Attorney in New Bedford, MA

Government

New Bedford, MA

Attorney in New Bedford, MA

Attorney

2-4 yrs required

No

H1: Join the Superior Court as a Research Attorney and contribute to the delivery of high quality justice in a timely and fair manner.

Introduction:

The Superior Court, the trial court of general jurisdiction for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is seeking a Research Attorney to join their team in Fall River. This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $89,. The Superior Court is committed to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law. The Research Attorney will primarily assist judges sitting in Bristol County Courthouses (Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton), while remaining available to serve all the Justices of the Superior Court.

Department Mission Statement:

The Superior Court is dedicated to delivering high quality justice in a timely and fair manner in accordance with the rule of law.

Organizational Profile:

The Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For more information, please visit their website at .

Job Description:

The Research Attorney position is a professional position within the Superior Court. This position involves analyzing and researching legal issues and questions for the Justices of the Superior Court and the Administrative Office, and preparing legal memoranda, drafting judicial decisions and other documents. The employee will be hired at the Research Attorney I level and is eligible for reclassification to the Research Attorney II level upon meeting the requirements of that level. The position title reverts to the entry level Research Attorney I position title when there is a vacancy.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Research Attorney I Duties:
- Research legal issues and questions and assist in writing draft decisions and legal memoranda on civil, criminal, and administrative matters.
- Deliver all legal documents and related work product in a timely and high quality fashion, meeting deadlines and demonstrating continuous improvement.
- Assist in the training, administration, and oversight of law clerks, law fellows, and interns.
- Confer with and advise judges and court officials on legal issues.
- Perform specialized legal and administrative functions.
- Complete special projects as assigned.
- Perform related duties as required.

Research Attorney II Duties:
- Regularly research complex or novel issues or arguments of law and prepare legal memoranda.
- Produce substantially more complex high quality work products specifically assigned to experienced research attorneys.
- Regularly assist in the training, administration, and oversight of law clerks, law fellows, and interns.
- Assist Superior Court Committee members in preparing materials for meetings, judicial conferences, and reports.
- Develop specialization skills in specific legal and administrative functions.
- Lead special projects as assigned.
- Perform all of the duties of the lower level title as required.

Job Requirements:

Research Attorney I Requirements:
- Graduation from an accredited law school and membership (or currently applying for membership) in the Massachusetts Bar.
- Two years of post-law school, professional legal work experience.
- Excellent writing, communication, and legal research skills.
- Ability to produce high quality work product while meeting deadlines.
- Abilities that demonstrate a history of continuous improvement.
- Knowledge of and ability to use computer software such as MS Office, including word processing, spreadsheets, data bases, and PowerPoint.

Research Attorney II Requirements:
- A minimum of four years of experience as a Research Attorney I.
- Considerable knowledge of the Massachusetts judicial system and court policies and practices.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze and research complex legal issues.
- Demonstrated ability to produce substantially more complex high quality work products specifically assigned to experienced research attorneys.
- Ability to demonstrate specialization in specific legal and administrative functions.
- Exhibits initiative and the effective leadership on special projects.
- Demonstrated ability to assist in the training, administration, and oversight of law clerks, law fellows, and interns.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze administrative concerns and to develop feasible solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to perform responsibilities with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with judges and court officials.
- Ability to travel to Superior Court Courthouses throughout the Commonwealth.
- Performs related work as required.

Qualifications:
- Graduation from an accredited law school and membership (or currently applying for membership) in the Massachusetts Bar.
- Two years of post-law school, professional legal work experience.
- Excellent writing, communication, and legal research skills.
- Knowledge of the Massachusetts judicial system and state law.
- Ability to assist in the training, administration, and oversight of law clerks, law fellows, and interns.
- Ability to analyze legal issues and identify relevant case opinions and court policies.
- Ability to work independently and to establish work priorities.
- Ability to deal effectively with attorneys, court officials, justices and the general public.
- Ability to handle sensitive matters on a confidential basis.
- Ability to maintain complex and accurate court records.
- Ability to travel to Superior Court Courthouses throughout the Commonwealth.

Preferred Qualifications:
- Judicial clerkship experience and/or extensive experience involving a high volume of legal research and writing in a litigation context, particularly before the Superior Court, is preferred.
- Judicial clerkship experience is defined as paid full-time post-graduate employment as a law clerk for a court or judge.

Salary and Benefits:

- Starting salary of $89,.
- The Superior Court recognizes the importance of a work-life balance and offers a hybrid office/remote work schedule, subject to certain conditions and requirements, after an initial training and trial period.
- Inquiries may be emailed to Romeo Camba, Manager of Legal Research Services, at (no phone inquiries please).
- This position is designated as a union position and is covered by the Collective Bargaining Agreement with ., Local 6.

Application Process:

- Please read all instructions carefully before starting the Trial Court online application process.
- Applications that do not comply with the instructions may be screened out.
- Applicants must complete the