OAG - General Litigation | Legal Assistant III | 26-0493

General Description

The General Litigation Division (GLD) of the Office of the Attorney General is seeking a Legal Assistant whose work will involve highly advanced paralegal tasks for several attorneys in the division. Work involves legal research and drafting complex legal documents. Work also involves researching and analyzing legal sources; coordinating complex discovery documents for use in legal proceedings; assisting attorneys in preparation for trial including organizing notebooks, exhibits and witnesses; and managing attorney’s caseload.

OAG employees enjoy excellent benefits along with tremendous opportunities to do important work at a large, dynamic state agency making a positive difference in the lives of Texans. 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

• Drafts, prepares, organizes and reviews legal documents in complex litigation; coordinates complex discovery including the drafting, responding, and calendaring of interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions, and other requests for information in accordance with local, state, federal and agency rules and procedures; analyzes, drafts, and responds to general correspondence and memoranda regarding open records requests, opinion requests, and other documents; assists with drafting cost analyses and bill summaries for proposed legislation; tracks and analyzes relevant legislation
• Schedules, attends, assists, and prepares attorneys for hearings, trials, agency meetings, appellate arguments, depositions, docket calls, administrative hearings or committee meetings; manages attorneys’ caseloads; organizes case files; attends initial interviews and depositions; conducts investigations; and prepares chronologies, fact summaries and witness files; assists attorneys and support staff with case management; develops and maintain databases for statistical and other information; maintains calendar/docket, files, case openings and closings; file pleadings with the court; coordinates assembling, and preparing evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and other documents for use in legal proceedings; summarizes depositions and other legal documents; prepares and coordinates service of subpoenas, notices of deposition, and other legal documents to witnesses and parties to actions
• Researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions, articles, treatises, land titles, abstracts, and rules and regulations; uses computer-assisted research; prepares memoranda on research findings; assists in all phases of trial preparation, including setting hearings/depositions/meetings, ordering medical records, coordinating discovery requests with client agencies, and organizing trial notebooks and exhibits; prepares witnesses for trial
• Communicates with client agencies, court personnel, and outside entities; trains and/or provides technical assistance to less tenured legal assistants; assists with conducting training seminars
• 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: 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: Litigation work experience
• Experience: One year of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: Civil litigation
• Knowledge of State and Federal procedural rules
• 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 work space 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%
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants (copy of certificate required at time of interview) may substitute an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in legal studies for required certificate
• Experience: 3 years of experience in Civil Litigation
• Knowledge: in depth knowledge of legal terminology and principles
• Skills: using database software; electronic filing
• Abilities: use of applications for producing electronic discovery; perform legal research
• Certifications: CLA, CP, or RP professional certification
• Other Language: Ability to proficiently read, write, and speak English
  
  

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