamance County Department of Social Services are that of protective, preventive, and rehabilitative services as well as reinforcing and sustaining the normal pattern of living whenever possible; promoting the general welfare and safeguarding of children, the elderly and disabled adults from abuse and neglect. We encourage self-sufficiency and promote personal responsibility. The agency is a Level II agency with responsibilities for Child and Adult Protective Services, Child Support Administration, Services to Adult and Families and for determining eligibility for all of the public assistance programs including Work First, Medicaid, Food and Nutritional Services, Low Income Energy Assistance, Crisis Intervention Program—as well as other programs such as FEMA and Share the Warmth when appropriate.

The Legal Unit of the ACDSS provides comprehensive legal services to the Agency, including but not limited to, juvenile and adult services, personnel, child support, confidentiality, contract/memorandum of services review and other issues.

Responsibilities

This position is responsible for assuring compliance with mandates in multiple areas. In addition to program and legal knowledge, this worker must be well organized and an excellent time manager and task manager in order to meet the many due dates demanded by this position. This position must be able to multitask and keep track of multiple responsibilities/projects.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

60% Drafting court documents such as complaints/petitions, motions, orders and other required court documents. The worker in this position assures cases are prepared and organized for court; there is compliance with timeframes, statutes, laws and policies. There is required correspondence/contact with attorneys, judges, legal assistants/secretaries, administrative assistants, judicial assistants, Sheriff Departments in the state of NC, court personnel, witnesses, parties and department personnel to assure they are prepared and have received necessary information from the Legal Unit for the case to move forward. Ability to learn, interpret and explain policies, regulations and programs; and the ability to gather and compose a variety of materials from a variety of sources independently.

20% Completing discovery for cases including but not limited to subpoenas, production of documents, interrogatories and assuring discovery is requested and received from opposing parties.

10% Administrative duties such as maintaining calendar for attorney, office organization and management, file maintenance and other duties. Maintain tracking devices for cases and keeping the attorney informed of upcoming deadlines.

5% Respond to request for documents and subpoenas for cases in which the department is not a party. This requires knowledge of the confidentiality requirements of various areas within the department and assuring those requirements are adhered to and that staff is aware of the requirements/restrictions. Additionally, staff must be consulted to determine the department’s desired response.

5% Other duties as assigned by the Supervisor such as helping other units, working in Disaster Shelters, attending trainings, etc.

Duties also involve knowledge of computer and their functions for completing electronic forms, obtaining available information from computer system, and the innovation to use technology to complete research. This position must have knowledge of various systems, as well as Compass (a document management system).

Knowledge of the various areas (juvenile, adult services, child support) manuals and legal requirements are essential functions of this position. The worker also receives Administrative Letters and other printed materials, which often include policy or other changes, and are necessary tools that must be acted upon timely and accurately.

Qualifications

• Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions.
• Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly
• Adaptable- Ability to frequently adjust to changes
• Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word
• Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely
• Confidentiality – Ability to distinguish confidential information and maintain the sensitive nature of the information.
• Honesty - Ability to be truthful, maintain high level of confidentiality and be seen as credible in the workplace
• Integrity – Trustworthiness to a degree that one is incapable of being false to a trust, responsibility or pledge
• Judgment – Ability to use good judgment and discretion as it relates to following policies and procedures
• Safety-Minded – Creating a safe work environment; managing risks; reducing exposure liabilities
• Teamwork – Ability to work with others successfully and productively for the common cause and desired end goal.

Skills & Abilities

Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities:

This position requires working knowledge of case law, statutory law, common law, judicial and quasi-judicial procedures and the rules of evidence. The worker must have the ability to perform legal research in accordance with preliminary instructions as to methods or approach, source material available, and policy and precedent of the office; to summarize facts, evidence, and prepare legal instruments; to communicate clearly and logically in oral and written form; to maintain effective working relationships with persons contacted in the course of work; to learn quickly and implement what is learned with little oversight and to present information orally or in written form. The worker should also have interest in and understanding of the needs, problems, and attitudes of disadvantaged persons and community partners.

Training and Experience:

Minimum Training and Experience Required:

Minimum Education and Experience - Graduation from an accredited school for paralegal training and one year of experience as a paralegal, or graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in English, Journalism, or a degree directly related to the area assigned and one year of substantive paralegal experience; or graduation from high school and five years of paralegal experience performing delegated, substantive legal work, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Minimum Education and Experience for a Trainee Appointment - Graduation from an accredited school for paralegal training; or graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree in English, Journalism, or a degree directly related to the area assigned; or graduation from high school and four years of paralegal experience performing delegated, substantive legal work.

