This opportunity is only open to residents of the State of Colorado.
About the Colorado Department of Local Affairs
TheDepartment of Local Affairs (DOLA)serves as the primary interface between the State and local communities. The Department provides financial support to local communities and professional and technical services (including training and technical assistance) to community leaders in the areas of governance, housing, and property tax administration. While all state governments provide such services through various Departmental structures, Colorado’s approach is unique in that these local community services are gathered into one Department of “Local Affairs,” which has a central focus on strengthening Colorado communities and enhancing livability.
Vision
The Department of Local Affairs is responsible for strengthening Colorado's local communities through: accessible,affordable, and secure housing; implementing property tax law; capacity building; strategic training, research, and technical assistance; and funding to localities.
Mission
Our mission is to help strengthen Colorado’s communities.
Why work for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs?
The work we do matters greatly. It matters to us and it matters to the citizens of the great state of Colorado. We love our communities and are passionate about supporting our communities. We value the diversity that Colorado offers. If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference in communities across the State, consider joining the dedicated people of the Department of Local Affairs.
In addition, we offer a great location and great benefits, which include:
Strong, secure, yet flexible Retirement Plans includingPERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Planplus pre-tax andROTH 401K, and 457 plans
Paid Life Insurance
Short and Long-Term Disability Coverage
RTD Eco Pass to all eligible State Employees
Flexible work schedule options and hybrid work options
Some positions may qualify for thePublic Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Training opportunities
Variety of Free discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado's Work-Life Employment Discount Program
TheBoard of Assessment Appeals(“BAA”) is a quasi-judicial tribunal which hears appeals filed by property owners regarding property valuation and classification. We efficiently handle a high-volume caseload of appeals, in a process that includes appeal petition review, merits hearings, and issuance of written decisions containing findings of fact and conclusions of law. We are highly engaged with appealing taxpayers, property tax agents, and representatives of county governments. Read about us on our website at baa.colorado.gov.
The Board Clerk advances the BAA’s mission of ensuring access to a fair and impartial hearing process and the timely resolution of appeals by providing legal support to the BAA. This role will take ownership of key tasks that contribute to our efficiency in case management and ensure due process is provided to case participants. The best fit candidate will possess a collaborative interpersonal style, work effectively both with a team and independently, be motivated to add value to our processes, excel at writing, be motivated by public service, and be looking for a way to apply a paralegal or legal education to a role with great benefits and a hybrid work environment. Judicial clerkship, division clerkship, court judicial assistant, paralegal, or litigation experience would provide a useful background for this role. Join a small, dedicated team that serves an essential role in Colorado’s property tax system!
The primary duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
Track, review and analyze motions, researching statutes, rules, and case law to assist with motion resolution.
Provide support in processing appeal petitions that involve unique issues such as jurisdictional questions.
Proofread Board hearing decisions.
Compile records on appeal for the Colorado Court of Appeals.
Perform legal research.
Provide information on Board procedures and processes to case parties and members of the public.
Perform docket management audits to ensure cases are processed timely.
Assist with rulemaking.
Class Code & Classification Description
H5E2XX Legal Assistant II
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:
Paralegal certificate obtained through either an American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal studies program or an accredited institution and one (1) year of paralegal experience.
OR
Education and Experience:Two (2) years of work experience in a paralegal capacity which included conducting legal research, preparing drafts of legal documents and gathering and compiling data from legal references and resources will substitute for the required certificate.
A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school will substitute for the required certificate.
Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for.
Applicants must upload their unofficial college transcripts that include the student name, college name, courses completed and/or degree with date conferred with this application, in order to receive credit.
Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.
Required Competencies
Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.
Excellent writing skills.
Strong analytical skills.
High level organizational skills.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
Possess sound legal judgment.
Understanding of due process and procedural fairness.
Ability to perform independently as well as collaborate with team members.
Litigation, court, or administrative agency/administrative law experience.
Preferred QualificationsJuris Doctor or paralegal with litigation experience.
Administrative law experience.
Experience in ad valorem tax law, real estate, or appraisal is a plus.
Conditions of Employment
You MUST be a Colorado resident (at the time of application) to apply for this position.
Pre-employment criminal and financial background checks will be conducted as part of the selection process.
Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. DOLA uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. DOLA does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.
Only complete applications submitted by the closing date for this announcement will be given consideration. Failure tosubmit properly completed documents by the closing date of this announcement will result in your application beingrejected.
Applicants may submit a resume, cover letter/letter of interest detailing how their experience and background address the stated minimum and preferred qualifications/competencies of the job and attach to the online application. Applications left blank or marked “See Resume” will not be accepted. Please address every requirement for the position with your experience in your application.
The application may include the following documents that MUST be uploaded at the time of application:
A resume (this is not a substitute for the online application demonstrating work history)
Cover letter / letter of interest
Transcripts (if using education to meet the minimum qualifications)
DD214 (member-4 form) from applicants that may be eligible for veteran’s preference
Comparative Analysis
Current and former employees (transfers, voluntary demotions, and reinstatements) are required to participate in the comparative analysis process through this job posting.
Applications will be reviewed to determine if you meet the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for the position. Applicants that meet MQ’s will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, training and experience review, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants. Be sure your application specifically addresses the requirements as listed in the minimum qualifications. Address your specialized experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position duties, required competencies and preferred qualifications in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.
The State of Colorado strives to create aColorado for Allby building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.
DOLA is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assistindividuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, includingcompleting the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to Melissa Bellew, DOLA ADA Coordinator at melissa.bellew@state.co.us.
Email Address:All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email. Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email. Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "info@governmentjobs.com" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.
Biweekly Pay:As of July 1, 2023, all DOLA new hires, including transfers of current state employees and reinstatements of former state employees, will be placed on the biweekly pay schedule. This means you will be paid every other Friday for a total of 26 pay periods over the course of a year. Biweekly pay is also lag pay, meaning you will be paid two weeks after the end of each pay period. Please click here for more information about the move to biweekly payroll.
Technical Assistance:If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attachingdocuments to your online application) please contact NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files, and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.
Appeal Rights:An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director. As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.
Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you,using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgment of the Department’s action. For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.
For questions related to this job posting, please reach out to Yolanda Robert via email at yolanda.roberts@state.co.us.