Paralegal Specialist, Central Office

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is the juvenile justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We work with young people who are detained or committed and provide detention, custody, diagnosis, education, and support to young people ages 12-21. Most of the youth served are between the ages 14 and 18. The Department promotes positive change for the youth committed to our care, and has been on the forefront of de-institutionalization, in part, by providing adolescent-focused rehabilitation to youth in residential treatment.    

The Department of Youth Services employs staff in various professions and backgrounds in order to engage young people in strategies that support positive youth development. We are seeking an energetic, positive, and dynamic individual for the role of Paralegal Specialist to support our Legal Unit. Our Legal Unit is comprised of the General Counsel and two Assistant General Counsels, the Director of Policy and Training and the Director of Investigations, all of whom are attorneys.  The Legal Unit also includes two (2) investigators and  one Office Support Specialist is assigned to provide support to the unit. 

For additional information about the Department of Youth Services and its programs please watch:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gyP0kCJ181nBakh9Cc0pNNEyPw7kAoI6/view   

The Paralegal Specialist may work with any of the attorneys in the Legal Unit but would primarily be assigned to and provide assistance to the General Counsel, Assistant General Counsels and the Investigations Unit.  Supervision on specific projects would be provided by the attorney assigned to the project. The paralegal also provided critical support to the Investigations Unit within the Legal Unit of the Department. Our team is professional, dedicated, collaborative and passionate about the mission of DYS.

The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to: 

• Perform and take responsibility for routine administrative tasks, routine attorney support, maintain  databases, prepare reports, charts, graphs presentations, and/or tables.
• Compile statistics, schedule meetings, provide litigation support, conduct legal and other types of research.
• Use computer programs including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat DC and internet search functions; use DYS' online case management system and the unit's online case management systems.
• Perform records review and redaction; analyze data and identify trends and patterns. Proactively report trends observed.
• Draft responses to public record requests, court orders and probation requests for records.
• Track arbitrations and assist in scheduling and preparation.
• Prepare correspondence; legal memoranda; perform other paralegal work including the analysis or review of legislation and case law decisions; collect and prepare documents and respond to discovery. 
• Prepare file requests for attorneys, youth, and the court.
• Assist with drafting decisions on client appeals.
• Provide administrative and organizational support to the Director of Investigations and two (2) field investigators to assist with managing and tracking internal reviews, investigations; issuance of reports, disciplinary or policy ramifications.

Participate in weekly team meetings as well as informal consultations and discussions concerning investigations. 

Preferred Qualifications:

 The ideal candidate should be mature, responsible, discreet, self-motivated and able to handle multiple assignments at one time. 

• Paralegal certification or three years of paralegal experience in a state or federal agency or law firm.
• Ability to function as an integral part of the team as well as act as a liaison with DYS staff outside the unit and contacts outside the agency. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to engage in comprehensive analysis of written materials. 
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail; ability to lead projects independently, demonstrated initiative, ability to meet deadlines and prioritize work. 
• Proficiency in Westlaw or Lexis, Word, Excel, Access, Adobe Acrobat DC, PowerPoint, scanning and other standard office equipment. 
• Flexibility, accessibility, and willingness to lend varying degrees of support when required.
• Experience working in the juvenile justice or human services fields, and a demonstrated commitment to the public sector.
• Familiarity with state's records retention system and experience with budgeting.
• Familiarity with the Background Check Process (i.e. Criminal Offenders Records Information), Department of Children and Families (DCF) abuse and neglect investigations, investigations work, the state's Public Records Law, juvenile laws, and structure of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services agencies.
• Enjoyment of challenges posed by fast-paced environment.

 Additional Information: 

The paralegal will work primarily in the DYS Central Office at 600 Washington Street, 4th Floor in Boston but may be called upon to travel to other DYS sites throughout the state.  Visits to other DYS sites may involve entering hardware/ staff secure residential unit where DYS youth are committed or detained.

Schedule: Shift: Monday through Friday 8:45 AM - 5:00 PM

Days off: Saturday and Sunday

About the Department of Youth Services:

As the Juvenile Justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Department of Youth Services promotes positive change in the youth in our care and custody. Our mission is to make communities safer by improving the life outcomes for youth in our care. We achieve our mission through investing in highly qualified staff and a service continuum that engages youth, families, and communities in strategies that support positive youth development.  For more information, please go to: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-youth-services.

Pre-Hire Process:

Pre-Employment Requirements: Candidates must pass a pre-employment screening which includes: 1) Drug Screening; 2) Psychological Screening; 3) Medical Examination; and 4) Physical Abilities Test (PAT) for direct care positions. If you would like more information, please logon to the DYS website www.mass.gov/dys to access detailed information on the Pre-Employment process. 

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the   Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form

For questions, please the contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #2.

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must have at least (A) two years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, paraprofessional experience in legal research or legal assistant work, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. 
Substitutions: 
I. An Associate's or higher degree with a major in paralegal studies may be substituted for the required experience. 
II. Completion of one year of study at a recognized, degree-granting law school may be substituted for the required experience. 
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Operator's License may be required.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

COVID Vaccine:As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment. 

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.