LEGAL ASSISTANT II AND III - HILO, HAWAII ISLAND

This vacancy is with the Department of the Attorney General, Child Support Enforcement Agency Division.

Pay

Legal Assistant II: $4,725 per month (SR-18, Step D)

Legal Assistant III: $5,107 to $6,221 per month (SR-20, Step D to I)

Note: The starting monthly salary for Step D is at the minimum rate of pay. For Step D to I, hiring rates will be based on availability of funds, the applicant's qualifications, and other relevant factors.

About the Role

Performs substantive legal work which attorneys otherwise perform, except that Legal Assistants may not give independent legal advice, appear in court, or perform other duties that may constitute the unauthorized practice of law. Work at this level may also include training new Legal Assistant employees.

• Providing preliminary legal consultation services which involves providing legal information, answering questions covered by attorneys' previous interpretations or decisions, or referring those not so covered, and otherwise serving as a conduit between attorneys and clients
• Performing legal research and preparing summaries of specific decisions, laws, statutes, and legal subjects
• Preparing cases for court hearings including the collection, analysis, and evaluation of evidence for use by attorneys in court
• Writing drafts or outlines of briefs, memos, legal opinions, stipulations, orders, and other legal documents for review, approval, and use by attorneys

Level II is the independent worker in the series. Positions in this class reflect workers who are fully competent in basic Legal Assistant functions, procedures, techniques, and skills.

Level III is the journey worker level in the series. Positions in this class reflect workers who are under the general supervision of an attorney and provide the full range of Legal Assistant services required in an assigned program area. Positions independently provide preliminary legal consultation services to line departmental personnel; establish evidence and develop cases; perform legal research; prepare drafts, outlines, or summaries of legal subjects, laws, statutes, briefs, and other legal documents.

Requirements

Applicants will be placed on the eligible list for ALL levels for which they are qualified. To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements:

Legal Authorization to Work

The State of Hawaii requires all persons seeking employment with the government of the State to be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States.

Legal Assistant II

General Experience/Education:

• Four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative, professional, or analytical work experience that provided knowledge, skills, and abilities comparable to those acquired in four (4) years of successful study while completing a college or university curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree; or
• Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor’s degree.

Specialized Experience: Two (2) years of paralegal work experience which demonstrates that the applicant possesses:

• Knowledge of rules of evidence; the legal system and procedures; legal research methods and sources of legal information
• Ability to understand and explain legal processes and procedures; evaluate and analyze facts and legal issues; prepare legal reports, documents, and correspondence; speak clearly, and follow oral and written instructions

Legal Assistant III

General Experience/Education:

• Four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative, professional, or analytical work experience that provided knowledge, skills, and abilities comparable to those acquired in four (4) years of successful study while completing a college or university curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree; or
• Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor’s degree.

Specialized Experience: Four (4) years of paralegal work experience which demonstrates that the applicant possesses:

• Knowledge of rules of evidence; the legal system and procedures; legal research methods and sources of legal information
• Ability to understand and explain legal processes and procedures; evaluate and analyze facts and legal issues; prepare legal reports, documents, and correspondence; speak clearly, and follow oral and written instructions

Note: Experience as a legal stenographer or legal secretary involving only the checking, filing, and processing of legal forms and documents is not considered qualifying.

Substitutions Allowed

Relevant substitutions as described in the Minimum Qualification Requirements will apply.

Benefits

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program: The PSLF Program is a federal program intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. More information.