Job Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Tort Litigation Division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is seeking a Legal Assistant that provides work which involves researching, analyzing, investigating, and drafting legal documents and assisting attorneys with case management.

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

• Legal Assistant III:
• Drafts, prepares, reviews and edits pleadings, motions, briefs, abstracts, legislative histories, petitions, summary judgments, rules, and other administrative and agency procedures; Participates in coordinating discovery, including the drafting, responding, and calendaring of interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions and other information in accordance with local, state, federal and agency rules and procedures
• Assists with coordinating, assembling, and preparing evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and other documents for use in legal proceedings; assists in all phases of trial preparation, including setting hearings/depositions/meetings, ordering medical records, coordinating discovery requests with client agencies, organizing trial notebooks and exhibits and preparing witnesses for trial; files pleadings with court
• Maintains calendar/docket, files, case openings and closings; maintains case information on electronic litigation case management system
• Researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions, land titles, abstracts and rules and regulations; prepares memoranda on research findings; Reviews citations, quotations, footnotes, and references for accuracy
• Participates in managing attorneys' caseloads including scheduling, prioritizing, preparing chronologies, fact summaries filing, case management; maintains calendar/docket, files, case openings and closings
• Prepares documents; organizes documents in litigation; prepares and coordinates service of subpoenas, notices of deposition and other legal documents to witnesses and parties to actions
• Schedules and prioritizes attorney caseloads; organizes case files; attends initial interviews and depositions; conducts investigations; prepares chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files
• Coordinates the scheduling and drafting of interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions, and requests for information
• Assembles and prepares evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and documents for use in legal proceedings
• Prepares synopses, abstracts, or summaries of complex legal issues
• Prepares attorneys for meetings with complainants, witnesses, and expert witnesses
• Drafts and responds to correspondence and opinion requests involving legal interpretations and decisions
• 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
• Legal Assistant IV: All of the above functions for a Legal Assistant III, Plus:
• Conducts statistical, documentary, and investigatory research

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Legal Assistant III:
• 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: legal assistant, legal secretary, or general office experience in a legal environment
• Experience: One year of full-time legal assistant experience
• Knowledge of office procedures in a legal setting
• Knowledge of and familiarity with legal documents
• Knowledge of Westlaw, Westlaw Next, Lexis Nexis, or other related computerized legal research tools
• 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
• Skill in cite-checking
• 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 5%
• Legal Assistant IV: All of the above qualifications for a Legal Assistant III, Plus:
• Experience: One additional year of full-time legal assistant experience
• Ability to supervise the work of others

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants [Copy of certificate required at time of interview]:
• Experience: Legal Assistant experience in civil litigation with the TX Attorney General or other state agency
• Experience: MS Word 2013, Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, Excel 2013 and LCMS
• Experience: File & Serve Texas electronic filing
• Experience with redacting confidential documents
• Knowledge if the Texas Tort Claims Act and Texas Workers' Compensation Act
• Knowledge of legal terminology and principles
• Knowledge of electronic discovery

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