OAG - Human Trafficking (CRP) | Legal Assistant III | 25-0033

Job Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Human Trafficking Division at the Office of Attorney General (OAG) is seeking a legal assistant to perform work for the division and the Transnational Organized Crime Division. Work involves managing criminal attorneys' caseloads including scheduling, prioritizing, organizing and distributing discovery, coordinating with courts and opposing counsel, and attending criminal hearings and trials.

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

• Participates in organizing, reviewing and distributing discovery, calendaring of discovery, pre-trial and trial
  
  dates, responds to requests for information in accordance with local, state, federal and agency rules and
  
  procedures, maintains case information in an electronic litigation support/case management system, reviews
  
  mail and screens calls for attorneys, maintains section and attorney calendars/dockets, maintains case files,
  
  case openings and closings.
• Assists in all phases of trial preparation, including setting hearings/depositions/meetings, ordering records,
  
  coordinating discovery requests, organizing trial notebooks and exhibits and attending trial. Drafts, prepares, and reviews legal documents, motions, researches legal sources such as administrative records, articles, agency rules and regulations.
• Participates in managing and scheduling attorneys' case-loads, prioritizes and organizes files, files pleadings with court, communicates with client agencies, court personnel, and outside organizations.
• 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: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree; may substitute
  
  one year full-time legal assistant, legal secretary, or general office experience in a legal environment for the required
  
  education on a year-for-year basis
• Experience: One year of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: 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.
• 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 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
• Ability to lift and relocate 30 lbs.
• Ability to travel (including overnight travel) up to 20%

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants/paralegal
• Experience with: Criminal Histories, Warrants, Jail Records, Secure Share, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sharepoint and Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Knowledge: Electronic Filing, criminal laws, procedure and terminology and principles and the Michael Morton Act
• Abilities: Perform legal research
• Certifications: Legal Assistant/Paralegal

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