DOB- Legal Assistant II-III

Working Title:              Legal Assistant

Classification:              Legal Assistant II - III                                                                                              

Monthly Salary:            $3,793.42 - $5,122.08

                                      (Salary and Classification Commensurate with Experience)

Class No. / Sal Grp:     3574-3576 / B18-B20 

Location:                       Austin Headquarters Office (This is an in-office position, not eligible for telework)     

FLSA Status:                Non-Exempt

Overnight Travel:         Minimum Travel -Less than 5%
 

Mission:
The mission of the Texas Department of Banking is to ensure Texas has a safe, sound, and competitive financial services system.

General Description:
Performs routine (journey level) legal assistant work. Work involves researching, analyzing, investigating, and drafting legal documents. Assists attorneys with case management. May train others. Work is performed under the supervision of Department attorneys, with minimal latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.  

Job Duties include:
-    Prepares and proofreads legal and administrative documents including correspondence, motions, pleadings, briefs, and orders.
-    Responsible for maintaining various versions of the Law and Guidance Manual: web, desktop, and binder. The binder is maintained in Word.
-    Responsible for posting items to the Texas Register which includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn, and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, and meetings.
-    Responsible for maintaining legal related website content on department website, including proposed and adopted rules, legal opinions, enforcement actions and administrative hearings. Ensures compliance with accessibility requirements for documents posted to website.
-    Organizes and transmits documents in response to subpoenas, discovery, and public information requests.
-    Assists in preparing for administrative hearings and other legal proceedings.
-    May train and assign the work of others performing related activities.
-    Draft, disseminate, and update information from the Legal Division's programs and procedures. Also responsible for generating reports from programs for management. 
-    Responds to outside inquiries and may assist with requests for public information.
-    Develops and maintains filing systems, including document imaging.
-    Performs administrative tasks such as setting meetings, formatting documents, and screening phone calls.
-    Responsible for tracking invoices and contracts for legal services.
-    Researches background information of individuals and businesses for licensing and employment decisions.
-    Monitors record retention of legal files and performs quality control monthly.
-    Provides backup for other Department administrative staff.
-    Performs related work as assigned.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Legal Assistant II:
-    Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. 
           o    Experience may substitute for education on a year for year basis. 
-    One year working experience in the following (or closely related) roles: paralegal, legal assistant, legal secretary, or general experience in a legal environment. Alternatively, two years of work experience in an administrative or assistant role.

Legal Assistant III:
-    Same education requirements of Legal Assistant II
-    Two years of work experience in the following (or closely related) roles: paralegal, legal assistant, legal secretary, or general experience in a legal environment.

Copy of official college transcripts must be submitted with The State of Texas Application for Employment.

Preferred Qualifications:
-    Experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, legal secretary, or in a legal support function.

Special Requirements:
-    Position requires at least 5% overnight travel.
-    Must possess or obtain within 90 days a valid Texas driver's license. Satisfactory driving records are required for driving any vehicle to conduct agency business. Final applicants must certify that personally owned vehicles used for agency business have Texas minimum liability coverage and a valid state inspection.
-    This position requires that the incumbent demonstrate strong personal financial responsibility and integrity. 
-    Applicants selected for an interview may be asked to complete a work style profile.
-    Final applicants may be subject to an employment credit check, driving record check, and criminal background check.
-    State law prohibits any employee of the Department from being or becoming "directly or indirectly indebted to or financially interested in an entity supervised or regulated by the Banking Commissioner." See Texas Finance Code, Section 12.107.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
-    Knowledge of procedures and terminology relating to legal proceedings.
-    Skill in communicating effectively both verbally and in writing.
-    Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion. 
-    Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors and co-workers, and to deal with the public.
-    Skill in using Microsoft Office and other computer programs used by the Department.
-    Working knowledge of Adobe Acrobat Pro.
-    Skill in maintaining records and preparing non-routine correspondence and reports.
-    Skill in typing at a minimum speed of 40 words per minute.
-    Ability to implement administrative procedures and to evaluate their effectiveness.
-    Ability to interpret complex rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Physical Requirements and/or Working Conditions:  
The physical demands described here are represented of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position requires the incumbent to frequently perform sedentary office work; however, mobility (standing and walking) is routinely required to carry out some duties. It requires extensive use of a personal computer, copiers, printers, telephone and client/customer contact. The job also requires normal cognitive abilities requiring the ability to learn, recall, and apply certain practices and policies. It requires the stamina to maintain attention to detail despite interruptions. Marginal or corrected visual, speech and auditory requirements are required for reading printed materials and computer screens and communicating with internal and external customers, and occasional lifting of 20-30 pounds. Requires frequent work under stress, as a team member and in direct contact with others. Travel is less than 5% with possible overnight stays. 
 

How to Apply:
To submit your application for employment, create and/or login to your online applicant profile and electronically submit your State of Texas Application for Employment.

All applications must contain complete job histories, which include job titles, dates of employment, name of employer, supervisor's name and phone number and a description of duties performed. If this information is not submitted, your application may be rejected because it is incomplete. Resumes do not take the place of this required information.

Transcripts:
If education is used to meet the minimum requirements of the job posting, a copy of college transcript(s) issued from the registrar must be uploaded in CAPPS for your application to be considered complete. Foreign education credentials must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE member credential evaluation service. Please contact [email protected] immediately if you are having difficulty uploading transcripts to your application.

Applications Submitted through Work in Texas:
Applicants may submit applications through Work in Texas (WIT), however applicants must complete work history, education and the supplemental questions in CAPPS to be considered for the position. In order to complete the supplemental questions, please register and/or login to CAPPS Candidate Gateway and access your profile.

SAO Military Crosswalk:     https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_Legal.pdf

Remarks:    State law prohibits any employee of the Department from being or becoming "directly or indirectly indebted to, or financially interested in an entity supervised or regulated by the Banking Commissioner."  See Texas Finance Code, Section 12.107.

Those selected for an interview will be contacted by telephone.  Final male applicants between the ages of 18 to 26 will be required to furnish proof of registration or exemption from registration with the selective service system.

E-Verify:    This organization participates in E-Verify. This employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

The Texas Department of Banking is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, age or disability in employment or the provision of services. A disabled individual requiring reasonable accommodation shall not be denied opportunity due to the disability. The applicant should contact Human Resources if reasonable accommodation is required during the application process at (512) 475-1345.