Paralegal Specialist Trainee

About the Role

The State of Connecticut, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is seeking qualified candidates to apply for a Paralegal Specialist Trainee position within the DMV’s Legal Services Division.

Full-time, 40 hours/week. Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location:

Wethersfield, CT. Hybrid work opportunity.

• Handle the DMV’s Freedom of Information requests.
• Assist legal personnel with litigated matters.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The Connecticut DMV’s mission is to promote and advance public safety, security, and service through the regulation of drivers, their motor vehicles, and vehicle-related businesses.

• Receives formal and/or on-the-job instruction and training in introductory administrative, para‑professional and technical paralegal work designed to develop knowledge and skills needed in order to qualify for appointment and advancement to the Paralegal Specialist classification.
• Performs a wide variety of increasingly complex, diversified and difficult duties as competencies are acquired during course of training period and in accordance with approved timetable.
• Processes increasingly involved legal work of an agency or commission.
• Receives on-the-job-training regarding legal research, drafting legislation, advisory opinions, and various other legal documents.
• Receives training on such functions as reproduction of legal documents and exhibits, maintains records of cases, pleadings, statutes and other related documents.
• Prepares legal and administrative reports.
• Receives training on interviewing witnesses and clients.
• May answer routine correspondence and telephone inquiries.
• May assist in review of cases and/or petitions for procedural compliance with agency administrative hearing rules and procedures.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Knowledge of basic legal processes, legal terminology and forms, legal research techniques, office management principles and practices, statutes and regulations.
• Skills:
  
  interpersonal, oral and written communication.
• Ability to read, understand and interpret laws, legal documents and utilize computer software.

A Bachelor's degree in legal studies.

• Experience working in a law firm or a law department of an organization.
• Experience gathering documents for Freedom of Information requests.
• Experience working independently and in a team environment in a professional setting.
• Experience gathering legal documents on litigated cases.
• Experience handling and maintaining confidential information.
• Experience communicating verbally and in writing in a professional setting.
• Experience managing competing priorities while meeting deadlines.

• Candidates cannot be appointed until all degree requirements are completed.
• Incumbents in this class will be eligible for promotion without competitive examination upon satisfactory completion of a one‑year training program.
• All appointments to this class shall be under terms of a training program and must be approved by the Department of Administrative Services prior to appointment.

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.