PARALEGAL SPECIALIST-LITIGATION - 55012348

State of Florida•Tampa, FL

24d•$47,000 - $52,000•Onsite

About The Position

Join FDOT and be part of the team that works as one to improve safety, enhance mobility and inspire innovation in the Florida transportation system. Our Mission The mission of the Florida Department of Transportation is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state’s economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida’s environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state’s communities. Our Vision As a OneFDOT team, we serve the people of Florida by providing a transportation network that is well planned, supports economic growth, and has the goal of being congestion and fatality free. The Work You Will Do: PARALEGAL SPECIALIST/ District 7 Chief Counsel’s office This position will be responsible for preparing and filing legal pleadings and related documents in their correct format with minimum instruction from a Department attorney. Reviewing, investigating, collecting data; including electronic filing and scheduling, gathering background information necessary to respond to discovery and unique inquiries and requests; coordinating and preparing expert witnesses; coordinating deposition, hearing, and trial preparation. Preparing and ensuring compliance with pre-trial orders and case management orders. Performing basic legal research and reviewing legal documents for proper legal citation. Proofreading documents for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors. The Difference You Will Make: Through cooperation, coordination and collaboration among the OneFDOT team, you will be contributing to a strong and empowering culture of TRREC: Trust, Relationships, Respect, Empowerment, and Communication. How You Will Grow: FDOT encourages our team members to grow through engagement, empowerment, training, and professional development. Through our agency’s learning management system, you have access to hundreds of computer-based training and instructor-led courses. Where You Will Work: You are a part of the Office of the General Counsel statewide team and will work in our District 7 Chief Counsel’s office located at 11201 N. McKinley Dr., Tampa, FL 33612. Annual Salary Range: $47,000.00 - $52,000.00 Your Specific Responsibilities: Paralegal to Department's Office of the General Counsel. The person filling this position must exercise sound, mature judgment, and perform a variety of duties with little supervision, as summarized below. While the employee's responsibilities will include routine matters, a substantial portion of the employee's time will involve the exercise of independent judgment and initiative in the completion of a variety of tasks and preparation and finalization of litigation documents under the oversight of legal counsel. As new assignments and emergencies arise, the employee must be able to prioritize the duties of this position.

Requirements

Knowledge of: Legal pleadings
Knowledge of: Litigation process
Knowledge of: Administrative procedure and litigation process
Knowledge of: Electronic mail
Knowledge of: Word processing software
Skill in: Typing correspondence, memorandums, reports, legal pleadings and various legal documents with established format and with no supervision
Skill in: Preparing for hearings
Skill in: Scheduling depositions and hearings, and preparing related documents
Skill in: Meeting deadlines
Ability to: Support attorneys during hearings
Ability to: Perform legal research and write legal memorandum
Ability to: Travel when required
Ability to: Organize and maintain file system for cases
Ability to: Perform basic legal secretarial duties including maintaining attorney’s calendar, copying, mailing, and filing documents with the courts
Ability to: Coordinate work assignments
Ability to: Handle multiple tasks
Ability to: Organize and maintain files
Ability to: Prioritize work assignments
Ability to: Access, input, and retrieve information from a computer database
Ability to: Use electronic mail
Ability to: Use word processing software
Ability to: Communicate effectively orally and in writing
Ability to: Read and comprehend written material
Ability to: Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Ability to: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
Ability to: Work effectively as a team member
Ability to: Work with internal and external customers in a tactful and courteous manner
Two years of experience in legal secretarial work or paralegal work; OR Completion of a traingin program to become a legal assistant, a paralegal, a legal paraprofessional or a lawyer's or assistant; OR Post-secondary education in legal technology, legal administration, legal studies or allied legal services can substitute for the required years of experience on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

Responsible for preparing and filing legal pleadings and related documents in their correct format with minimum instruction from a Department attorney.
Reviewing, investigating, collecting data; including electronic filing and scheduling, gathering background information necessary to respond to discovery and unique inquiries and requests; coordinating and preparing expert witnesses; coordinating deposition, hearing, and trial preparation.
Preparing and ensuring compliance with pre-trial orders and case management orders.
Performing basic legal research and reviewing legal documents for proper legal citation.
Proofreading documents for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.
Responsible for organizing case files for expert witnesses, depositions, hearings, and trials; organizing and categorizing documents and hearing exhibits; assisting in preparation of, and responses to, discovery matters.
Traveling to and providing litigation support during depositions, hearings, and trials.
Responsible for scheduling and updating appointment calendars for attorneys, arranging meetings and depositions, and locating and procuring court reporters for depositions, hearings, and trials in a timely manner.
Preparing and maintaining up-to-date caseload lists and attend case review meetings.
Accurately inputting case records into the Office of the General Counsel Sharepointe, and checking reports for accuracy.
Responsible for arranging travel, preparing itineraries, travel authorizations, and travel reimbursements for attorneys.
Processing purchasing card payments according to Department policies and procedures.
Responsible for conducting special projects as assigned including reports, documents, and technical aspects of various types of presentations.
Responsible for receiving and routing telephone calls and properly delivering messages.
Serving as back-up to receptionist on a rotating schedule with other support staff.