All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Additional Training/Experience:

Training in computer programs such as Microsoft office and office organization/management.

Equivalent Training and Experience:

None.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation:

None required, paralegal certification encouraged.

OTHER POSITION CHARACTERISTICS:

Accuracy Required in Work:

Precision and accuracy are essential for this position. Work must be done with little to no errors; errors can result in cases being set aside on appeal which can cause disruption to the lives of children and vulnerable adults as well as negative economic consequences.

Consequence of Error:

The work has a direct effect on the professional legal decisions and documents produced by the legal office in which the employee works. Decisions have potential for causing some administrative delay or cost to agency operations. Most decisions which have the potential for causing significant negative consequence to individuals or organizations are closely reviewed. Errors could result in cases being overturned on appeal causing substantial disruption in the lives of consumers and create risks. The cases are audited on a regular basis by State and Federal auditors. Failure to comply with statutory requirements could result in the County being required to pay back funds. Failure to process cases timely and assure other methods of compliance could result in failing to meet goals resulting in negative financial consequences.

Instruction Provided:

Employee is generally given specific instructions on the goal of each type of assignment. Once trained in the task, the employee is expected to complete the task independently; professional legal supervision is available for new or unusual situations. The work is generally reviewed upon completion by the qualitative assessment of a legal professional. Items of a sensitive legal matter or with potential negative impact to the agency are often reviewed in progress. There are detailed manuals, statutes and policies containing the law and procedures to be followed.

Guides, Regulations, Policies and References Used:

Federal statutes and regulations, State statutes and administrative code, NCDSS policy manuals, School of Government produced manuals, Federal agency guidance, and administrative letters.

Supervision Received:

Agency attorney provides supervision and reviews documents/projects. However, the expectation is the employee will be able to work independently with little to no supervision due to the attorney being in court and other obligations.

Variety and Purpose of Personal Contacts:

Considerable ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone and in writing; considerable ability to plan and coordinate a volume and variety of appointments, meetings, and conferences. This position requires physically going to the court house, clerk’s office, service providers and, at times, going with social workers to home/jail visits.

Physical Effort:

Little physical labor is involved in this position, as it is mainly a desk job. There is considerable walking to printer, fax, reception area and other units within the agency. On occasion, the worker may have to lift case files, supplies or office equipment from one location to another.

Work Environment and Conditions:

Employees are periodically subject to working with hostile clients, and are frequently subject to heavy workloads, and compressed timeframes which may cause added stress. In this work with the general public, employees may be exposed to airborne particles from time to time. Occasional travel involving traditional highway hazards may be required.

Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment and Materials Used:

Must be proficient in the use of computers and various software programs including but not limited to Microsoft Office, file management systems, and other office equipment including phone, scanner, personal computer/laptop, copier, fax machine

Visual Attention, Mental Concentration and Manipulative Skills:

Mental concentration and organization are critical in this position to complete the necessary responsibilities.

The worker must have the ability to exercise judgment and discretion in problem situations independently; ability to answer inquiries independently and coordinate a variety of resources in acquiring information; ability to meet rigorous time mandates.

Safety for Others:

Position does not provide security or welfare. However, the position’s duties impact the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable citizens.

This employee must always be alert to safety standards established by management and adhere to all rules of safety for their clients, fellow employees, and him/her.

Dynamics of Work:

Fast paced, intense work environment with heavy workload. There are many timeframes requiring work to be completed in an organized manner with few errors. There are frequent changes in policies and procedures.

This employee must be able to work with people from all different walks of life without showing favoritism or preferences.

• Vision (Near, Distance, Peripheral)

Health Insurance - Full-time employees are eligible for medical/health (Cigna Insurance) benefits upon the 1st of the month following the 30-day waiting period. Changes to elections can then be made during the annual open enrollment period, usually in the fall, or within 30 days of a qualified life event (marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, change in child's dependent status, death of a spouse or other dependent and other change in employment status).

Alamance County Government currently offers three plans of medical/pharmacy benefit options including a COPAY Plan 70, COPAY Plan 80 and a QHDHP with HSA.

Dental Benefit - Alamance County offers one dental insurance (Delta Dental) plan for FT employees. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment. Coverage must be elected within your first 30 days of FT employment or upon a qualifying event.

Vision Insurance - A voluntary vision program (Superior Vision) is available to FT employees. The current PPO style plan allows employees to seek treatment and hardware from any vision care provider of their choice. The plan, if elected, would be effective the first of the month following 30 days of FT employment. Coverage must be elected within your first 30 days of FT employment or upon a qualifying event.

