What are the responsibilities and job description for the TCOLE Legal Assistant II position at TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT?
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Performs routine to complex legal assistant work by managing agency attorney work-load including scheduling, prioritizing, attending hearings and meetings. Works under moderate to general supervision with minimal to moderate latitude for the user of initiative and independent judgment. Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTION
o Assists in coordinating, discovery including drafting, responding, and calendaring of discovery deadlines, and other requests for information in accordance with local, state, federal and agency rules and procedures; Maintains case information in electronic litigation support/case management system including case status, scheduling of deadlines and other pertinent information
o Files pleadings with court; Maintains calendar/docket, files, case openings and closings; Drafts, prepares, and reviews legal documents; Research’s legal sources such as administrative records, articles, agency rules and regulations; prepares memoranda on research findings
o Assists in all phases of trial and meeting preparation, including setting hearings/depositions/meetings, ordering records, coordinating discovery requests with client agencies, organizing trial notebooks and exhibits and preparing witnesses for trial; Participates in managing and scheduling attorneys’ case-loads; prioritizes and organizes files; prepares chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files; Communicates with court personnel, and outside entities
o Performs related work as assigned
o Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions
o Attends work regularly in compliance with agreed-upon work schedule
o Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive or protected information
o Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity
o Coordinates, assembles, and prepares evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and documents for use in legal proceedings
o Coordinates discovery including drafting, responding, and calendaring of discovery deadlines, and other requests for information in accordance with local, state, federal and agency rules and procedures
o Prepares material related to commission meetings and open records requests
o May train others
o May supervise the work of others
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent
- Experience: Three-years of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: legal assistant, legal secretary, or general office experience in a legal environment
- Knowledge of office procedures in a legal setting
- 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 work location, perform all assigned tasks at designated work space within 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 travel (including overnight travel) up to 10%
- 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
- Education: Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants\paralegal
- Experience: Criminal Histories, Warrants, Jail Records, Secure Share, Word, Powerpoint, Omnixx and Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Abilities: Perform legal research
- Certifications: Legal Assistant\Paralegal
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY CODES can be found at http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions
VETERAN’S PREFERENCE: If you choose to claim veteran’s employment preference including surviving spouse or orphan of a veteran as outlined by the State of Texas, you must attach a DD214 at the time your application is submitted.
FOR NEW HIRES/REHIRES: Health insurance is available the 1st of the following month after a 60-day waiting period.
TO APPLY: Application may be completed at: Job Search (taleo.net)
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS: Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the supplemental questions to be considered for the posting. In order to complete the supplemental questions please go to CAPPS Recruit to register or login and access your profile. Go to CAPPS Recruit to sign in (Link: https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/407/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en )
PLEASE NOTE: All applications must contain complete job histories, which includes job title, dates of employment, name of employer, supervisor's name and phone number and a description of duties performed. If this information is not submitted, your application may be rejected because it is incomplete. Resumes do not take the place of this required information. Candidates may be asked to participate in a skills demonstration and/or presentation. Salary is contingent upon qualifications and is subject to salary administration and budgetary restrictions.
- Complete copies of college transcripts must be furnished to the divisional hiring representative at the time of the interview for positions
- If you are scheduled for an interview and require any reasonable accommodation in our interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls you to schedule your interview. Whenever possible, please give the hiring representative sufficient time to consider and respond to your request. Only applicants scheduled for interviews will be contacted.
- As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the veteran’s preference.
- This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.
