Legal Assistant II

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

10d

About The Position

This position will serve as a support staff in the Enforcement Department. The Enforcement Department is one of seven departments in the Legal Services Division of the HHS Office of Chief Counsel. The Enforcement Department provides legal support related to HHS sanctions against facilities, programs, and services, including reviewing and drafting notices, correspondence, and guidance documents; interpreting state and federal laws, regulations, and rules; rendering legal advice and counsel to HHS agency personnel; providing legal representation in contested case proceedings, and overseeing enforcement litigation in district courts.
This legal assistant position works in the Enforcement Department in the Legal Services Division. The legal assistant II works under general supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. May routinely assist others in performing job duties of greater complexity, and may:

Maintain databases, drafts correspondence, obtains program records supporting the enforcement action, and supports attorney hearing preparation and case management.
Researching, analyzing, investigating, and drafting legal documents.
Schedule and prioritize attorney caseloads; organize case files; attend initial interviews and depositions; conduct investigations; and prepare chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files.
Schedule and draft interrogatories and requests for production, admissions, and information.
Assemble and prepare evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and documents for use in legal proceedings. Including but not limited to review and redact confidential documents for filing with various courts.
Meet with clients and others to discuss details of cases.
Maintain current and historical files of statutory rule changes.

Requirements

• Knowledge of legal terminology; state and federal laws, rules, and regulations; research methods and techniques; administrative and court procedures; the legislative process; and public notice requirements.
• Knowledge of Administrative Procedures Act (APA) and Texas Administrative Code
• Knowledge of accepted business and legal practices and procedures
• Skill in understanding and processing information, in the use of office equipment, and in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Proficient use of computers, including Microsoft Word, Adobe Pro, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, SharePoint or other similar applications/software.
• 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.
• Experience with organizing and maintaining file and record systems, including managing multiple tasks, meeting deadlines, planning and prioritizing work.
• Skill in working with the public.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Attention to detail and proofreading.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision.
• Ability to work independently and effectively as a team member to accomplish agency goals.
• Skill in using office equipment, including copiers, facsimile, collating, binding, etc. for the compilation of exhibits/evidence.
• Ability to compile statistics, gather data and present data in various forms
• Experience in legal assistant work.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in law or a related field is generally preferred.
• Experience and education may be substituted for one another.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge and experience with case management systems, including Salesforce and E-File
• A paralegal certificate is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Provides litigation support to enforcement department attorneys. Communicates with attorneys on a scheduled and ad hoc basis to determine action that needs to be taken on each case. Performs tasks assigned by attorneys in a timely and accurate manner.
• Drafts, reviews, and edits legal correspondence and documents including prehearing motions and discovery requests/responses (such as, motions for summary disposition, stipulations, settlement agreements, requests for disclosure, interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for admission) under minimal supervision of attorneys.
• Facilitates communication of information, including responding to requests for documents, with non-enforcement department staff, including judges and staff from HHSC Appeals Division and State Office of Administrative Hearings, attorneys and staff of the Office of the Attorney General, local prosecuting attorneys and DFPS/ DSHS staff. Communicates information in a timely, appropriate, professional and effective manner. Ensures that clients are informed of important events such as appeals, hearing and trial dates, deposition settings, and case outcomes. Ensures compliance with communication plans between the client and enforcement department.
• Supports litigation function and assists in preparation for hearing. Requests relevant files; conducts initial file reviews; identifies and locates witnesses and prepares case chronologies based on document review and witness interviews; researches and analyzes applicable statutes, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to the case; and researches and arranges for proper service of process. Prepares documentary evidence for trial by redacting records in compliance with HIPAA and other privacy laws and organizing and marking exhibits in compliance with department procedures or attorney instruction. Organizes the evidence, witness outlines, and applicable law into trial notebooks for use during prehearing preparation and hearing.
• Supports litigation function by creating and maintaining case files per department protocol including electronic case files. Creates and/or utilizes a standardized electronic database that collects information on each case assigned to an enforcement department attorney according to department protocol. Generates routine and ad hoc reports per department procedures and as required or assigned by attorneys. If applicable, ensures that case files are properly closed and stored when case is resolved.
• Supports overall enforcement function by carrying out administrative duties. Maintains calendaring systems and helps ensure that deadlines are met. Effectively carries out and manages routine and assigned office management functions within specified timeframes. Performs other duties as assigned.
• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and submits accurate time and leave in a timely manner.

Benefits

• Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees