LEGAL ASSISTANT PROJECT SPECIALIST

Job Summary :

In 2020, Arizona voters passed Proposition 207, the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, which reformed Arizona’s marijuana laws.

One aspect of that law permits expungement of convictions and other records relating to certain marijuana offenses. The Attorney General’s Office is hiring an Assistant Attorney General and Legal Assistant Project Specialist to lead efforts at the Attorney General’s Office to expand access to expungement under this law across Arizona.

Both positions will be in the Attorney General’s Office Solicitor General’s Office / Special Litigation Section.

The Legal Assistant Project Specialist will work closely with an Assistant Attorney General to file expungement petitions and design programs that expand expungement access statewide.

Position is limited funding for a three-year period.

Remote Options : This position may be eligible for Remote Work two days a week.

Job Duties :

This position works with lawyers to draft, review, and proofread a variety of documents and policies, rules and laws, and ensure compliance with the office’s legal policies and procedures.

Draft and review legal memoranda analyzing complex legal and factual issues and performing substantive legal research. Organize and maintain legal documents in various databases;

coordinate meetings and maintain project plans and schedules.

Helping design and implement resources for individuals seeking expungement. Helping design trainings, and other coordination with outside stakeholders.

Preparation of pleadings, motions, briefs, correspondence, legal notices, and forms in correct format and in compliance with the court rules and agency standards.

Proofreads outgoing material for consistency with office policy, grammatical construction, and clerical errors.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs) :

• Knowledge of word processing equipment.
• Knowledge of legal terminology, legal forms, court procedures and applicable time-frames.
• The principles, concepts, practices, methods and techniques common to a modern law office.
• Understanding of the attorney / client relationship including the need for confidentiality and discretion.
• Must have knowledge of various computer programs, including but not limited to Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Typing 60 wpm.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Managing and handling a heavy work load under pressure with multiple deadlines.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Skill in composing various complex legal correspondence and pleadings.
• Accurate and detail-oriented with sound judgment and integrity.
• Grammar, punctuation, spelling, basic editing, formats of a wide variety of legal documents, rules and procedures of all Arizona State courts;

State and office procedures for acquisition of case-related expenses and current travel policies.

• Skilled in researching and extracting information from statutes, codes, legal documents and court decisions.
• Word processing and transcribing skills.
• Ability to operate word processing for preparation of legal documents.
• Ability to track court actions in various states.
• Ability to utilize automated case management systems and follow office procedures for maintaining and tracking records.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and perform varied tasks and track multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Word processing and transcription.
• Employee must also be able to compose correspondence and to assist attorneys in organization of material and preparing for trial.
• Must be able to use tact and diplomacy in dealing with other agency employees and high-level public officials.
• Must be able to handle a high volume of work and stressful situations.

Selective Preference(s) :

Three years experience in a comparable position or law office setting.

Pre-Employment Requirements :

• Travel may be required for this position. A valid Arizona Driver’s License is required, along with consent to have your driving record run periodically.
• All applicants under serious consideration for hire with the Attorney General's Office are required to be fingerprinted by the Office and complete a criminal background check through State and Federal agencies.

A job offer cannot be tendered until the candidate has successfully passed the initial background check. Your record does not automatically constitute a bar to employment.

Factors such as, but not limited to, age at time of offense and age of offense, as well as the relationship between the offense and the job for which you apply will be taken into account.

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

Benefits :

The Attorney General's Office offers a comprehensive benefits package to include :

Student Loan Assistance

Sick leave

Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster / adopted child (pilot program)

Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year

Health and dental insurance

Retirement plan

Life insurance and long-term disability insurance

Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our

Retirement :

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.
30+ days ago