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Legal Assistant IV - Office of the General Counsel - Austin/Huntsville (028897)

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Posted 6 months ago, valid for 18 days
Location

Austin, TX 78714, US

Salary

Competitive

Contract type

Full Time

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Sonic Summary

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  • The job involves performing advanced legal assistant work, including coordinating legal activities and assisting attorneys with case management.
  • Candidates must have five years of full-time, wage-earning legal work experience, with a preference for those with supervisory, legal research, and litigation support experience.
  • The position requires strong skills in legal writing, knowledge of legal terminology, and familiarity with legal research software like LexisNexis and Westlaw.
  • The role offers a salary of $60,000 per year and requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with potential substitutions for education.
  • Applicants should be able to work independently and possess strong communication and organizational skills.

I. JOB SUMMARY

Performs highly advanced legal assistant work. Work involves coordinating legal activities; researching, analyzing, investigating, and drafting legal documents; assisting attorneys with case management; and supervising the work of others. Works under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. 

II. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

A. Schedules, attends, and prepares attorneys for hearings, trials, meetings, interviews, appellate arguments, depositions, and docket calls; schedules and prioritizes attorney caseloads; organizes case files; prepares chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files; and explains previously interpreted laws, rules, and regulations to others.

B. Researches and analyzes legal sources to include statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions, articles, and rules and regulations; prepares synopses, abstracts, and summaries of legal issues; and prepares, reviews, and edits pleadings, motions, briefs, petitions, summary judgments, legal correspondence, and other legal documents.

C. Researches and prepares legislative histories; drafts cost analyses and bill summaries for proposed legislation; and tracks and analyzes legislation.

D. Coordinates the service of subpoenas, notices of depositions, and other legal documents; coordinates the scheduling and drafting of interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions, and other requests for information; and coordinates, assembles, and prepares discovery responses, evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and other documents for use in legal proceedings.

E. Confers with other departments of the agency; coordinates the implementation and response of federal, state, and agency mandates; and attends meetings, takes notes, and distributes related information.

F. Supervises the work of others; and plans and organizes work assignments.

* Performs a variety of marginal duties not listed, to be determined and assigned as needed.



III. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A. Education, Experience, and Training

1. Graduation from an accredited senior high school or equivalent or GED.

2. Five years full-time, wage-earning legal work experience. A Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal 
Studies or a related field from a college or university accredited by an organization 
recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or by the United 
States Department of Education (USDE) may be substituted for four years of the required 
experience.
 
Thirty semester hours of course study for a paralegal certificate approved by the American 
Bar Association or the American Association for Paralegal Education may be substituted 
for each year of experience on a year-for-year basis.

3. Experience in the supervision of employees preferred.

4. Legal research experience preferred.

5. Litigation support experience preferred.

6. Legal writing experience preferred.

7. Experience in the use of LexisNexis, Westlaw, or other related legal research software programs 
preferred.

8. Experience in the use of Microsoft Office Suite or equivalent to include word processing, 
spreadsheet, database, or presentation software programs preferred.

9. Paralegal certification preferred.

B. Knowledge and Skills

1. Knowledge of legal terminology and of research methods and techniques.

2. Knowledge of administrative and court procedures.

3. Knowledge of office practices and processes.

4. Knowledge of public notice requirements.

5. Knowledge of the legislative process.

6. Knowledge of agency and departmental organizational structure, policies, procedures, 
rules, and regulations preferred.

7. Skill to communicate ideas and instructions clearly and concisely.

8. Skill to coordinate with other staff, departments, officials, agencies, organizations, and the 
public. 

9. Skill to interpret and apply rules, regulations, laws, policies, and procedures.

10. Skill in problem-solving techniques.

11. Skill in the use of computers and related equipment in a stand-alone or local area network 
environment.

12. Skill to interpret court documents and correspondence.

13. Skill to review technical data and prepare technical reports.

14. Skill to conduct research and investigations.

15. Skill to evaluate and relate findings to cases.

16. Skill to supervise the work of others.

IV. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITH OR WITHOUT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

A. Ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, push, stoop, reach above the shoulder, grasp, pull, bend 
repeatedly, climb stairs, identify colors, hear with aid, see, write, count, read, speak, analyze, 
alphabetize, lift and carry under 15 lbs., perceive depth, operate a motor vehicle, and operate 
motor equipment.

B. Conditions include working inside, working around machines with moving parts and moving 
objects, radiant and electrical energy, working closely with others, working alone, working 
protracted or irregular hours, and traveling by car, van, bus, and airplane.

C. Equipment (machines, tools, devices) used in performing only the essential functions include 
computer and related equipment, calculator, copier, fax machine, telephone, dolly, and 
automobile.




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