What are the responsibilities and job description for the OAG - Law Enforcement Defense | Legal Assistant I-II | 25-0428 position at OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL?
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Law Enforcement Defense Division (LEDD) of the Office of the Attorney General represents the state’s law enforcement agencies and their officials & employees in civil proceedings in both federal and state court. LEDD is seeking a legal assistant to handle legal tasks in the Law Enforcement Defense Division. Work involves creating initial drafts of legal documents, coordinating discovery documents for use in legal proceedings; assisting attorneys in preparation for trial including organizing notebooks, exhibits and witnesses; and managing attorney’s caseload.
The OAG is a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas. As the State’s law firm, the OAG provides exemplary legal representation in diverse areas of law. OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits (https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance) along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans.
ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS
- Schedules and prepares pleadings, discovery, motions, briefs, summary judgments, legal correspondence, and other legal documents
- Researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, and rules and regulations
- Coordinates the service of subpoenas, service of notices of deposition, and preparation of other legal documents
- Coordinates, assembles, and prepares evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and documents for use in legal proceedings
- Checks citations, quotations, footnotes, and references for accuracy
- Schedules, attends, and assists in preparation for hearings, trials, meetings, interviews, appellate arguments, depositions, and docket calls
- Schedules and prioritizes attorney caseloads; organizes case files; attends initial interviews and depositions; conducts investigations; and prepares chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files
- Reviews and performs redacting of confidential documents for filing with various courts
- Files pleadings with courts
- Assists in responding to public information requests
- Travels throughout the state to conduct site visits, meet clients and witnesses, attend in-person court appearances and mediations, and other in-person litigation activities
- 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
Legal Assistant II: All the above functions for a Legal Assistant I. Plus:
- Performs routine legal assistant work.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Legal Assistant I:
- Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent
- Experience: Three years of full time experience in the following (or closely related fields): legal assistant, legal secretary, or general office experience in a legal environment
- Knowledge of relevant law and legal principles and practices
- Knowledge of State and Federal Civil Procedures
- Excellent organization/administrative skills, including a strong, consistent attention to detail and organized work style
- Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing, and meeting deadlines
- Skill in effective oral and written communication (Note: Writing sample may be required for selected interviewees.)
- Skill in conducting legal research
- 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 more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA
- Ability to work in person at assigned OAG work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated OAG workspace 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 lift and relocate 30 lbs.
- Ability to arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel
- Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 5%
Legal Assistant II: All the above functions for a Legal Assistant II. Plus:
- Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; experience in the following (or closely related) fields may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis: legal assistant, legal secretary, or general office experience in a legal environment
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience: Two years of full-time experience as a legal assistant in civil litigation
- Education: Graduation from a course of study for paralegals
- Knowledge: Legal terminology and principles
- Skills: Perform legal research using Westlaw, LexisNexis or other research tools
- Certification: CLA, CP or RP
TO APPLY
To apply for a job with the OAG, electronic applications can be submitted through CAPPS Recruit. A State of Texas application must be completed to be considered, and paper applications are not accepted. Your application for this position may subject you to a criminal background check pursuant to the Texas Government Code. Military Crosswalk information can be accessed at
https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf
THE OAG IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
