Legal Assistant - DCSE #W2101

Virginia Information Technologies Agency • Fairfax, VA

7d • $55,000 - $67,000

About The Position

At the Virginia Department of Social Services, we put people at the center of
everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and
that all voices, ideas, and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of
excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement, we commit ourselves to
listening, learning, and cultivating environments of trust, respect, and
positive engagement. Together, we are mission-driven, eager to achieve, and
passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve.

We design and deliver high-quality human services that help Virginians achieve
safety, independence, and overall well-being. We are a $2 billion agency – one
of the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia – partnering with 120 local
departments of social services and 31 community action agencies, along with
faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children,
adults, and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside 1,650 (state) and
12,200 (local) human services professionals throughout the Social Services
System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens have
easy access to the services and benefits available to them.

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) engages families for success.
Its Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) manages nearly 246,000 cases to
ensure that child support payments of $598 million per year reach families
across the Commonwealth. Virginia’s children need both financial and family
support to grow and thrive. Children with actively involved parents perform
better in school, have high self-confidence, and generally achieve greater
success in life. DCSE’s mission is to promote strong, self-reliant families by
delivering child support enforcement services, as provided by law, through the
location of noncustodial parents, establishment of orders, enforcement of
orders, collection of child support, and distribution of child support.

DSCE is seeking a highly motivated individual to fill the role of Legal
Assistant. The incumbent of this position would provide legal assistance and
administrative support to the Assistant Attorneys General provided to the
Division of Child Support Enforcement and oversee the daily operation of legal
services for the Central Region child support district office while working
cohesively with other administrative legal assistants within DCSE throughout the
Commonwealth. This position would also be required to cover other district
offices within and outside the region, as needed.

Requirements

• Working knowledge of: • Legal terminology, court procedures and processes, and legal drafting • Administrative support functions
• Demonstrated ability in: • Experience in reviewing, drafting, preparing, proofreading and editing legal documents and correspondence for attorney review. • Preparing and processing required documents with minimal errors to meet specified deadlines. • Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies. • Answering and responding properly to phone calls, text messages, and emails from internal and external employees and customers. • Experience implementing or using a calendaring and tickle system. • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe. • Knowledge of Uniform System Citation. • Working with automated systems and databases. • Providing training, guidance or mentoring to others. • Organizing and prioritizing work as well as adapting quickly to manage a diverse workload with attention to detail with meeting impending deadlines. • Preparing required draft legal documents with a high level of accuracy, and timely and appropriately process documents within specified deadlines. • Working independently and as part of a team. • Communicating clearly and concisely both orally and in writing with varied level of internal and external customers. • Exercising sound judgment, maintain complete discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive matters. • Must have a professional and helpful demeanor in handling incoming communication with Judges, attorneys, the Division of Child Support Enforcement and the public • Experience in providing training or mentoring other staff.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with DCSE policies and case processing procedures.
• Familiarity with DCSE case management system and document viewer.
• Experience in reading, comprehending, and determining the difference in legal referrals, legal questions, and agency policy.
• Certificate in Paralegal Studies, Legal Assistant, major coursework in Legal Studies or considerable training providing legal support.

Responsibilities

• Preparing, creating, proofreading, and finalizing legal documents from various sources to include legal documents, notes, rough drafts, dictation, and/or previously prepared documents and correspondence, both timely and accurately.
• Assisting the assistant attorney generals in preparing for court cases and respond to legal questions and correspondence while ensuring details remain confidential.
• Providing professional, helpful, quality, and friendly service to customers as well as building strong working relationships.
• Maintaining the attorneys complex court schedule and calendar.
• Providing daily administrative support that includes but is not limited to: Answering and directing calls, taking messages for the assistant attorney generals, answering written or verbal correspondence, faxing, filing, making photocopies, preparing travel vouchers, collecting, and distributing mail.
• Participating on workgroups and assist with process improvement and serves as a trainer and mentor to other legal staff.
• Will be required to travel to and from courts regularly in the Northern Virginia area which may include but not limited to Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Fauquier and Prince William as needed.

Benefits

• VDSS offers excellent health and life insurance benefits, pre-tax spending accounts, state funded Short and Long Term Disability, paid holidays, vacation, tuition assistance, free wellness programs, and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching – Employee Benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed