TDA - F&N Legal Assistant (59405)

F&N LEGAL ASSISTANT

Salary Information: B20, $4,725 / MO; B22, $5,300 / MO.

State Classification: 3576/3578 – Legal Assistant III/IV

FLSA Status: Exempt

Posting Number: 26-59405-3R

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online via CAPPS. Applicants applying through Work In Texas (WIT) will be required to complete additional supplemental questions, optionally provide EEO information including how you heard about the job, and provide an electronic signature in the CAPPS Career Section to be considered for the position.

WHO ARE WE

The Texas Department of Agriculture’s Legal Food and Nutrition (F&N) Section provides legal counsel to the Food and Nutrition Division, including representing the agency in administrative hearings arising from the child nutrition programs administered by TDA.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The F&N Legal Assistant will perform complex to highly complex legal assistant work for the Legal Services Division of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in support of attorneys assigned to TDA’s F&N Division. You will assist with researching, analyzing, investigating matters, and drafting legal documents; assist attorneys with case management; and provide legal support in the areas of contracts, grants, and special projects. You will work under limited supervision with moderate to considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Draft, prepare, review, and edit pleadings, motions, briefs, legal correspondence, requests for production and information, and other legal documents.

Coordinate, assemble, and format evidence, exhibits, and affidavits for legal proceedings. Identify and redact Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to ensure compliance with legal and privacy standards.

Coordinate the scheduling of preliminary and final hearings with the internal Docket Clerk and ensure timely, accurate filing of all legal documents.

Conduct file preparation and organization for administrative appeals, including preparation of hearings files, exhibits, witness lists and exhibit lists including copying and scanning sometimes voluminous amounts of records.

Calculate, calendar, and monitor legal deadlines; assist attorneys in ensuring all deadlines are met and coordinate case interview or preparation meetings.

Conduct legal research and analysis to support legal proceedings, including developing and maintaining a working knowledge of the statutes, regulations and guidance pertaining to the various federal nutrition programs administered by TDA.

Serve as the primary point of contact for F&N staff to research and obtain documents and information necessary for administrative appeals.

Assist with records management, by organizing, maintaining, and categorizing electronic case files; scan and extract records from TDA’s Document Scanning System (DSS).

Facilitate timely and accurate document production, prepare formal referrals on collection matters, and coordinate responses to inquiries to or from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG); and assist attorneys with responses to subpoenas and other discovery requests.

Maintain records management by ensuring all OAG referral records are completely and correctly uploaded to the Document Scanning System (DSS).

Follow all TDA policies and procedures.

Perform other duties as assigned.

The following responsibilities are applicable to the Legal Assistant IV position:

Facilitate timely and accurate document production, prepare formal referrals on investigative matters, and coordinate responses to inquiries to or from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and other regulatory or investigative authorities; and assist attorneys with responses to subpoenas and other discovery requests.

Maintain records management by ensuring all OIG referral records are completely and correctly uploaded to the Document Scanning System (DSS).

Assist the F&N contracts attorney by reviewing contracts and procurement documents and researching related issues.

Associate’s degree (one year of work experience related to the primary responsibilities may substitute for one year of college).

Legal Assistant III: Minimum two years work experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.

Legal Assistant IV: Minimum three years work experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.

Work experience preparing, reviewing and editing pleadings, motions, briefs, legal correspondence and other legal documents.

Work experience coordinating, preparing and assembling evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and documents for use in legal proceedings or formal filings.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation with major coursework in law or a related field or course study for Legal Assistants/Paralegals approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the American Association for Paralegal Education or completion of a program in paralegal studies.

Experience preparing for or assisting with administrative hearings or court proceedings.

Experience with governmental contracts, procurement, or grants.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Knowledge of legal terminology; of state and federal laws, rules, and regulations; of research methods and techniques; of administrative and court procedures; of the legislative process; and of public notice requirements.

Skill in understanding and processing information; in the use of office equipment; and in the use of a computer and applicable software, such as Adobe Acrobat Pro and Microsoft Office.

Ability to conduct research; to draft, prepare, and interpret legal documents; to evaluate and relate findings to cases in question; to conduct investigations; and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; to exercise sound judgment and discretion; and to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

Normal office work environment and may have exposure to dust and environmental allergens consistent with normal business activities and human contact. Mostly sedentary in nature but may involve walking; standing; pulling and pushing; kneeling, stooping and bending; performing tasks requiring fine motor skills and coordination; and safely lifting and carrying items weighing up to 30 pounds. Must be able to work extended periods at a computer and may require working extended hours and some evenings and weekends, as needed. May involve travel, occasionally overnight (up to 5%).

TELEWORK & WORK HOURS

The agency does not offer telework. TDA employees are required to be physically present for work.

The agency’s core business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. TDA also provides limited customer service between 6:00-8:00 a.m. and 5:00-6:00 p.m.

H-1B Visa Sponsorship

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

BENEFITS

The State of Texas offers a variety of benefits for you and your family that are comprehensive and, on average, make up about one-third of total compensation. Benefits include:

Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls. If you submitted your application through the CAPPS Careers Section , you may check the status of your application by accessing your profile and selecting My Jobpage and then selecting My Submissions. To be considered for the position, applicants must complete additional supplemental questions, optionally provide EEO information including how you heard about the job, and provide an electronic signature in the CAPPS Career Section.

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  A valid government-issued driver’s license, which is recognized by the Texas Department of Public Safety and in good standing, and an acceptable driving record are required. TDA will verify this information with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Applicants with a driver’s license not issued by the State of Texas should obtain and be prepared to provide a copy of their current driving record on or before their first day

Background Checks: A criminal conviction records check is required for applicants who are selected for a position.

**Foreign Credentials: upload an evaluation of your coursework if you have obtained a degree(s) from a school outside of the United States; otherwise, we cannot give you credit for your degree. Some organizations that provide evaluation services are:

Foreign Credential Services of America

SpanTran: The Evaluation Company

Global Credential Evaluators, Inc.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): TDA is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, military status, or protected activity.

Reasonable Accommodations: If you are scheduled for an interview and require any reasonable accommodation in our interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls you to schedule your interview or an HR representative at 512-463-7423. Whenever possible, please give the hiring or HR representative sufficient time to consider and respond to your request.

TDA participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

Military and Former Foster Child Employment Preference: TDA complies with the provisions of the veterans and former foster child employment preference acts. Please contact our Human Resources-Veterans Liaison at (512) 463-7454 for assistance.