OAG - Criminal Prosecutions | Legal Assistant II-III | 26-0432

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Criminal Prosecutions Division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), is seeking a Legal Assistant that organizes, names individual documents/data, and bates numbers voluminous and complex discovery. Coordinates with various entities to gather needed records and evidence. Reviews attorneys’ filings before e-filing those documents and communicates with court personnel for scheduling and obtaining court-filed documents. Performs extensive hearing and trial preparation including, but not limited to, reviewing and organizing exhibits, assisting in preparing trial presentations, constructing notebooks and/or files, researching and coordinating that the trial team has all equipment needed for trial, communicating with witnesses about their travel and testimony schedules, and traveling to hearings and trials. Performs complex to highly complex legal assistant work.  Works under general to limited supervision with moderate to considerable latitude for the user of initiative and independent judgment.  

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 II

• Participates in coordinating discovery including drafting, responding, and calendaring of discovery deadlines, and other requests for information in accordance with local, state, federal and agency rules and procedures; maintains case information in electronic litigation support/case management system including case status, scheduling of deadlines and other pertinent information; and reviews mail and screens calls for attorneys.  Maintains calendar/docket, files, case openings and closings
• Assists in all phases of trial preparation, including setting hearings/depositions/meetings, ordering records, coordinating discovery requests with client agencies, organizing trial notebooks and exhibits and preparing witnesses for trial; drafts, prepares, and reviews legal documents; research’s legal sources such as administrative records, articles, agency rules and regulations; prepares memoranda on research findings
• Participates in managing and scheduling attorneys’ case-loads; prioritizes and organizes files; prepares chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files; files pleadings with court; communicates with client agencies, court personnel, and outside entities; and may train others
   

Legal Assistant III: All of the above functions for Legal Assistant II PLUS:

• May supervise the work of others
• 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

Legal Assistant II:

• 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
• Knowledge of office procedures in a legal setting
• 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 40% 

   

Legal Assistant III: All of the above functions for Legal Assistant II PLUS:

• One year of full-time experience working in the following (or closely related) fields: legal assistant; legal secretary, or general office experience
   

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants\paralegal 
• Experience: Criminal Histories, Warrants, Jail Records, Secure Share, Word, Powerpoint, Omnixx and Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Knowledge: Electronic Filing, legal terminology and principles and the Michael Morton Act
• Abilities: Perform legal research
• Certifications: Legal Assistant\Paralegal
• Other Language: Ability to proficiently read, write, and speak XX 
   

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