OAG - Crime Victim Services | Legal Assistant I -

About the role

The Legal Assistant I-II position in the Crime Victim Services Division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) performs routine to moderately complex legal assistant work. Work involves researching, analyzing, and drafting legal documents and correspondence; assisting with administrative appeals; preparing evidence and documents for hearings; coordinating case management; and supporting statutory subrogation activities.

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

Responsibilities

• Communicates professionally with, and responds to telephone inquiries from crime victims, claimants, attorneys, and other stakeholders regarding appeal statutes, statutory subrogation inquiries, and general inquiries.
• Processes, reviews and imports all incoming fax and email correspondence.
• Assists in coordinating administrative appeals, including managing and updating appeals dockets, hearing schedules, and claim files.
• Drafts and sends outgoing correspondence related to appeal requests, subrogation interests, and appeals decisions.
• Composes, edits, and prepares administrative and legal documents, including drafting desk reviews for appeals and final ruling decisions as appropriate.
• Provides information regarding statutory subrogation and processes all subrogation claims and inquiries.
• Attends hearings and prepares chronologies, fact summaries, procedural history and other claim information as needed.
• Coordinates, assembles, and prepares evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and related documents for use in administrative hearings as needed.
• Provides administrative and legal assistance in preparing documents responsive to open records requests, subpoenas, discovery, and other legal documents, as needed.
• 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

Legal Assistant I:

• Education: Graduation from high school or equivalent
• Experience: Three years of full-time experience in the following (or closely related) fields: Law, legal assistant, legal secretary, or general office experience in a legal environment.
• Knowledge of legal terminology; state and federal laws, rules, and regulations relevant to crime victim matters; research methods and techniques; public notice requirements; and administrative and regulatory laws in the State of Texas.
• Knowledge of general office practices and legal documents.
• Excellent writing and editing skills, with attention to detail
• Skill in understanding and processing information, in the use of office equipment, and in the use of a computer and applicable software, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat
• Skill in conducting legal analysis and research
• Skill in using a computer for work-processing and data entry/retrieval
• 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 communicate effectively and in a trauma-informed manner with crime victims, providers of service and victim assistance program staff
• Ability to conduct research; to draft, prepare, and interpret legal documents; to evaluate and relate findings to cases in question; to conduct investigations; and to communicate effectively
• 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 15%

Legal Assistant II - All of the above qualifications for a Legal Assistant I, PLUS:

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in law, criminal justice, public administration, government, or a crime victim related field.
• Experience in the following (or closely related) fields may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis: Law, legal assistant, legal secretary, or general office experience in a legal environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants (copy of certificate required at time of interview): may substitute Associate's or Bachelor's degree in legal studies for required certificate
• Experience: Two years' full-time experience in direct victim services
• Experience in administrative or appeals procedures, claims, labor and employment, or legal work
• Paralegal Certification
• Ability to proficiently read, write and speak Spanish