PARALEGAL SPECIALIST - 60057671

State of Florida•Panama City, FL

About The Position

The Paralegal Specialist assists attorneys in the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Children’s Legal Services Program. The role supports legal proceedings through legal research, fact investigation, document preparation, court-event scheduling, filing and service of legal documents, and discovery preparation. The work supports child safety, permanency, and well-being. The position is located in Bay County, Florida.

Requirements

Applicants must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check before beginning employment.
Background screening includes fingerprint-based State and Federal criminal-record checks through FDLE and the FBI, and may include local criminal-history checks.
Where applicable, applicants must also complete screening under Chapters 435 and 408, Florida Statutes.
Employment may begin only after screening results are received, reviewed for disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.

Responsibilities

Research legal precedent and investigate facts to support legal proceedings, defenses, or legal action.
Draft case documents, including pleadings, motions, notices of filings, subpoenas, and other documents needed to support child safety, permanency, and well-being.
Assist with case prosecution, including preparing for initial or permanency staffing; coordinating case-planning conferences or mediation; arranging diligent searches and service of process or publication; coordinating dispositions; obtaining requested transcripts; and preparing trial and duces tecum subpoenas.
Enter or verify case information in appropriate information systems for accuracy and compliance with AFCARS and Children’s Legal Services requirements.
Handle local Children’s Legal Services responsibilities on appeals.
Maintain calendars to schedule and track court events, case plans, and judicial reviews; coordinate with parties and document activities in appropriate information systems.
Complete data entry for assigned cases in appropriate information systems.
File legal documents with the court electronically or in hard copy, accurately and on time.
Prepare timely, professional draft responses to initial discovery demands; track due dates and coordinate collection of narratives, investigation summaries, medical records, and witness lists; redact discovery documents when necessary.
Track court orders and record draft-order submission and court-entry dates in appropriate information systems.
Open, maintain, and close physical Children’s Legal Services case files according to local office procedures for organization, filing, and storage.
Monitor or assist with monitoring information-system reports and notify the assigned attorney of issues.
Perform other related work as directed by the Regional Director, Managing Attorney, Attorney Supervisor, or Children’s Legal Services leadership.