Jobs and Careers

Legal Assistant / Paralegal (Law Department - State Misdemeanors)

City of Detroit

United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 14 Aug 2026

💰 $81,501/yr($60,383/yr – $81,501/yr)

About the role

Posting number: 2026109194181326LAWjs

Department: Law

Job classification: Legal Assistant

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Legal

Summary

LAW DEPARTMENT

LEGAL ASSISTANT – PARALEGAL

STATE MISDEMEANORS

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 employees, in their official capacity.

The position involves supporting attorneys in two courtrooms prosecuting state law misdemeanors. Must be familiar with criminal law, criminal procedure and criminal trials. Keep track of case outcomes in both courtrooms and enter the data into a Smartsheet.

Position requires the retrieval and dissemination of discovery records for court proceedings at 36th District Court. Discovery dissemination may include but not be limited to electronic and hard copy records comprising of paper and electronic records, reports and police video footage. Electronic records dissemination may include the conversion of files into digital file formats that can be easily converted, copied, redacted, stored, and shared using a variety of secured platforms.

Examples of duties

Be required to manage a variety of digital media formats and software programs.
Must be familiar with converting audio and video data files to various formats.
Must have the requisite skills to upload and download data files to servers and other media platforms.
Performs legal research under the direction of an attorney.
Gathers information regarding laws, ordinances, regulation, court decisions and similar materials.
Draft legal documents and correspondence including, but not limited to, briefs, pleadings, opinions, and other legal documents.
Prepare summaries of research results and conclusions.
Locates and interviews complainants and witnesses, and research facts to obtain necessary information
Assist attorneys in conducting discovery by formulating discovery requests and discovery responses.
Work directly with attorneys and witnesses.
Locates, collects, organizes, reviews and summarizes documents.
Prepares histories and chronologies of events or other subject matter.
Identifies and consults with expert witnesses.
Assist attorneys in all facets of trials including compilation of witness and trial notebooks and identification and compilation of trial exhibits.
Prepares oral and written reports, and presentations.
Maintain and operates computerized databases.
Provides administrative assistance such as preparation of case statistic reports, case summaries, litigation activity reports and other reports as requested by management.
Organizes and maintains evidence materials, case and other legal files and records.
Files pleadings and other legal documents with courts and administrative agencies; efiles documents in all courts
Assist attorneys in carrying out their assignments.
Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; and participating in professional organizations.
Summarizes discovery documents.
Perform 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. Employees in this class will be required to provide and operate a motor vehicle on a reimbursed mileage basis.

EQUIVALENCY