Paralegal/Legal Assistant 2

Office of Legal & Acquisition Services

The Office of Contracts and Acquisitions (OCA) is housed within the Office of Legal and Acquisition Services (OLAS) and has the expertise and authority for creating agreements and contracts and overseeing the acquisition of goods and services for ODJFS. The mission of OCA is to meet and maintain the highest level of compliance with Federal and State laws, rules, policies, and procedures for acquisitions and contracting for ODJFS and to establish and maintain public trust and confidence in the stewardship of taxpayer funds. This position primarily will support OCA but also will provide general legal support for OLAS.

What You Will Do

• Under general supervision, conduct legal assistance interviews with internal and external clients requesting specialized services in the development of acquisition or procurement documents related to goods and services.
• Prioritize workload queue, review and verify budgets and other agreement documentation, create and maintain files, work with ODJFS staff to develop deliverables and grant activities.
• Research federal and state statutes, agency directives, policies, and procedures relevant to the specific request.
• Determine the best legal format, template, and structure necessary to meet the client’s goals and objectives.
• Incorporate required technical legal content into contracts (e.g., fixed-priced, time-and-materials, cost reimbursement) and agreements (e.g., grants, interagency, interbranch).
• Draft amendments and modifications to contracts and agreements to address changing requirements or correct existing legal terms.
• Assist with managing litigation and other legal matters for the agency.
  
  

Challenges

• OCA is a fast-paced environment due to the hundreds of agreements processed each year. Strong organization skills, ability to work on several projects concurrently, and the ability to turn work around quickly is necessary.
  
  

Key Strengths

• Excellent customer service and communication skills are essential for this position, which includes regular communication with internal OCA staff, and program and support offices within ODJFS.
• Attention to detail is critical for accurately drafting and formatting agreements.
• Ability to use proper research methods to gather data.
• Ability to manage multiple variables and recommend a specific course of action.
  
  

Schedule: Full Time

Hours: Standard workdays are Monday through Friday. Hours are between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Location: James A. Rhodes State Office Tower 30 East Broad St., Floor 31, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Travel: Occasional travel within the state of Ohio.

PN(s): 20036684

Option 1

The ideal candidate, at minimum, must have the following:

• Successful completion of certification program for paralegal or legal assistant.
  
  

AND

• 2 yrs. exp. in Legal Research & Writing.
  
  

Or Option 2

• 24 mos. Law School Training.
  
  

Or Option 3

• 36 mos. exp. as Paralegal/Legal Assistant 1, 63810.
  
  

Or

• Equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.
  
  

Tips For Your Application

When completing the different sections of this application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this job posting. We cannot give you credit for your Work Experience and Education & Certifications if you do not provide that information in your online application. Information in attached resumes or cover letters must be entered into your application in the appropriate Work Experience or Education & Certification sections to be considered.

Pay Information

This position is in the State of Ohio’s OCSEA Pay Schedule, Pay Range 29. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $24.16 per hour). These ranges provide a standardized pathway for pay increases. With continued employment, new hires move to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Cost of Living Adjustments increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year. The current step progression wages are in the table below.

Pay Range 29

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Hourly

$24.16

$24.86

$25.77

$26.76

$27.92

$29.22

$30.55

Annual

$50,253

$51,709

$53,602

$55,661

$58,074

$60,778

$63,544

Months of Employment

At Hire

6 Months

18 Months

30 Months

42 Months

54 Months

66 Months

Organization

Job & Family Services

Agency Contact Name and Information

odjfscareers@jfs.ohio.gov

Unposting Date

Mar 29, 2026, 11:59:00 PM

Work Location

James A Rhodes Office Tower 31

Primary Location

United States of America-OHIO-Franklin County-Columbus

Other Locations

United States of America-OHIO

Compensation

24.16

Schedule

Full-time

Classified Indicator

Classified

Union

OCSEA

Primary Job Skill

Attorney/Legal

Technical Skills

Communications, Customer Service, Administrative support/services

Professional Skills

Attention to Detail, Time Management, Written Communication

Agency Overview

Who We Are

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) supports Ohioans and their families through the following programs:

• Cash and Food Assistance
• Employment Services and Workforce Development
• Unemployment Insurance
• Adult Protective Services
• Child Support
  
  

Public service is an honorable way to serve the community in a hands-on dedicated way. You can make a difference in someone’s world!

Guiding Principles

• We will be a leader in customer satisfaction.
• We will have a reputation that attracts and retains talented, diverse, and dedicated employees.
• We get better at what we do every day.