TDA - FND - Legal Assistant (59405)
Texas Department of Agriculture, Austin, TX, United States
LEGAL ASSISTANT
Salary Information: B20, $4,725 / MO; B22, $5,300 / MO.
State Classification: 3576/3578 and—; Legal Assistant III/IV
FLSA Status: Exempt
Posting Number: 26-59405-4R
Location: Austin, TX
Telework Option: TDA does not offer telework, and all employees are required to be physically present for work.
Overview
The Texas Department of Agriculture’s Legal Food and Nutrition (FN) 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 FN Legal Assistant will perform complex 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 FN Division. You will assist with researching, analyzing, investigating matters, drafting legal documents, case management, and providing legal support in the areas of contracts, grants, and special projects. Work will be under limited supervision with moderate to considerable latitude for 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.
Coordinate, assemble, and format evidence, exhibits, and affidavits for legal proceedings.
Identify and redact Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to ensure compliance with legal and privacy standards.
Coordinate the scheduling of preliminary and final hearings with the internal Docket Clerk and ensure timely, accurate filing of all legal documents.
Conduct file preparation and organization for administrative appeals, including preparation of hearings files, exhibits, witness lists and exhibit lists including copying and scanning sometimes voluminous amounts of records.
Calculate, calendar, and monitor legal deadlines; assist attorneys in ensuring all deadlines are met and coordinate 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.
Serve as the primary point of contact for FN staff to research and obtain documents and information necessary for administrative appeals.
Assist with records management, by organizing, maintaining, and categorizing electronic case files; scan and extract records from TDA’s Document Scanning System (DSS).
Facilitate timely and accurate document production, prepare formal referrals on collection matters, and coordinate responses to inquiries to or from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG); and assist attorneys with responses to subpoenas and other discovery requests.
Maintain records management by ensuring all OAG referral records are completely and correctly uploaded to the Document Scanning System (DSS).
Follow all TDA policies and procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional Responsibilities for Legal Assistant IV
Facilitate timely and accurate document production, prepare formal referrals on investigative matters, and coordinate responses to inquiries to or from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and other regulatory or investigative authorities; and assist attorneys with responses to subpoenas and other discovery requests.
Maintain records management by ensuring all OIG referral records are completely and correctly uploaded to the Document Scanning System (DSS).
Assist the FN contracts attorney by reviewing contracts and procurement documents and researching related issues.
Qualifications / Requirements for the Position
Associate’s degree (one year of work experience related to the primary responsibilities may substitute for one year of college).
Legal Assistant III: Minimum two years work experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.
Legal Assistant IV: Minimum three years 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 or formal filings.
Preferred Qualifications
Graduation 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.
Experience preparing for or assisting with administrative hearings or court proceedings.
Experience with governmental contracts, procurement, or grants.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Knowledge of legal terminology; of 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, such as Adobe Acrobat Pro and Microsoft Office.
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, both orally and in writing; to exercise sound judgment and discretion; and to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
Physical Requirements
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.
Visa Sponsorship
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.
Benefits
Retirement Plan
Paid Group Health Life Insurance for employees
Paid Holidays
Paid Vacation Leave
Paid Sick Leave
Longevity Pay
Dental
Vision
Dependent Optional
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Salary Information: B20, $4,725 / MO; B22, $5,300 / MO.
State Classification: 3576/3578 and—; Legal Assistant III/IV
FLSA Status: Exempt
Posting Number: 26-59405-4R
Location: Austin, TX
Telework Option: TDA does not offer telework, and all employees are required to be physically present for work.
Overview
The Texas Department of Agriculture’s Legal Food and Nutrition (FN) 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 FN Legal Assistant will perform complex 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 FN Division. You will assist with researching, analyzing, investigating matters, drafting legal documents, case management, and providing legal support in the areas of contracts, grants, and special projects. Work will be under limited supervision with moderate to considerable latitude for 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.
Coordinate, assemble, and format evidence, exhibits, and affidavits for legal proceedings.
Identify and redact Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to ensure compliance with legal and privacy standards.
Coordinate the scheduling of preliminary and final hearings with the internal Docket Clerk and ensure timely, accurate filing of all legal documents.
Conduct file preparation and organization for administrative appeals, including preparation of hearings files, exhibits, witness lists and exhibit lists including copying and scanning sometimes voluminous amounts of records.
Calculate, calendar, and monitor legal deadlines; assist attorneys in ensuring all deadlines are met and coordinate 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.
Serve as the primary point of contact for FN staff to research and obtain documents and information necessary for administrative appeals.
Assist with records management, by organizing, maintaining, and categorizing electronic case files; scan and extract records from TDA’s Document Scanning System (DSS).
Facilitate timely and accurate document production, prepare formal referrals on collection matters, and coordinate responses to inquiries to or from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG); and assist attorneys with responses to subpoenas and other discovery requests.
Maintain records management by ensuring all OAG referral records are completely and correctly uploaded to the Document Scanning System (DSS).
Follow all TDA policies and procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional Responsibilities for Legal Assistant IV
Facilitate timely and accurate document production, prepare formal referrals on investigative matters, and coordinate responses to inquiries to or from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and other regulatory or investigative authorities; and assist attorneys with responses to subpoenas and other discovery requests.
Maintain records management by ensuring all OIG referral records are completely and correctly uploaded to the Document Scanning System (DSS).
Assist the FN contracts attorney by reviewing contracts and procurement documents and researching related issues.
Qualifications / Requirements for the Position
Associate’s degree (one year of work experience related to the primary responsibilities may substitute for one year of college).
Legal Assistant III: Minimum two years work experience as a paralegal or legal assistant.
Legal Assistant IV: Minimum three years 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 or formal filings.
Preferred Qualifications
Graduation 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.
Experience preparing for or assisting with administrative hearings or court proceedings.
Experience with governmental contracts, procurement, or grants.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Knowledge of legal terminology; of 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, such as Adobe Acrobat Pro and Microsoft Office.
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, both orally and in writing; to exercise sound judgment and discretion; and to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
Physical Requirements
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.
Visa Sponsorship
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.
Benefits
Retirement Plan
Paid Group Health Life Insurance for employees
Paid Holidays
Paid Vacation Leave
Paid Sick Leave
Longevity Pay
Dental
Vision
Dependent Optional
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