Paralegal - Child Protection

The Utah Attorney General’s Office, Child Protection Division, Vernal office is seeking a dedicated paralegal to provide essential legal support to Assistant Attorneys General in matters relating to child welfare, abuse, and neglect. The paralegal works closely with attorneys and other legal staff in both the Child Protection Division contributing to the preparation, management, and resolution of juvenile court cases.

Key Responsibilities:

• Case Preparation: Establish, organize, and/or maintain files. Reviews case files and maintains document control, tracking and tracing of court and/or administrative filings and other documents.

• Case Preparation: Drafts various routine legal documents, including petitions, answers, motions and supporting memoranda notices, subpoenas, and discovery documents such as interrogatories, requests for admission, and requests for production of documents, etc. Conducts factual research and complies information obtained from investigations.

• Legal and Factual Research: Searches public and private records. Investigates and prepares cases to include, gathering evidence and preparing for trial. Assists attorneys in locating, obtaining, tracking, and disseminating information and evidence. Knowledge of legal terminology, court processes and systems, and legal processes and procedures. Make a decision to solve a problem by using logical to identify key facts, explore alternatives and propose quality solutions.

• Agency Collaboration: Communicate with the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), law enforcement, and other agencies to gather relevant case data.

• Team Collaboration and Professional Conduct: Can work independently but also work effectively as part of a team. Deal with people in a manner which show sensitivity, tact, and professionalism. Comply with ABA Legal Assistant code of ethics.

Additional Duties:

• Draft correspondence and other legal documents.

• Analyze and summarize data; interprets results and/or makes recommendations.

• Research public and private records in compliance with state and federal laws.

• Assist with discovery needs and participate in strategy sessions for case preparation.

• Maintain case file, document control, and meet strict deadlines.

• Proofread outgoing pleadings for content, grammar, and errors.

Work Environment:

Paralegals in the Child Protection Division are expected to work independently under attorney supervision. They may handle high-impact cases and supervise other support staff. The position requires adherence to ABA guidelines and involves sensitive casework that impacts the welfare and safety of children and families in Utah.