Paralegal 1

Note\: Employees for the State of Montana must reside within Montana. All applications and required application documents must be submitted through the MT Careers site at\: https\://mtstatejobs.taleo.net/careersection/200/jobdetail.ftl?job=26142558&tz=GMT-06:00&tzname=America/Denver

Help protect Montana consumers and support fair treatment of licensed professionals by keeping occupational licensing cases accurate and on schedule from the start. As a Paralegal 1 with the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, you will support a fair, lawful, and efficient process that serves both the public and Montana's professional workforce. You will take ownership of important early-stage casework and work alongside attorneys, compliance staff, and investigators. This role offers practical legal experience in occupational licensing and criminal prosecution support, with attorney guidance to help you grow.

MISSION STATEMENT\:

Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity.

It's about the people and the impact we make in our communities every day. We are proud of our open, team-based, supportive, and collaborative work environments. Learn more about DLI here.

POSITION OVERVIEW\:

The Office of Legal Services provides legal support for the department's programs, including enforcement of occupational licensing requirements. This position handles the opening stages of licensing matters, from opening and assessing a case through the first notice that a complaint has been filed. The Paralegal 1 may also help attorneys prepare notices after cause findings and support criminal prosecutions. The position reports to the Compliance, Investigation, & Data Manager and helps the division resolve cases fairly and on time by keeping case records complete and reliable.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS\:

• Open licensing matters\: Organizes incoming case materials, sets up and maintains accurate files, identifies missing documents, and records key dates and next steps.
• Manage initial notices\: Prepares and coordinates initial notices and requests for response in occupational licensing matters. Tracks delivery, response periods, follow-up, and incoming responses, and raises questions or issues with the responsible attorney.
• Maintain complete case records\: Keeps documents and case information current in the office's systems, organizes evidence, tracks deadlines, and prepares short case status updates for the team.
• Support cause finding notices\: Assembles and reviews the supporting record, identifies factual or documentary gaps, and helps attorneys draft and revise notices after cause findings, subject to attorney review and approval.
• Support criminal prosecutions\: Organizes investigative materials and exhibits, helps prepare filings and hearing materials, tracks deadlines, and shares case information with the prosecuting attorney and investigators.
• Coordinate with case participants\: Works with licensing staff, attorneys, investigators, and others to gather information and keep matters moving while protecting confidential information.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES\:

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to\:

• Legal writing and document review\: Write clearly and accurately, and carefully review documents, records, and facts for completeness and consistency.
• Caseload and deadline management\: Organize multiple matters at once, track deadlines, and follow through on each case without losing important details.
• Sound judgment and escalation\: Recognize when to ask for attorney direction, flag a gap in the record, or raise an urgent issue.
• Confidentiality and records integrity\: Handle sensitive information with discretion and keep reliable, well-organized case records.
• Professional communication\: Communicate respectfully and effectively with people who have different roles and perspectives in a matter.
• Continuous learning and accountability\: Take ownership of assigned work and show curiosity and willingness to learn unfamiliar legal procedures and information systems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education and Experience)

• Demonstrated experience in document-heavy legal or case support work, including organizing records, communicating clearly, and managing deadlines. Relevant experience may come from legal, administrative, regulatory, investigative, or similar work.
• Ability to perform paralegal work under the supervision of a licensed attorney and within the limits of that role.
• Experience tracking multiple cases, files, or projects with competing deadlines while keeping records accurate and complete.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing clear correspondence or summaries for a variety of audiences.
• Previous experience handling confidential records and sensitive information, following privacy protocols, and using sound judgment at work.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook (email and calendar) and other office software, and the ability to learn and use case management or electronic records systems.

A degree in paralegal studies, legal studies, criminal justice, public administration, or a related field may add to relevant professional experience but does not replace demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas listed above. Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY\:

A complete state application is not required; however, you will need to initiate the application and attach the resume, cover letter or other required documents at time of application to be considered for this position. Resume will auto fill the application, but the application will not be scored or reviewed.

Failure to attach the cover letter and resume will result in your application being considered incomplete and will not be considered further. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process.

Tip\: When attaching your resume, cover letter or other required documents you must mark the attachments as “RELEVANT” or we will be unable to view your documents.

Required application materials\:

• Cover Letter - Your Cover Letter should explain how your experience and education meet the identified required skills and competencies, with examples that demonstrate your qualifications.
• Resume - include all work experience you have held that would help you qualify for this position, including duties, dates of employment.

Only online applications will be accepted. By applying online, you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application.

All documents for Veteran or Disability preference must be received or date stamped by the closing date. You will receive an application confirmation email with instructions on acceptable preference documents and how to submit such documents.

If you need an accommodation with the application process, please contact the HR office.

BENEFITS\:

Being able to enjoy the quality of life in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Our mountains, waterways and open spaces provide not only beautiful scenery but year-round recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling. Montana boasts a high-quality education system and a variety of entertainment including fairs, rodeos, and theaters. Read more about our great state here.

See our other incredible benefits here. These are some of our benefits just to name a few\:

• Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
• 38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
• Military leave\: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
• Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
• Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP - click here to learn more.
• Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - click here to learn more.
• Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary.  A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. – Click here to learn more.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- click here to learn more!
• Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
• State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.

*This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)

E-Verify\: This agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https\://www.e-verify.gov/

Anyone who needs to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the HR staff identified on the job listing or by dialing the Montana Relay at 711. Montana Job Service Offices also offer services including assistance with submitting an online application.

State government does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, creed, political beliefs or affiliation, veteran status, military service, retaliation, or any other factor not related to merit and qualifications of an employee or applicant.