TDA - F&N Legal Assistant (59405)

F&N LEGAL ASSISTANT

Salary Information:          B18, $4,150.00 / MO; B20, $4,725 / MO; B22, $5,300 / MO.

State Classification:        3574, 3576, 3578 – Legal Assistant II, III or IV

FLSA Status:                    Nonexempt/Exempt

Posting Number:              26-59405-2R

Location:                           Austin, TX

Telework Option:              TDA does not offer telework and all employees are required to be physically present for work.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online via CAPPS. Applicants applying in Work in Texas must complete the supplemental questions to be considered for the position. To complete the supplemental questions, go to CAPPS Recruit.

WHO ARE WE

The Texas Department of Agriculture’s Legal Food and Nutrition Section provides legal counsel to the Food and Nutrition Division, including representing the agency in administrative hearings arising from the child nutrition programs administered by TDA .

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The F&N Legal Assistant will perform moderate to highly complex legal assistant work for the Legal Services Division of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in support of attorneys assigned to TDA’s Food and Nutrition Division (F&N). You will assist with researching, analyzing, investigating matters, and drafting legal documents; assist attorneys with case management; and provide legal support in the areas of contracts and grants and special projects. You will work under general/limited supervision with limited/moderate/considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Draft, prepare, review, and edit pleadings, motions, briefs, legal correspondence, requests for production and information, and other legal documents.

Assemble and prepare evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and other documents for use in legal proceedings.

Coordinate the scheduling of preliminary and final hearings with the internal Docket Clerk; ensure timely and accurate filing of all legal documents.

Conduct file preparation and organization, both paper and electronic, including preparation of hearings files, exhibits, witness lists and exhibit lists including copying and scanning sometimes voluminous amounts of records. Review and redact confidential documents for filing with various courts or hearings offices.

Facilitate timely and accurate document production and responses to inquiries from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and other investigative authorities.

Calculate, calendar, and monitor legal deadlines and assist F&N legal staff by ensuring the deadlines are met; schedule case interview or preparation meetings.

Conduct legal research and analysis to support legal proceedings, including developing and maintaining a working knowledge of the statutes, regulations and guidance pertaining to the various federal nutrition programs administered by TDA.

Act as liaison with F&N staff to research and obtain documents and information necessary for appeals.

Assist with records management, by organizing, maintaining, and categorizing electronic case files and legal documents; scan and extract records from TDA’s Document Scanning System (DSS); ensure official records of F&N appeals and referral records are completely and correctly uploaded into DSS.

Assist the F&N contracts attorney, including reviewing contracts and procurement documents and researching related issues.

Follow all TDA policies and procedures.

Perform other duties as assigned.

The following responsibilities are applicable to the Legal Assistant III position:

Assist attorneys with responses to subpoenas and other discovery requests; prepare referrals to investigative authorities

The following responsibilities are applicable to the Legal Assistant IV position:

Coordinate, assemble and prepare evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and other documents for use in legal proceedings.

Develop and maintain a working knowledge of federal and state procurement standards.

Work on complex or high-profile legal matters or projects.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POSITION

(The application must state how each of the following qualifications are met - resumes do not take the place of the required state of Texas application which must be completed in CAPPS or WIT.)

Associate’s degree (one year of work experience related to the primary responsibilities may substitute for one year of college).

Legal Assistant II: Minimum one year of work experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.

Legal Assistant III: Minimum two years of work experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.

Legal Assistant IV: Minimum three years of work experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.

Work experience preparing, reviewing and editing pleadings, motions, briefs, legal correspondence and other legal documents.

Work experience coordinating, preparing and assembling evidence, exhibits, affidavits and documents for use in legal proceedings.

Substitution: Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in law or a related field or course study for Legal Assistants/Paralegals approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the American Association for Paralegal Education or completion of a program in paralegal studies may substitute for associates degree and required experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation with major coursework in law or a related field or from a course study for Legal Assistants/Paralegals approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the American Association for Paralegal Education.

Work experience creating and maintaining electronic file systems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Knowledge of legal terminology; state and federal laws, rules, and regulations; of research methods and techniques; of administrative and court procedures; of the legislative process; and of public notice requirements.

Skill in understanding and processing information; in the use of office equipment; and in the use of a computer and applicable software.

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, orally and in writing; to exercise sound judgment and discretion; and to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS

Normal office work environment and may have exposure to dust and environmental allergens consistent with normal business activities and human contact. Mostly sedentary in nature but may involve walking; standing; pulling and pushing; kneeling, stooping, and bending; performing tasks requiring fine motor skills and coordination; and safely lifting and carrying items weighing up to 30 pounds. Must be able to work extended periods at a computer and may require working extended hours and some evenings and weekends, as needed. May involve travel, occasionally overnight (up to 5%).

TELEWORK & WORK HOURS

The agency does not offer telework. TDA employees are required to be physically present for work.

The agency’s core business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. TDA also provides limited customer service between 6:00-8:00 a.m. and 5:00-6:00 p.m.

H-1B Visa Sponsorship

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

BENEFITS

The State of Texas offers a variety of benefits for you and your family that are comprehensive and, on average, make up about one-third of total compensation. Benefits include:

ü     Retirement Plan

ü     Paid Group Health & Life Insurance for employees

ü     Paid Holidays

ü     Paid Vacation Leave

ü     Paid Sick Leave

ü     Longevity Pay

ü     Dental

ü     Vision

ü     Dependent Optional Life Insurance

ü     Voluntary AD&D Insurance

ü     Dependent Health & Life Insurance

ü     Health & Dependent care flexible spending accounts

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. A skills exercise may be conducted at the time of the interview.

Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls.  If you submitted your application through the CAPPS Career Center, you may also check the status of your application by accessing your profile and selecting My Jobpage and selecting My Submissions.

*A valid government-issued driver’s license, which is recognized by the Texas Department of Public Safety and in good standing, and an acceptable driving record are required. TDA will verify this information with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Applicants with a driver’s license not issued by the State of Texas should obtain and be prepared to provide a copy of their current driving record on or before their first day

Background Checks: A criminal conviction records check is required for applicants who are selected for a position.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): TDA is an equal employment opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, military status, or protected activity.

Reasonable Accommodations: If you are scheduled for an interview and require any reasonable accommodation in our interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls you to schedule your interview or an HR representative at 512-463-7423.  Whenever possible, please give the hiring or HR representative sufficient time to consider and respond to your request.

TDA participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

Military and Former Foster Child Employment Preference: TDA complies with the provisions of the veterans and former foster child employment preference acts. Please contact our Human Resources-Veterans Liaison at (512) 463-7454 for assistance.

Go to https://texasskillstowork.com/, https://www.onetonline.org/, or http://www.careeronestop.org/ for assistance in translating your military experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications/requirements, and skill sets.

Additional Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Code or Crosswalk information is available from the Texas State Auditor’s Office at MOS Legal Codes.