Paralegal | Healthcare Program Enforcement

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Healthcare Program Enforcement Division seeks highly qualified Legal Assistants who will assist with highly advanced legal tasks for several attorneys. Work involves creating initial drafts of complex legal documents, coordinating complex 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 () 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

• Creates initial drafts of complex legal documents, organizes and reviews legal documents prior to filing, including tables of contents and authorities, and preparing appendices; coordinates complex discovery including the drafting, responding, and calendaring of interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions, and other requests for information in accordance with local, state, federal, and agency rules and procedures; analyzes, drafts, and responds to correspondence and memoranda.
• Schedules and prepares attorneys for hearings, trials, agency meetings, appellate arguments, depositions, docket calls, administrative hearings or committee meetings; manages attorneys’ caseloads; organizes case files; and prepares chronologies, fact summaries and witness files; assists attorneys and support staff with case management; develops and maintain databases for statistical and other information; maintains calendar / docket, files, case openings and closings; file pleadings with the court; coordinates assembling, and preparing evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and other documents for use in legal proceedings; summarizes depositions and other legal documents; prepares and coordinates service of subpoenas, notices of deposition, and other legal documents to witnesses and parties to actions.
• Assists in all phases of trial preparation, including setting hearings / depositions / meetings, ordering medical records, coordinating discovery requests with client agencies, and organizing trial notebooks and exhibits.
• Knowledge of legal terminology; state and federal laws, rules, and regulations; research methods and techniques; administrative and court procedures; the legislative process; and public notice requirements.
• Communicates with client agencies, court personnel, and outside entities; trains and / or provides technical assistance to less tenured legal assistants; assists with conducting training seminars.
• Trains and familiarizes entry level law clerks and legal assistants on procedure in law.
• Schedules, attends, assists, and prepares attorneys for hearings, trials, meetings, appellate arguments, depositions, docket calls.
• Manage scheduling for division management.
• Draft, review, and send communications on behalf of division management.
• Organize and prepare for meetings, including gathering documents and attending to logistics of meetings.
• Answer and respond to phone calls, communicate messages and information to division management.
• Prioritize emails and respond when necessary.
• Maintain various records and documents for division management.
• Complies with all applicable security and safety rules, regulations, and standards.
• Perform legal tasks under limited supervision.
• Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions.
• 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

• Education : Graduation from high school or equivalent
• 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 :
• Experience : Three years of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields : Civil Litigation
• Knowledge of State and Federal procedural rules
• 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%

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Education : Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants (copy of certificate required at time of interview) may
• substitute an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in legal studies for required certificate.
• Experience : Five years of experience in Civil Litigation and training others
• Knowledge : in depth knowledge of legal terminology and principles
• Skills : Using database software; electronic filing
• Abilities : Use of applications for producing electronic discovery; perform legal research
• Certifications : CLA, CP, or RP professional certification