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Legal Assistant (Law Department - Litigation Division)
City of DetroitUnited Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 21 Jul 2026
About the role
Posting number: 2026109194172026LAWJS
Department: Law
Job classification: Legal Assistant
Posting type: Open
Categories: Legal
Summary
LAW DEPARTMENT - LITIGATION DIVISION
LEGAL ASSISTANT (PARALEGAL)
Established by the Detroit City Charter, the Law Department is an independent agency that represents the interests of the City of Detroit as a corporate body. The Department is headed by the Corporation Counsel, whose mission is to provide a variety of legal services to the City, its elected officials, departments, agencies, offices, commissions, and boards, as well as its individual employee, in their official capacity.
The Department has dozens of attorneys, specializing in various areas, who provide legal advice, opinions, and counsel to clients; defend all legal actions against the City; prosecute violations of State law and/or City Ordinances on behalf of the people of the City of Detroit.
Examples of duties
1. Perform legal research under the direction of an attorney.
2. Gather information regarding laws, ordinances, regulation, court decisions and similar materials.
3. Draft legal documents and correspondence including, but not limited to, briefs, pleadings, opinions, stipulations, leases, deeds, contracts, and other legal documents.
4. Prepare summaries of research results and conclusions.
5. Interview clients and witnesses and research facts to obtain necessary information.
6. Act as liaison among clients, various internal departments as well as with outside agencies and parties.
7. Assist attorneys in conducting discovery by formulating discovery requests and discovery responses.
8. Work directly with attorneys and clients during various types of transactions through closing.
9. Locate, collect, organize, review and summarize documents.
10. Conduct on-site investigations.
11. Prepare histories and chronologies of events or other subject matters.
12. Attend meetings, depositions, mediations, settlement conferences, and trials with attorneys.
13. Assist attorneys in the development of case strategy and in the negotiation and settlement of claims and lawsuits.
14. Identify and consults with expert witnesses.
15. Assist attorneys in all facets of trials including compilation of witness and trial notebooks, identification and compilation of trial exhibits.
16. Prepare oral and written reports, and presentations.
17. Maintain and operate computerized databases for docket control, case management, calendaring, and litigation support purposes.
18. Provide administrative assistance such as preparation of case statistic reports, case summaries, litigation activity reports and other reports as requested by management.
19. Organize and maintain litigation, evidence materials, case and other legal files and records.
20. File, pleadings and other legal documents with courts or administrative agencies; efile documents in all courts.
21. Assist staff attorneys in carrying out their assignments.
22. Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; and participating in professional organizations.
23. Other duties as assigned.
2. Gather information regarding laws, ordinances, regulation, court decisions and similar materials.
3. Draft legal documents and correspondence including, but not limited to, briefs, pleadings, opinions, stipulations, leases, deeds, contracts, and other legal documents.
4. Prepare summaries of research results and conclusions.
5. Interview clients and witnesses and research facts to obtain necessary information.
6. Act as liaison among clients, various internal departments as well as with outside agencies and parties.
7. Assist attorneys in conducting discovery by formulating discovery requests and discovery responses.
8. Work directly with attorneys and clients during various types of transactions through closing.
9. Locate, collect, organize, review and summarize documents.
10. Conduct on-site investigations.
11. Prepare histories and chronologies of events or other subject matters.
12. Attend meetings, depositions, mediations, settlement conferences, and trials with attorneys.
13. Assist attorneys in the development of case strategy and in the negotiation and settlement of claims and lawsuits.
14. Identify and consults with expert witnesses.
15. Assist attorneys in all facets of trials including compilation of witness and trial notebooks, identification and compilation of trial exhibits.
16. Prepare oral and written reports, and presentations.
17. Maintain and operate computerized databases for docket control, case management, calendaring, and litigation support purposes.
18. Provide administrative assistance such as preparation of case statistic reports, case summaries, litigation activity reports and other reports as requested by management.
19. Organize and maintain litigation, evidence materials, case and other legal files and records.
20. File, pleadings and other legal documents with courts or administrative agencies; efile documents in all courts.
21. Assist staff attorneys in carrying out their assignments.
22. Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; and participating in professional organizations.
23. Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Successful completion of an American Bar Association approved paralegal/legal studies programs and three years of work experience as a Legal Assistant. -OR-
- An Associate degree with a specialization in paralegal studies form an American Bar Association approved institution and two years of work experience as a Legal Assistant. -OR-
- Bachelor’s degree with a specialization in paralegal studies, legal studies, or legal administration from an American Bar Association-approved institution, and six months of work experience as a Legal Assistant.
LICENSE, CERTIFICATION AND OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Valid State of Michigan Operator License.
EQUIVALENCY
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluate
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