Paralegal - Labor and Employment

City of Boston Residency Required

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description

DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Chief Labor and Employment Counsel, provides an array of functions in support of the Labor and Employment Department, including office management, administrative and paralegal functions, investigations/investigation support, and general support for employee relations matters that fall under the purview of Labor and Employment Department. Works closely with the Human Resources Office, senior management, and the General Counsel's Office and works regularly with confidential materials of a highly sensitive nature.

Administrative and fiscal responsibilities include the following:

• Coordinates daily activities of the department, including scheduling meetings, negotiation sessions, and appointments; reserving meeting space; answering phones; taking messages and notes; typing correspondence and memos; ordering office supplies; filing and archiving records; and processing incoming and outgoing mail;
• Manages and maintains filing system of cases and other department files;
• Leads responsibilities for office data management, tracking, and reporting, which includes creating and maintaining databases (currently in Excel), entering and sorting data, recording, reporting, and analyzing data related to activities of the department.
• Manages department budget and pays out expenditures via a purchase requisition system; and
• May manage, coordinate, or support special projects assigned to the department.
• Assists department attorneys with all aspects of labor and employment litigation, including answering discovery, preparing jury instructions and other trial documents, conducting legal research and research related to collective bargaining, and drafting legal memoranda, pleadings, discovery requests, and other documents.
• Delivers documents and court filings, which may include driving to outside entities/agencies, as needed.

Legal and Employee Relations responsibilities include the following:

• Supports the office's role in conducting and documenting internal investigations of client and employee complaints in accordance with the BPHC anti-discrimination, harassment, and retaliation policies, and may be assigned to investigate complaints as directed. When conducting investigations as assigned or in collaboration with office attorneys, schedules and attends witness interviews, proofs, and edits investigation reports as requested, and supports attorneys in conducting investigations, gathering information, and preparing investigation reports.
• Serves as a Department liaison with administration and program management, Human Resources Department, labor unions, and other stakeholders on assigned matters. These duties may include coordinating and representing Department in internal meetings with management to review change proposals or personnel issues, coordinating and representing the BPHC as a management representative at labor-management meetings, and representing the Department at other meetings.
• Serves as a Department liaison with the Human Resources Department and provides support in employee relations and personnel matters as directed by the Chief Labor and Employment Counsel. These duties may include meeting with, and assisting Human Resources staff, reviewing proposed disciplinary action under attendance and general conduct policies, reviewing and editing job descriptions in collaboration with Human Resource staff and Bureau management, and editing and drafting hearings and disciplinary notices.
• Participates in administrative hearings as directed. These duties may include representing the Commission at grievance hearings pursuant to Commission collective bargaining agreements, administrative hearings under the Commission's Standard Hearing Regulations, and other hearings as directed, serving as hearing officer at such hearings, drafting hearing charge letters, and issuing hearing decisions/reports.
• Assists attorneys with preparing for, scheduling, and conducting administrative hearings and depositions.
• Participates in collective bargaining as a member of the management bargaining committee and participates in collective bargaining preparation as directed.
• Drafts confidential letters, reports, and memos, including memos concerning collective bargaining.
• Researches and assists in policy and/or proposal development.
• Organizes, coordinates, and supports special projects.
• Responds to requests for advice and services from agency management as directed.

Performs other duties as required.

All applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and short writing sample (preferably 3-10 pages) with the application.

Minimum Qualifications

• BA/BS plus at least two years of relevant experience OR high school diploma plus at least 3 years of paralegal/equivalent experience.
• Must have excellent computer skills, including experience with MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint, and with internet research and Westlaw.
• Must possess and maintain Massachusetts Driver's License.
• Must be self-directed, able to work independently, possess good organizational skills, and the ability to develop timelines for completing work and meeting deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, and organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Must have the ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.

Shift

35 hours per week; Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM

Pay Range

$60,000 to $65,000 annually