Untitled Document Paralegal Assistant, IIP Posting Category: About UIS: Located in the state capital, the University of Illinois Springfield is one of three members of the University of Illinois system. The University serves more than 4,000 students in 44 graduate and 56 undergraduate programs. You are encouraged to visit the university web page at http://www.uis.edu. Application deadline: 1/6/2025 Minimum Starting Salary: $25.77 per hour\7.5 hour day Summary: The Paralegal Assistant position will provide support to the Illinois Innocence Project legal team by preparing various documents, completing legal filings, assisting with case development and maintaining case files, scheduling a variety of appointments, and other related tasks. Duties & Responsibilities: Prepare documents including client agreements, correspondence, exhibits, and other legal filings related to litigation and representation of clients. File, either in person or via e-file, all legal filings. Under direction and review of a supervising attorney, assist with case development by conducting legal research that includes analyzing legal decisions, rulings, and other legal material; prepare summaries of points of law; conduct other research and investigation assignments; and submit and track public records requests. Serve as a liaison with prisons, external attorneys, experts, government officials, and laboratories; communicate with incarcerated clients and/or their family members. Organize and maintain comprehensive electronic and paper case files and maintain database to provide information about the Project's case activities; assist with facilitating efficient system related to vendors. Schedule appointments, prison visits, and legal calls with incarcerated clients and notify affected staff of deadlines; help manage calendar of assigned attorney(s); and coordinate meetings among attorneys, staff, and other constituencies. Minimum Qualifications: 1. Any one or combination totaling three (3) years (36 months) from the following categories: (Credit for college training must be evaluated on the basis of one month of experience being equivalent to 3 1/3 semester hours of general university courses.) a. Bachelor's degree b. Three (3) years (36 months) of progressively more responsible experience providing assistance to attorneys or others in the field(s) of civil and/or criminal law (such as clerical and/or technical assistance in civil and/or criminal law) 2. Any one or combination from the following categories: (Credit for college training must be evaluated on the basis of one month of paraprofessional experience being equivalent to 2.5 semester hours in the above-mentioned fields.) a. One (1) year (12 months) of paraprofessional experience in the field(s) of civil and/or criminal law (such as experience researching and drafting legal briefs and memoranda, abstracting depositions, preparing motions, interrogatories, or post-judgment documentation, etc.) b. Thirty (30) semester hours of credit for college course work in paralegal studies, law, or law-related fields Preferred Qualifications: 1. Prior experience with an innocence organization in a student or volunteer capacity 2. Prior experience or education in legal work 3. Experience managing legal case records with confidentiality. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Demonstrated commitment to issues of justice. Understanding of legal ethical requirements, including conflict of interest and confidentiality rules. Ability to work independently. Ability to work effectively with culturally, economically, and racially diverse individuals, and with those who are or have been incarcerated. Ability to communicate in Spanish. Physical Demands: Standing : Occasionally Walking : Occasionally Sitting : Frequently Talking : Frequently Hearing : Frequently Working Conditions: Hazards : Occasionally Atmospheric Conditions : Occasionally Travel Requirements: 40% Frequent travel to clients, prisons, court houses, etc. to meet the needs of the project and cases. Employment Policies and other information: Failure to accurately describe work experience, or failure to submit college transcripts may result in an applicant not being admitted to the exam. UIS an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with strong institutional commitment to recruitment and retention of a diverse and inclusive community. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility. The University of Illinois may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with state and federal law. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current or former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment. UIS employment in this role is not covered by Social Security, and instead, is covered by the State University Retirement System. * You will not pay Social Security taxes and your earning will not be on your Social Security Record. (Your record will, however, show your Medicare wages. * Your pension from the State Universities Retirement System may affect the amount of your: * Social Security benefit and * Social Security benefit as a spouse Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted by contacting UIS HR at hremployment@uis.edu or call 217-206-6652.