Legal Assistant I-III (22-0568)

DIVISION: Consumer Protection
POSTING NUMBER: 22-0568
JOB TITLE: Legal Assistant I-III WORKING TITLE: Legal Assistant
MONTHLY SALARY: $3,000.00-$4,150.00 DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS
POSTING DATE: April 27, 2022 DURATION: Until Filled
LOCATION: 401 E. Franklin, Ste 530, El Paso, TX 79901

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. This Legal Assistant Position is located in El Paso and performs routine to highly complex legal assistant work as well as routine to moderately complex investigative work. Work Involves researching, analyzing, investigating, and drafting legal documents and assisting attorneys with case management. Works under moderate to limited supervision, with minimal to considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is a dynamic state agency with over 4000 employees throughout the State of Texas. The Consumer Protection Division works to protect Texas consumers and the legitimate business community by accepting complaints, conducting investigations, filing civil lawsuits in the public interest to enforce state and federal consumer protection laws, and educating Texans on how to spot and avoid possible scams. The Division has regional offices in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Legal Assistant I:
Drafts, prepares, reviews, and edits pleadings such as petitions, dispositive and evidentiary motions, briefs, abstracts, legislative histories, petitions, summary judgments and other legal documents for use in trials, appeals, hearings, administrative hearings, and other administrative and agency proceedings; also draft, maintain, and organize necessary administrative reports/excel spreadsheets
Prepares, coordinates and schedules discovery and discovery responses for use in legal proceedings; to include but not limited to drafting, scheduling response due dates, and sending out interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions and other requests for information in accordance with local, state, federal and agency rules, and procedures; and bates labeling, redacting, and coordinating discovery requests with client agencies
Assists in all phases of trial preparation, including setting hearings/depositions/meetings, ordering demonstrative aides, organizing trial notebooks and exhibits, scheduling witnesses for trial, and handling exhibits during the trial
Files pleadings with court and reviews mail and maintains calendar/docket, files, case openings and closings
Researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions and rules and regulations; prepares memoranda on research findings
Coordinates the service of subpoenas, notices of deposition, and preparation of other legal documents
Checks citations quotations, footnotes, and references for accuracy; sherardizes cases
Schedules, attends, assists, and prepares attorneys for hearings, trials, agency meetings, appellate arguments, depositions, docket calls, administrative hearings or committee meetings and meetings with complainants, witnesses, and expert witnesses
Assists with coordinating, assembling, and preparing evidence, exhibits, affidavits and other documents for use in legal proceedings as well as assist attorneys and support staff with case management; organizing case files; preparing chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files, and attending initial interviews and depositions
Obtains, organizes, and analyzes information, data, and evidence from a variety of sources associated with consumer complaints and investigations. Performs background investigation of and evidence collection from individuals and businesses suspected of engaging in violations of state and federal consumer protection laws
Participates in managing attorneys’ caseloads including scheduling, prioritizing, investigating, preparing chronologies, fact summaries and filing; communicates with state and federal agencies, court personnel or outside entities; and coordinates with other state and federal agencies and organizations engaged in consumer protection enforcement activities
Gathers, organizes, analyzes, and maintains evidence and other materials, including evidence from consumer complaints and investigations, internet service providers, and other third parties using a variety of computer platforms. Assists with drafting Civil Investigative Demands and related correspondence
Assists in document review using electronic document review platforms
Assists with the entry of consumer complaints as needed.

Legal Assistant II: All of the above functions, plus: Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Legal Assistant III: All of the above functions, plus: Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Performs related work as assigned

Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Legal Assistant I:
Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent
Education: Ninety credit hours from an accredited college or university; may substitute one year full-time legal assistant, legal secretary, or general office experience in a legal environment for the required education, with a maximum substitution of three years
Knowledge of legal assistance work
Skill in understanding and processing information, in the use of office equipment, and in the use of computers and applicable software.
Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
Skill in effective oral and written communication
Skill in exercising sound judgment and effective decision making
Ability to receive and respond positively to constructive feedback
Ability to work cooperatively with others in a professional office environment
Ability to provide excellent customer service
Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG work space within OAG work location, and perform in-person work with coworkers (e.g., collaborating, training, mentoring) for the entirety of every work week (unless on approved leave)
Ability to handle stressful situations
Ability to conduct research, to draft, prepare, and interpret legal documents; to evaluate and relate findings to cases in questions; to conduct investigations; and to communicate effectively
Ability to prepare and review legal documents and conduct research
Ability to apply to become a Texas Notary
Ability to arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel

Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA
Ability to lift and relocate 30 lbs.
Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 5%
Legal Assistant II: All of the above functions, plus:
Thirty additional credit hours from an accredited college or university; may substitute one year full-time legal assistant, legal secretary, or general office experience in a legal environment for the required education, with a maximum substitution of four years
Legal Assistant III: All of the above functions, plus:
One year full-time legal assistant experience; may substitute a master’s degree program from an accredited college or university OR forty credit hours from an accredited law school for the required legal assistance experience

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants [Copy of certificate required at time of interview]; may substitute Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in legal studies for required certificate
Experience: Legal Assistant experience
Experience: using electronic document review platforms including Relativity and programs such as Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Adobe Acrobat, and Word
Knowledge: legal terminology and principles
Skills: Familiar with Summation, Trial Director, E-Courtroom, and eFiling procedures in state, federal, and appellate court systems
Abilities: to perform legal research
Certifications: Legal Assistant certification
Other Language: Ability to proficiently read, write, and speak Spanish fluently
Legal Assistant II, III: All of the above preferred qualifications, plus:
Experience: using Everlaw

TO APPLY
Applications for employment with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) can be easily submitted through the OAG’s Job Postings Page
(https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/careers/job-listings). The OAG also accepts applications submitted through www.WorkInTexas.com. Please note: A State of Texas application must be completed to be considered. Pursuant to the Texas Government Code, an applicant for any OAG position may be subject to a criminal background check. Military Crosswalk information can be accessed at http://www.hr.sao.state.tx.us/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf.
THE OAG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $3,000.00 - $4,150.00 per month

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: One location

Salary : $3,000 - $4,150