Administrative Hearings Legal Assistant II
About The Position
The Administrative Hearings Legal Assistant II performs complex legal assistant work in support of the DFPS Administrative Hearings Unit. The positions is supervised by the Managing Attorney for the DFPS Administrative Hearings Unit and provides paralegal and administrative support for the unit and otherwise supports the Office of the General Counsel. The position also interacts routinely with legal professionals and other staff within the Department; other legal professionals, and the general public. This position works closely with the DFPS Administrative Hearing Attorneys who represent the Department in contested cases before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH). The work involves drafting notices, pleadings, and other documents; coordinating exhibits and witnesses for contested hearings; and organizing and maintaining electronic case files and reports for the Administrative Hearings Unit. This position works with general supervision with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Requirements
- Knowledge of legal practices and terminology.
- Knowledge of legal civil procedure.
- Knowledge of general office practices and administrative procedures.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
- Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
- Ability to prepare clear and correct legal documents.
- Ability to prioritize legal deadlines and develop and maintain tracking systems.
- Ability to prepare legal correspondence and other documents.
- Ability to operate a personal computer and other office equipment.
- Ability to organize and maintain legal files and records.
- Ability to work in a stressful environment and manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
- Graduation from high school or equivalent.
- Three years full-time legal assistance, paralegal, legal secretarial or DFPS experience
Responsibilities
- Assists in production and management of evidence, exhibits, affidavits, discovery, educational materials, pleadings, reporter’s records and court records, and other documents in accordance with the direction of the departmental attorneys.
- Develops, prepares, reviews, and edits legal documents including correspondence, pleadings, motions, orders, inquiries, discovery documents, public information, and other legal documents in accordance with the direction of the departmental attorneys.
- Handles and prepares correspondence and memoranda for departmental attorneys.
- Develops and maintains a coordinated filing and docketing system.
- Interacts routinely and professionally with Department staff, including caseworkers, supervisors, program directors and program administrators, State office staff, private attorneys, judges and court personnel, community groups, professionals and expert witnesses, and the general public.
- Compiles data and files as required by legal staff in a timely manner
Benefits
- excellent health benefits
- special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program
- longevity pay
- generous paid leave
- access to the Wellness program
- lifetime retirement annuity
- Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
