The Paralegal position provides critical administrative support for Travis County’s Office of Parental Representation (OPR) under the Community Legal Services (CLS) department. OPR provides a voice for indigent, primary parents who have had their children removed or are at risk of having their children removed by The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services due to allegations of abuse/neglect. As a team, OPR can provide parents and families of origin with early, competent, zealous and consistent legal representation and support/case management services.

Under moderate supervision or under supervision of an attorney, provides routine legal research support. Screens, reviews, analyzes and organizes case-related material required for Court presentation and/or case settlement in the Criminal and/or Civil Courts. Drafts agreed summary and default judgment motions and orders. Drafts various pleadings, discovery, motions, affidavits, and subpoenas. Coordinates the work of assigned secretarial support staff.

This is the first in a series of two paralegal-related job classifications within the Administrative Support job family. This classification is distinguished from the Paralegal Senior in that incumbents do not supervise other Paralegals or serve as the primary agent in the research and drafting of legal memoranda on substantive and procedural legal topics. Sensitivity to detail and confidentiality. Customer and client contact. This classification may require work in secure facilities.

• Prepares and organizes case materials. Retrieves information from computer to assist case documentation. Contact office staff, Court personnel, employees from other agencies and others, as required to obtain information needed for cases. Reviews, screens, and analyzes case-related materials for assigned cases. Processes documents, including preparation, filing, and service. Obtains and maintains all case-related documents.
• Assists attorney(s) in preparation for hearings and trials. Coordinates witness appearance in all Court proceedings. Files pleadings and orders. Drafts correspondence to clients, attorneys, governmental and private agencies, and others as directed by attorneys. Conducts legal research, prepares files, subpoenas and other legal documents, as required. Meets with clients to receive and provide case information.
• May appear in Court with attorneys to take notes and follow up on items requested.
• Coordinates discovery, including calendaring and drafting requests and responses in accordance with state and local rules and procedures.
• Coordinates and calendars hearings, trials, and meetings. Maintains attorney and office calendars. Responds to inquiries related to cases and returns messages for assigned attorneys. Maintains personal time and billing records. Maintains statistical records and prepares reports. Communicates with office staff, opposing counsel, DFPS, CASA, Court Clerks and personnel, and other individuals. Contacts witnesses and expert witnesses, as required. Interviews witnesses and prepares summaries.
• May select, train and supervise clerical support staff, including reviewing prepared files and documents. May locate and make contractual arrangements with foreign language interpreters under the supervision of the Chief Counsel.
• Assist with back-up support for the office’s administrative functions.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration or a directly related field AND two (2) years experience as a paralegal;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Paralegal Certificate from a professionally recognized Paralegal/Legal Assistant program.

Eligibility to become a Notary Public.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Jurisprudence, civil law and procedures, including constitutional and statutory law.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to court system.
• Computer equipment, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar, and punctuation.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.
• Law office management and administration.
• Current legal trends in the interaction of law and professional ethics.

Skill in:

• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Analyzing and appraising facts, policies, procedures, and legal precedents in area of specialty.
• Both verbal and written communication, including presentations.
• Acquiring, maintaining, organizing, analyzing and summarizing case information.
• Understanding legal terminology and English grammar.
• Case file examination for documentation accuracy.
• Operating a variety of modern office equipment, including a computer.

Ability to:

• Train and supervise clerical and administrative employees.
• Accurately and succinctly summarize legal information.
• Perform legal research.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Work independently.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Work well under pressure and exercise tact in trying situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to sitting, client/customer contact, standing, walking, vision to monitor, repetitive motion, stooping/kneeling, squatting, bending, and reaching to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: 1700 Guadalupe St, Austin TX 78701

Department: Community Legal Services

Criminal background check, driving, education, andemployment verification are required.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.