Voluntary Benefits: Alamance County Government provides a variety of voluntary health related benefits (Voya) to allow employees to purchase protection from what life may bring. A sampling of voluntary benefits includes Flexible Spending Accounts with dependent care opportunities, Health Saving Account with an employer contribution, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Cancer Protection Plan, Group Critical Care Insurance and more.

Death Benefit - Alamance County Government has elected to contribute towards a Death Benefit associated with the Retirement System for all employees that are contributing Retirement System members. Once an employee has met at least one (1) year as a contributing member to the retirement system, the employee will have a benefit payable to their beneficiary of no less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000 based on the employee's salary. Benefit is payable if the employee is actively working and has not reached 70 years of age.

Life Insurance – Basic term life insurance is the amount of one times the annual salary (no greater than $70,000) is provided for all FT employees. Additional coverage is available for purchase through payroll deductions for employee and eligible dependents.

Retirement Benefits - Membership in the NC Local Government Employees Retirement System (NCLGERS) is a requirement for all full-time and regular part-time employees (working more than 1,000 hours annually). Employees contribute six percent (6%) of their annual compensation before it is taxed. If you leave the County service before retirement, you may withdraw your retirement contributions or elect to freeze your contributions in anticipation of future local government employment. If you have at least five (5) years of service, you are considered 100% vested in NCLGERS. Alamance County will be contributing a percentage as required by NCLEGRS on your behalf as well.

Time Off Accruals:
Vacation Time – All Alamance County full time employees immediately earn a bank of vacation hours that can be used after 6 months of employment (exhausting their probationary period). Vacation time accrues based on the full-time hire date (most recent hire date is used in the case of rehires). Employees with a hire date before the 15th of the month will receive vacation credit for that month; otherwise, time will not be earned. Time will be contributed to the employee's time off bank on the 15th of the month based on a monthly proration of the schedule below.

Years of Service - Days of Vacation Annually
0-4 years of service 10 days equivalent to 80 hours
5-9 years of service 13 days equivalent to 104 hours
10-14 years of service 16 days equivalent to 128 hours
15-19 years of service 21 days equivalent to 168 hours
20 years or more 25 days equivalent to 200 hours

Sick Time – All Alamance County full-time employees will earn a bank of sick hours to be used when they are away from work for instances related to their own illness or the illness of an immediate family member, death of an immediate family member or when they (or an immediate family member) need to attend a health-related appointment. All County employees earn 12 days of sick leave per year with an earnings of 8 hours per month if employed on or before the 15th of the month.

County Observed Holidays – Alamance County will observe the State of North Carolina Holiday Schedule. Holidays will include the following and will be paid at 8 hours holiday pay. Exceptions have been made for certain departments given the nature of the services provided.

Wellness Benefits & Programming:
Employee Assistance Program: There are times when everyone needs a little help or advice. The confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through a local provider can help you with things like stress, anxiety, depression, chemical dependency, relationship issues, legal issues, parenting questions, financial counseling and dependent care resources. Best of all it's free for County employees and available for your household to utilize. Utilization of the EAP is completely confidential and participation isn't recorded.
Help is available 24/7/365 by telephone.

Alamance County Employee Health Center opperated by Everside Health: Available to employees and spouses who are covered under the Alamance County Insurance Plan and their covered dependents, 18 years of age and older. Retired employees under age 65 are also eligible to use the clinic. Depending on insurance coverage elected, care at the clinic ranges from free to a fair market value cost.

Services Available:
Treatment of injuries or illnesses such as Flu, Sinus Infection, pink eye, sprains, strains or fever.
Monitor chronic conditions (Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Health Disease, Asthma, etc...)
Assistance with finding a Primary Care Provider
Health Education and Counseling
Triage and referrals to specialists when appropriate.

Alamance County provides a variety of additional benefits including bereavement pay, Paid Parental Leave (up to 4 weeks), Wellness Leave to focus on work-life balance initiatives, Volunteer Time Off (paid time) opportunities to be a part of the Alamance Community, to opportunities for professional certification pay.

Employee Fitness Center:
Alamance County encourages all employees to maintain a healthy lifestyle both at home and at work. In support of this philosophy an Employee Fitness Center is available for all County employees to use at their convenience during non-work hours and is open 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday-Sunday. This center includes weight training equipment, cardio equipment, a small aerobics room along with restrooms, changing room and lockers.