DFPS Tx Employment Opportunities – Legal Assistant Ii

Job/Position DescriptionThe Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsiblefor protecting the unprotected: children, elderly, and people with disabilities, fromabuse, neglect, and exploitation. DFPS is a qualifying organization for the ServiceLoan Forgiveness Program. DFPS also offers excellent health benefits, specialdiscounts on many products and services through the Discount PurchaseProgram, a lifetime monthly retirement annuity as well as Texasaver 401(k) and457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. As an additionalbenefit you will receive 12 days of paid annual leave, 12 sick days, and thepotential to earn up to four days of administrative leave each year. Your annualpaid leave accrual increases as your tenure increases. This position shall beresponsible for facilitating and expediting Child Protective Service abuse andneglect cases within the parameters of policy guidelines of the Texas Family Codeand the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.The position performs complex legal assistant work, including researching, analyzing,investigating, and drafting legal documents under the supervision of Departmentattorneys and county and district attorneys representing the Department. Essential Job FunctionsPerforms legal work related to the prosecution of child abuse cases. Prepares, develops, reviews and edits petitions, motions, orders service, subpoenas, inquiries, discovery, and files documents with the district clerk’s office as needed. Handles and prepares correspondence and memoranda. Schedules, attends and prepares cases and witnesses for hearings, trials, staffings, interviews, depositions and docket calls. Coordinates, develops and updated responses to discovery requests. Verifies service of process. Assists in negotiating court orders. Informs Departmental personnel of case status, decisions, and scheduling. Routinely interacts with Department attorneys, district and county attorneys, judges, ad litems, caseworkers and Departmental administrators and performs other work as assigned. Registrations, Licensure Requirements or CertificationsGraduation from high school or equivalent. Two years of full-time paralegal, legal assistant, legal secretarial or Departmental experience.Ninety hours from an accredited college or university may be substituted for the required experience.Knowledge Skills AbilitiesKnowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and related computer software. Knowledge of spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and the ability to adapt to the use of other materials as necessary.Initial Screening CriteriaEducation beyond high school, prior legal assistant and or legal secretary experience Additional InformationPhysical requirements for the position include the ability to drive a vehicle, to lift and carry objects, operate a computer, including operating word-processing, data management and other computer software, to be capable of verbal and written communication, and to operate machinery and equipment, such as copiers, faxes, and other office equipment. https://jobshrportal.hhsc.state.tx.us/ENG/CareerPortal/job_profile.cfm?szOrderID=537597 Copy the URL in the preceding sentence to an Internet Explorer browser to apply to the job directly through the Texas Health and Human Services Career Portal.