OAG - Environmental Protection | Legal Assistant II-III | 25-0299

General Description

The Environmental Protection Division prosecutes environmental violations; prosecutes and defends cases involving the States natural resources; and defends public utility and environmental orders issued by Texas administrative agencies. Attorneys in the Environmental Protection Division practice in state and federal courts throughout Texas, and the Division prides itself on the quality of the legal services it provides on behalf of the State of Texas. The Environmental Protection Division is seeking a Legal Assistant that will provide support to attorneys in the division with tasks such as scheduling court hearings, drafting motions, filing documents with the courts, gathering evidence, performing research, and cite checking court documents and briefs.

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

• Drafts and prepares pleadings, motions, briefs, abstracts, petitions, summary judgments, legal correspondence, and other legal documents.
• Researches and analyzes sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions, articles, treaties, property titles, and rules and regulations.
• Organizes service of subpoenas, service of notices of deposition, and preparation of other legal documents.
• Checks citations, quotations, footnotes, and references for accuracy.
• Summarizes laws, rules, and regulations.
• Files pleadings with courts.
• Schedules, attends, and prepares attorneys for hearings, trials, meetings, interviews, appellate arguments, depositions, and docket calls.
• Reviews and performs redacting of confidential documents for filing with various courts.
• 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
  
  

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Legal Assistant II

• 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
• Knowledge of legal terminology; of state and federal laws, rules, and regulations; of research methods and techniques; of administrative and court procedures; of the legislative process; and of public notice requirements.
• Assemble and prepare evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and documents for use in legal proceedings.
• Schedule and prioritize attorney caseloads; organize case files; attend initial interviews and depositions; conduct investigations; and prepare chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files.
• Review and redact confidential documents for filing with various courts.
• Help respond to public information requests.
• 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 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 III; All the above qualifications for a Legal Assistant II, plus:

• Experience: One year of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: legal assistant; legal secretary, or general office experience
• Prepare synopses, abstracts, or summaries of complex legal issues.
• Prepare attorneys for meetings with complainants, witnesses, and expert witnesses.
• Draft and respond to correspondence and opinion requests involving legal interpretations and decisions.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in law or a related field is generally preferred.
• Experience: Three years of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: legal assistant; legal secretary, or general office experience
• Knowledge: of Bluebook and Greenbook citation forms
• Certifications: Legal Assistant Certification
  
  

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