Job Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Healthcare Program Enforcement Division seeks a highly qualified Legal Assistant to perform advanced legal tasks for several attorneys. Work involves creating initial drafts of complex legal documents, coordinating complex discovery documents for use in legal proceedings, managing attorney's caseload, and reviewing and filing legal documents.

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. Assistant Attorneys General (AAGs) experience the challenge and honor of public service while enjoying a healthy work-life balance; hands-on legal experience; and engaging camaraderie in Austin, the scenic and lively capital of Texas.

ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS

Legal Assistant IV:

• E-files pleadings with court and maintains case calendars.
• Checks citations quotations, footnotes, and references for accuracy; and prepares tables of authority and table of contents.
  
  Drafts, prepares, reviews, edits, and proofreads documents including correspondence, memorandum, reports, and pleadings such as petitions, dispositive and evidentiary motions, briefs, abstracts, and other documents for use in trials, appeals, hearings, and administrative and agency proceedings.
• Coordinates the service of subpoenas, civil investigative demands, petitions, and notices including deposition notices.
• Prepares, coordinates and schedules discovery and discovery responses for use in legal proceedings, including drafting, editing, and proofreading interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admission and deposition notices, in accordance with state, federal and agency rules, and procedures.
• Organizes and maintains files for cases in litigation and under investigation.
• Assists in responding to requests for discovery including bates labeling, redacting, and coordinating discovery requests.
• Assists in all phases of hearing and trial preparation, including setting hearings/depositions/meetings, ordering demonstrative aides, organizing trial notebooks and exhibits, scheduling court reporters, witnesses, and handling exhibits.
• Researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions and rules and regulations; prepares memoranda of research findings.
• Develops and/or maintains databases for statistical and other information.
• Schedules, attends, and assists, attorneys in preparing for hearings, depositions, trials, appellate arguments, docket calls, administrative and legislative hearings, and meetings.
• Assists with coordinating, assembling, and preparing evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and other documents for use in legal proceedings.
• Assists in document review using electronic document review platforms.
• Performs related work as assigned.
• Maintains relevant knowledge necessary to perform essential job functions.
• Ensures security and confidentiality of sensitive and/or protected information.
• Complies with all agency policies and procedures, including those pertaining to ethics and integrity.
• Communicates with client agencies, court personnel, and outside entities.
• Develops and/or maintains databases for statistical and other information.
• Trains and/or provides technical assistance to less tenured legal assistants.

Legal Assistant V: All the above qualifications PLUS:

• Ability to supervise the work of others.
• Conducts advanced legal research regarding complex issues and monitors developments in law.
• Conducts advanced analysis of date and documents.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Legal Assistant IV:

• Education: High school graduation or equivalent.
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year 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
• Experience: Two years of full-time experience as a legal assistant
• 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 conduct research; to draft, prepare, and interpret legal documents; to evaluate and relate findings to cases in question; to conduct investigations; and to communicate effectively.
• 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 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 arrange for personal transportation for business-related travel.
• Ability to work more than 40 hours as needed and in compliance with the FLSA.
• Perform legal tasks under limited supervision.
• Ability to lift and relocate 25 lbs.
• Ability to travel up to 5%

Legal Assistant V: All the above qualifications PLUS:

• Experience: One additional year of full-time experience as a legal assistant

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience: Four years of full-time experience as a legal assistant
• 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.
• Skill in understanding and processing information, in the use of office equipment, and in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Ability to conduct research; to draft, prepare, and interpret legal documents; to evaluate and relate findings to cases in question; to conduct investigations; and to communicate effectively.
• Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants [Copy of certificate required at time of application]

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