Legal Assistant - Judicial Processing (Inpatient Services)

Job Responsibilities

Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community. You will independently perform specialized administrative functions which require a thorough knowledge and understanding of policies and procedures, and the SC Code of Law regarding the mentally ill and chemically dependent. Work effectively with court officials, designated examiners and various other professionals involved with the commitment due process proceeding and court-ordered discharges at all OMH-Inpatient Services facilities.

• Review, prepare, and processes paperwork involving the judicial process of patients to courts and families.
• Process admission/discharge documents from the previous day's admission and discharges, with notification to the Probate Courts.
• Ensure that any discrepancies of legal compliance are documented and corrected.
• Arrange for service of legal documents (received from Probate Court) upon patients.
• Prepare notarized Affidavit of Service and ensure the record is appropriately documented for action taken.
• Prepare weekly schedules for hearing held at IS facilities and off site.
• Ensures that hearings held at the facility are coordinated and scheduled examiners can be present for hearings.
• If not, arrange for new examiners.
• When hearings are held in house, assures that the hearing room is a proper order before and after the hearing.
• Prepare Travel Vouchers for Probate Judges traveling to facility for hearings.
• Prepare monthly report for SCOMH Legal Counsel of all hearings held by one county for another county.
• Prepare Statistical reports generated by the Judicial Processing department.
• Input information into the Outpatient Electronic Medical Record on all new admissions, judgement and orders, hearing is held or a verbal order is given.
• Daily maintenance of electronic filing system of Judicial patient data.
• Serve as backup for judicial employees at any IS facility when they are on sick leave or vacation.
• Take recommendations to supervisor concerning procedural improvements to office operations; perform other duties as requested.
• Maintain compliance as appropriate with policies covering: Cultural and Populations Specific Compliance Corporate and HIPAA policies, Harassment free Workplace policies, and training.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• A high school diploma and work experience that is related to the area of employment.
• Commissioned and appointed as a Notary for the State of SC.
• Use acquired skills and good judgement.
• Must be able to work with young to geriatric population.

Preferred Qualifications

• A high school diploma and two (2) years of clerical experience; or an associate degree in secretarial science or other related field; or (3) three years clerical experience.
• Must be able to type at least 35 words per minute.
• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.

Additional Comments

Post Hire, Employees Must Have a considerable knowledge of clerical formats, language usage, telephone etiquette, spelling, and ability to perform advance clerical duties and the ability to maintain routine filing systems. Be able to effectively communicate both orally and in writing with staff and the public in disseminating and obtaining information. Have the computer skills necessary to manage D.E. schedules as well as correspondence. Be knowledgeable of law governing the mentally ill and substance abuse clients; must be knowledgeable of policies and procedures regarding ROI and confidentiality requirements. Be able to manage self and time efficiently. Be able to complete MANDT training.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited to, lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental Questions

• Have you ever been employed by the SC Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities - Office of Mental Health (OMH) (formerly SC Department of Mental Health)?
• If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony criminal offense (other than in a Juvenile Court), you MUST list this information (unless you have taken steps to expunge your record.). This includes fraudulent checks, driving under suspension, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, etc. *Please note that conviction of a criminal offense does not bar you from employment in all cases; each conviction is evaluated individually. However, failure to list convictions is considered falsification of the application and WILL BE grounds for termination, if hired. It is your responsibility to know what is on your criminal record. If you have charges on your record that appear without a court disposition (result) you may be asked to provide that information if selected for employment. If you have questions, please inquire before you complete your application. PLEASE NOTE THAT NOT ANSWERING THIS QUESTION WILL DEEM YOUR APPLICATION AS INCOMPLETE AND IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
• Please indicate your understanding to this statement by checking the box below. Checking this box indicates my understanding to the above referenced statement.
• Are you commissioned and appointed as a Notary for the State of SC?
• Do you have a high school diploma and two (2) years of clerical experience; OR an associate degree in secretarial science or other related field; OR (3) three years clerical experience?
• Please indicate your salary requirements (please be specific and not put "negotiable" or "open"). Required Question