Description:

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

PARALEGAL II

Department of Law

Litigation Divisions

Number of Positions: 3

(Additional vacancies are possible pending budget approval)

Starting Annual Salary: $66,612

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City’s collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) – BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5.

Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

AND

1. Check the box on your profile titled “Currently employed by the City of Chicago”

2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled ‘payee/employee number’)

3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION

Applications for this position will be accepted beginning 2-28-25 until 3-14-25 11:59pm CDT

The Litigation divisions’ attorneys prosecute municipal ordinance violations in circuit court and administrative hearings. These division attorneys also defend the City in FOIA litigation suits. The divisions also enforce the City’s consumer-protection ordinance and other laws against businesses that treat the City or its residents unfairly. Under supervision, Paralegal II functions at the senior level, providing paraprofessional legal and administrative support to attorneys. The various essential duties listed below may vary for each division, depending on assignment.

Essential Duties:

• Assists attorneys in all phases of pre-trial, trial, and post-trial functions, including those ranging from a routine to a complex nature

• Collects and organizes information and legal documents to respond to subpoenas and requests for information and to assist in motions, trials, and depositions

• Reviews and examines legal digests to conduct legal research for attorneys' use in court proceedings

• Researches and analyzes statutes, judicial decisions, and legal codes for attorneys' use in court proceedings

• Prepares and summarizes legal documents (e.g., summonses, motions, subpoenas)

• Abstracts depositions, briefings, and complex transcripts to summarize statements of deponents

• Prepares and writes documents for answers and discovery and updates relevant parties on status of discovery

• Prepares and maintains documents for motions, pleadings, and claims

• Interviews witnesses to obtain necessary testimony

• Indexes and files court documents and depositions for record keeping purposes

• Monitors and tracks attorneys’ caseloads to ensure effective case management

• Prepares exhibits and documents for use in court

• Appears in state or federal court to file documents on behalf of the City

• Delivers legal or proprietary documents to offices, personnel, and courtrooms, as required

• Coordinates and oversees routine legal functions of subordinate staff, as required

• Trains and orientates paralegal staff in office methods and procedures, as required

• Responds to defendants' inquiries, distributes notices of motion and orders to defendants, and prepares outgoing documents for mailing

• Notarizes documents, as required

• Provides paralegal support to attorneys in all phases of litigation

• Collects, analyzes and organizes information and documents in preparation of trial and responds to discovery requests, subpoenas and preservation orders

• Enters information and conducts database searches

• Schedules depositions

• Maintains case files and electronic documents

• Prepares exhibits, subpoenas, letters, emails, and notifications

• Orders medical records

• Assists with pre-suit investigations

• Communicates with client departments, witnesses, and outside agencies

• Works extensively with Word, Excel, and other Microsoft programs

Additional duties may be required for this position.

Location: City of Chicago Department of Law

City Hall Building, 121 North LaSalle Street, Room 600

Chicago, IL 60602

Division: Litigation

Days Off: Saturday and Sunday

Shift: Monday-Friday

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

( Shift may vary due to the needs of the operation )

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree, and a paralegal certificate from a paralegal training program accredited by the American Bar Association, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Disclaimer - "Accredited" means any nationally or regionally accredited college, university, or law school where the applicant is enrolled in or has completed an Associates, Bachelors, Masters, or Juris Doctorate degree program.

NOTE: A copy of your official transcripts, professional license, or training certificates will be required at the time of interview, if applicable.

Selection Requirements : This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed bidders possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected in seniority order according to the collective bargaining agreement . The interviewed external candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. The Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here. (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dhr/provdrs/emp.html)

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Friendly Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor