PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Address:  3010 E. Camelback Rd.  Suite #200
Phoenix, AZ  85016

Salary: $47,564 - $87,570 

Grade: 22

Closing Date: April 24, 2025

*Please Note: Initially this position will be required to be on-site but will have the opportunity for remote work as experience demonstrates the ability to work independently.

Are you looking for a career where you can make a difference? Would you like to be part of a culture that promotes learning and collaboration while helping employees with what they need to succeed and thrive? Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) is looking for talented people who will help us achieve our goal of honoring the contributions and sacrifices of Arizona’s public safety employees by providing outstanding service to those who protect and govern our state. At PSPRS, we understand that it begins with outstanding talent. It all begins with you. Join our diverse and inclusive team where you’ll feel valued and inspired to contribute your unique skills and experience.

The mission of Public Safety Personnel Retirement System is to deliver unparalleled service in providing retirement benefits to Arizona’s community of police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, and judicial and elected officials. PSPRS serves approximately 60,000 active and retired public employees. We offer competitive pay and excellent benefits to those eager to serve our membership and mission. Interested applicants can visit www.psprs.com to learn more about our agency.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System located in Phoenix, Arizona is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Paralegal. The paralegal works under limited supervision of the Assistant Administrator/Legal Counsel in preparing of complex legal reports/documents. Determines appropriate method/procedure for completing assigned research projects. Some authority in prioritizing daily work activities. Performs major paralegal work with the Member Services Division which includes local board disability benefit decisions as well as reviews of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, Powers of Attorney, Survivor benefits and Income Withholding Orders related to Child Support all with respect to pension benefits. Additional work product includes completion of complex legal documents/reports; and completed complex legal research projects/investigations related to benefit determinations including disability decision and return-to-work documentation compliance with statute and IRS regulations. As PSPRS issues monthly pension payments for its members, the Paralegal is responsible for timely and accurate completion of assigned work projects, with a very high level of quality.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

• Work independently and as a team with Member Services Division key personnel.
• Monthly review and prepare written responses as to legal compliance of Divorce Decrees, Domestic Relations Orders, Child Support Orders and Tax Levies, including research statutory law and answer questions related to these matters.
• Monthly preparation of Determination Letters and spreadsheets issuing instructions on pension splits and disbursements related to Divorce Decrees.
• Daily review all disability retirement applications and return to work determinations.
• Prepare all necessary documents pursuant to internal policies for all applications/determinations that may not comply with statutory requirements.
• Create, review and update legal policies and procedures based on changes in law or agency practice.
• Daily maintenance of legal tracking log.
• Review meeting minutes.
• Answer questions in person and over the telephone regarding divorce and domestic relations procedures, survivor benefits, disability retirement and return to work matters.
• Review documents to prepare and maintain summaries of material provisions and compliance deadlines on leases, contracts/agreements, tradename and lobbyist repots.
• Accept and respond to Subpoenas and Request for Public Information, including gathering materials, redacting as needed, making copies and drafting response transmittals.
• Perform statutory research and track current legislation.
• Annually review and maintain statutes and summaries of proposed and enacted legislation.
• Update legal books.
• Assist the General Counsel with working with outside counsel on researching a variety of legal issues that arise relating to membership eligibility, statutory and legislative changes, disability and survivor benefits.
  

Knowledge of:

• Arizona state statutes with a particular emphasis on PSPRS, Arizona public records and Trusts, Estates and Protective proceedings.
• Concepts, terminology, principles, procedures of American law and knowledge of the methods and techniques of research and the use of statutes, codes and other legal sources.
• Methods, techniques and principles for writing briefs, reports and other legal documents in the appropriate format.
• PSPRS works with over 250 local employers and their PSPRS pension boards on functions and jurisdictions of local, state agencies.

Skill in:

• Extracting and using information from statues, court decisions, legal documents and related records, including use of online legal research tools.
• Regular contact and providing instruction and eliciting information from members, their family and legal representatives.
• Writing complex legal documents, letters and reports.
• Planning and organizing work activities and completing large scale projects of importance.
• Interpersonal relations as applied to interaction with representatives of courts and Federal, State, and local government agencies.

Ability to:

• Perform legal research.
• Mastery of PSPRS IT systems for queries and documentation.
• Use analytical and critical thinking to complete assignments.
• Plan and organize information monitoring.
• Work in a team environment.
• Perform work with attention to detail and accuracy in high stress situations, including detailed record updating and tracking logs.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

• Bachelor’s degree, associate’s degree or certificate program in Paralegal Studies and/or Paralegal certification.
• 5 years’ experience doing professional Paralegal work in a field related to pensions, family matters or other applicable experience demonstrating competency in learning and performing related work.
  

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a background investigation to include credit and criminal history.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

At PSPRS, we promote the importance of work/life balance by offering workplace flexibility, a learning environment and a team oriented culture. Among the many benefits of a career with PSPRS, are 10 paid holidays per year, accrual of sick and annual leave, affordable medical benefits, participation in the Arizona State Retirement Plan (after 6 months of employment), optional participation in a 457 deferred compensation program, and employer matching on employee deferrals in the 457 plan (limited to a matching of 6% of salary on a per pay period basis).

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Please note that enrollment eligibility becomes effective after 27 weeks of employment.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Andrew Goodwin at agoodwin@psprs.com or 602-296-3738 for assistance.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

All newly hired employees will be subject to E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification.