Definition

Under the supervision of an attorney general division chief, section chief, or lead attorney in a regional office, these positions have delegated responsibility for administrative supervision over other paralegals (e.g., signs leave slips, assigns work, conducts performance evaluations, and participates in the interview process).  These positions may perform complex paralegal duties requiring a high degree of knowledge of legal concepts, issues and research which, absent the paralegal, would be performed by an assistant attorney general. 

Distinguishing Characteristics

These positions are distinguished from the Paralegal 1 and 2 positions by a reporting relationship to an attorney general division chief, section chief, or lead assistant attorney general in a regional office and involves a higher expertise and independence of action and decisions.  These positions must have direct administrative supervision over work performed by other paralegals and are significantly involved in their training.  

Typical Work

Under the direct supervision of a division chief, section chief, or lead attorney in a regional office, the Paralegal 3 may perform the following substantive legal work and supervision:   

Directly supports the division chief, section chief, or lead attorney in a regional office in coordinating, controlling and directing paralegal services;  

Assists in determining and balancing work assignments among other paralegals on staff; directly assigns work to other paralegals in areas where groups of paralegals are handling particular cases;  

In conjunction with the supervising attorney, participates in the conduct of performance evaluations; assists the division chief, section chief or lead attorney in a regional office with personnel issues dealing with paralegals;  

Assists the division chief, section chief, or lead attorney in a regional office with interviewing and selecting paralegal applicants for employment within the division, section or regional office;  

Assists in the development and implementation of intradivisional training for paralegals;  

Performs work performed by Paralegals 1 and 2;  

Acts as a resource to paralegals concerning questions or problems they may have arising out of their work, or concerning the litigation support systems used by the division or office;  

Analyzes and summarizes complex legal issues;  

Negotiates and, under attorney supervision, stipulates settlement agreements in administrative cases; 

Responsible for reviewing advance sheets and preparing case abstracts on relevant cases for attorneys;  

Has the primary responsibility for coordinating the updating and maintenance of brief banks, client advice files, and current case indices;   

Performs other work as required. 

Legal Requirement(s)

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position. 

Desirable Qualifications

Two years' experience as a Paralegal 2. 

OR 

Five years' experience as a paralegal.  

OR 

Equivalent education/experience.

Class Specification History

New class adopted September 14, 1979.
Revise class. Revises title (formerly Antitrust Legal Examiner 3), definition, minimum qualifications; adopted September 13, 1985.
Revise class. Revises title (formerly Legal Examiner 3), definition, minimum qualifications; adds distinguishing characteristics; adopted February 15, 1991.
Revise class. Revises class code (formerly 46630); adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.