OAG - Bankruptcy & Collections | Legal Assistant V | 26-0449

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Office of the Attorney General, a dynamic state agency with over 4,000 employees throughout the State of Texas, is hiring a part- time Legal Assistant for the Bankruptcy & Collections Division. The Bankruptcy & Collections Division is the centralized collection authority for the State, charged with the responsibility to recover all debts, judgments, taxes, fees, fines, penalties, loans, and other obligations referred to the agency for collection. Division attorneys represent and protect the State’s monetary, regulatory, and policy interests in bankruptcy cases as they may appear.

The OAG seeks a highly qualified Legal Assistant to join the Bankruptcy Tax Team. The position is part-time, 20 hours per week. The Bankruptcy Tax Team represents state agencies such as the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Texas Workforce Commission in bankruptcy cases across the country.  The qualified candidate would perform advance legal assistant work including, but not limited to, coordinating legal activities, analyzing and investigating bankruptcy cases, performing legal research and drafting legal documents, and assisting Bankruptcy Tax Team attorneys with case management.

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

• Maintains an inventory of bankruptcy cases for client agencies
• Maintains calendar, docket, opens and close cases, and monitors bankruptcy plan payments on a case management system
• Maintains case management database for statistical reporting and other information.
• Monitors bankrupt entities compliance with state tax requirements on a client mainframe
• Drafts, prepares, and reviews routine to complex pleadings (motions, objections, responses, notices) and other legal documents in accordance with federal bankruptcy court procedures and other applicable statutes, policies and rules.
• Files (electronically) and serves pleadings in accordance with all applicable statutes and rules.
• Reviews mail and screens calls for attorneys on cases in Legal Assistant’s inventory
• Communicates by phone, email or letter with client agencies, court personnel, trustee personnel, outside attorneys, and other individuals
• Prepares and responds to correspondence, memoranda, reports and other documents
• Researches legal sources (statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions, rules and regulations) using computer-assisted research, and prepares memoranda on research findings
• Assists with all phases of trial/hearing preparation, including scheduling (hearings, depositions, meetings),  coordinating discovery requests with client agencies
• Assists with coordinating, organizing assembling, and preparing evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and other documents for use in legal proceedings (hearings, trials, depositions, docket calls)
• Participates in one-on-one, team, division, client, and OAG meetings
• Complies with all time-reporting and accounting policies and procedures
• Maintains an inventory of bankruptcy cases for client agencies
• Maintains calendar, docket, opens and close cases, and monitors bankruptcy plan payments on a case management system
• Maintains case management database for statistical reporting and other information.
• Monitors bankrupt entities compliance with state tax requirements on a client mainframe
• Drafts, prepares, and reviews routine to complex pleadings (motions, objections, responses, notices) and other legal documents in accordance with federal bankruptcy court procedures and other applicable statutes, policies and rules.
• May provide training and technical guidance to less tenured staff.
• 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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 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: Three years of full-time Legal Assistant experience
• Knowledge of general office practices
• Knowledge of legal terminology, state and federal laws, rules and regulations; research methods and techniques; administrative and court procedures
• Knowledge of Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, or other legal research tools
• Skill in conducting effective research
• 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
• Excellent writing skills 
• Ability to effectively manage case inventory
• 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 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

• Experience: At least five years of bankruptcy & restructuring experience, including commercial and consumer bankruptcy experience.

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