Legal Assistant IV - Office of the General Counsel - Austin/Huntsville (028897)

I. JOB SUMMARY

Performs highly advanced legal assistant work. Work involves coordinating legal activities; researching, analyzing, investigating, and drafting legal documents; assisting attorneys with case management; and supervising the work of others. Works under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

II. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

A. Schedules, attends, and prepares attorneys for hearings, trials, meetings, interviews, appellate arguments, depositions, and docket calls; schedules and prioritizes attorney caseloads; organizes case files; prepares chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files; and explains previously interpreted laws, rules, and regulations to others.

B. Researches and analyzes legal sources to include statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions, articles, and rules and regulations; prepares synopses, abstracts, and summaries of legal issues; and prepares, reviews, and edits pleadings, motions, briefs, petitions, summary judgments, legal correspondence, and other legal documents.

C. Researches and prepares legislative histories; drafts cost analyses and bill summaries for proposed legislation; and tracks and analyzes legislation.

D. Coordinates the service of subpoenas, notices of depositions, and other legal documents; coordinates the scheduling and drafting of interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions, and other requests for information; and coordinates, assembles, and prepares discovery responses, evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and other documents for use in legal proceedings.

E. Confers with other departments of the agency; coordinates the implementation and response of federal, state, and agency mandates; and attends meetings, takes notes, and distributes related information.

F. Supervises the work of others; and plans and organizes work assignments.

• Performs a variety of marginal duties not listed, to be determined and assigned as needed.

III. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A. Education, Experience, and Training

1. Graduation from an accredited senior high school or equivalent or GED.

2. Five years full-time, wage-earning legal work experience. A Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal
Studies or a related field from a college or university accredited by an organization
recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or by the United
States Department of Education (USDE) may be substituted for four years of the required
experience.

Thirty semester hours of course study for a paralegal certificate approved by the American
Bar Association or the American Association for Paralegal Education may be substituted
for each year of experience on a year-for-year basis.

3. Experience in the supervision of employees preferred.

4. Legal research experience preferred.

5. Litigation support experience preferred.

6. Legal writing experience preferred.

7. Experience in the use of LexisNexis, Westlaw, or other related legal research software programs
preferred.

8. Experience in the use of Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent to include word processing,
spreadsheet, database, or presentation software programs preferred.

9. Paralegal certification preferred.

B. Knowledge and Skills

1. Knowledge of legal terminology and of research methods and techniques.

2. Knowledge of administrative and court procedures.

3. Knowledge of office practices and processes.

4. Knowledge of public notice requirements.

5. Knowledge of the legislative process.

6. Knowledge of agency and departmental organizational structure, policies, procedures,
rules, and regulations preferred.

7. Skill to communicate ideas and instructions clearly and concisely.

8. Skill to coordinate with other staff, departments, officials, agencies, organizations, and the
public.

9. Skill to interpret and apply rules, regulations, laws, policies, and procedures.

10. Skill in problem-solving techniques.

11. Skill in the use of computers and related equipment in a stand-alone or local area network
environment.

12. Skill to interpret court documents and correspondence.

13. Skill to review technical data and prepare technical reports.

14. Skill to conduct research and investigations.

15. Skill to evaluate and relate findings to cases.

16. Skill to supervise the work of others.

IV. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITH OR WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

A. Ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, push, stoop, reach above the shoulder, grasp, pull, bend
repeatedly, climb stairs, identify colors, hear with aid, see, write, count, read, speak, analyze,
alphabetize, lift and carry under 15 lbs., perceive depth, operate a motor vehicle, and operate
motor equipment.

B. Conditions include working inside, working around machines with moving parts and moving
objects, radiant and electrical energy, working closely with others, working alone, working
protracted or irregular hours, and traveling by car, van, bus, and airplane.

C. Equipment (machines, tools, devices) used in performing only the essential functions include
computer and related equipment, calculator, copier, fax machine, telephone, dolly, and
automobile.

Please note that applications submitted via handwritten forms, email, mail, or fax will not be accepted. Your job application must be completely filled out and include all employment, do not limit employment to the past 10-15 years. Your application must contain complete job histories, which include job titles, name of employer, dates of employment, supervisor’s name and phone number, and a description of duties performed, and whether it was full-time or part-time and hours per week. If any of this information is not provided, your application may be rejected as incomplete

If you are scheduled for an interview and require any reasonable accommodation in our interview process, please inform the hiring representative who contacts you to schedule your interview. Whenever possible, please give the hiring representative sufficient time to consider and respond to your request.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

*Outside applicants will be required to submit to pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment.*

Questions regarding this posting may be directed to:

Shenesia Jenkins
Human Resources Headquarters
2 Financial Plaza, STE 600
Huntsville, TX 77340
PH (936) 437-3069
EMAIL HR.selectionsteam1@tdcj.texas.gov

The following Military Occupational Specialty codes are generally applicable to this position. Applicants must fully complete the summary of experience to determine if minimum qualifications are met.

Military Crosswalk Guide - Prepared by the State Auditor's Office

The State of Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services. You may make copies of this application and enter different position titles, but each copy must be signed. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of applications, unless specifically stated in the job vacancy notice.