Legal Assistant

Important Recruitment Information for this vacancy:

• Job Posting Closes: Open Until Filled

Department of Administration, Office of Chief of Counsel (OCC)

Office of Chief Counsel | Kansas Department of Administration

About the Position:

• Who can apply: Anyone
• Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified
• Full/Part-time: Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes
• Veterans’ Preference Eligible: Yes

Compensation:

• Salary Range: $18.27 - $23.08/hr

Note: Salary can vary depending upon education, experience, or qualifications.

Employment Benefits:

• First day of employment coverage under the State Employee Health Plan (SEHP) for medical and prescription drug coverage and dental plan.
• Additional voluntary options including vision, hospital indemnity, accident and critical illness insurance plans and flexible spending accounts.
• SEHP members and their covered family members have access to the HealthQuest Health Center at 9th and Kansas Avenue in Topeka for in-person and virtual health care services.
• Sick & Vacation leave
• Work-Life Balance programs: parental leave, military leave, jury leave, funeral leave
• Paid State Holidays (designated by the Governor annually)
• Employee discounts with the STAR Program
• Retirement and deferred compensation programs

Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information

Position Summary & Responsibilities:

Legal Assistant to Chief Counsel

This position serves as legal assistant to the Chief Counsel and staff attorneys of the Office of Chief Counsel (OCC) within the Department of Administration. The position reports directly to the Chief Counsel.

OCC serves as the primary legal advisor to the Secretary of Administration and agency office directors by providing support in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Department. The legal assistant position requires the individual to have excellent judgment, be able to work independently, and work under the direction of Chief Counsel, staff attorneys, regulatory editor, and occasionally agency personnel from other agency offices. The legal assistant is responsible for general office management, including administrative functions, paying and tracking monthly bills, maintaining purchase logs, and preparing monthly reports for the Chief Counsel on various activities.

Key job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Organize and host semi-annual continuing legal education seminars for state government attorneys. These are live events that may be virtual or in person and requires diligent management and follow up on all levels with speakers, attending attorneys, the accounting department, and the KSCLE Commission.
• Support the Secretary of Administration in the Secretary’s role as the Secretary of the State Finance Council. The legal assistant serves as scribe to the State Finance Council, attending meetings, calling votes, and preparing minutes of each meeting.
• Prepare legal memoranda requiring minimal legal research under the direction of the attorneys, including summaries of clemency applications.
• Track records of the OCC to ensure they are maintained in accordance with the relevant records retention schedules established by the State Records Board. Digitize and organize records of the OCC per instructions of the Chief Counsel and staff attorneys.

Minimum Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have one year of experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, or administrative assistant. Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency. In this position, the legal assistant is required to work collaboratively, work professionally with state officials, and establish positive interaction with many individuals in a complex environment. The successful candidate will possess strong written and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to professionally handle confidential matters, and show an appropriate level of judgment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Additional training/certification as a paralegal is strongly desired. Strong problem-solving skills, excellent analytical skills, the ability to manage multiple projects under strict timelines, and proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams are preferred.

Post Offer Requirement:

Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate: A valid Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate is a condition of employment for all employees of the State of Kansas. Applicants (including non-residents) who receive a formal job offer for a State job, are required to obtain a valid Tax Clearance within ten (10) days of the job offer. A Tax Clearance can be obtained through the Kansas Department of Revenue who reviews individual accounts for compliance with Kansas Tax Law.

If you have a missing tax return(s) or you owe taxes to the State of Kansas, please know that the Kansas Department of Revenue will work with you. The Kansas Department of Revenue can set you up on a payment plan to receive a Tax Clearance so you can get a job working for the State of Kansas. The Kansas Department of Revenue can be contacted at 785-296-3199. Kansas Department of Revenue - Tax Clearance Frequently Asked Questions

Recruiter Contact Information

Name: Brianna Brandt

Email: Brianna.brandt@ks.gov

Job Application Process:

• First Sign in or register as a New User.
• Complete or update your contact information on the Careers> My Contact Information page. *This information is included on all your job applications.
• Upload required documents listed below for the Careers> My Job Applications page.
• Start your draft job application, upload other required documents, and Submit when it is complete.
  • Manage your draft and submitted applications on the Careers> My Job Applications page.
• Check your email and My Job Notifications for written communications from the Recruiter.
  • Email – sent to the Preferred email on the My Contact Information page
  • Notifications – view the Careers> My Job Notifications page

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: “How to Apply for a Job – Instructions” and “How to Search for a Job – Instructions"

Required Documents for this Application to be Complete:

Upload these on the Careers - My Job Applications page

• DD 214 (if you are claiming Veteran’s Preference)

Upload these on the Attachments step in your Job Application

• Resume
• Letter of Interest / Cover Letter
• Three Professional References

How to Claim Veterans Preference:

Veterans' Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a "veteran"; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position. The veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job. Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Veteran’s Preference

How to Claim Disability Hiring Preference

Applicants that have physical, cognitive and/or mental disabilities may claim an employment preference when applying for positions. If they are qualified to meet the performance standards of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, they will receive an interview for the position. The preference does not guarantee an applicant the job, as positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Disability Hiring Preference

PLEASE NOTE: The documentation verifying a person's eligibility for use of this preference should not be sent along with other application materials to the hiring agency but should be sent directly to OPS. These documents should be emailed to Gustavo.Victoriano@ks.gov, or can be mailed/delivered in person to:

ATTN: Disability Hiring Preference Coordinator
Office of Personnel Services
Docking State Office Building 915 SW Harrison Rd.
Topeka, KS 66614

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.