TJJD - Legal Assistant IV - (AUS)

We are committed to transforming lives and building safter communities by working collaboratively, communicating openly, and upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. Our team models accountability, transparency, and respect, taking proactive steps to ensure the physical and emotional safety of youth, staff, and the community. We strive for excellence through continuous growth, thoughtful decision making, and mission driven collaboration, supporting one another while embracing challenges that lead to meaningful, long-term impact.

Performs complex (Senior-level) legal assistant work involving reviewing, researching, analyzing, and investigating information contained in legal documents as well as drafting and editing legal information relating to the intake of a youth committed to the custody of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). The documents and information are used in determining a youth¿s minimum length of stay, placement planning, and program restriction levels. 

Serves as a team lead for other staff involved in the review and approval of the court orders portion of the intake process; plans, assigns, reviews, and monitors the work of such staff; and provides technical support, consultation, and training to such staff. Coordinates the assignment of reviews of court orders to designated attorneys within the TJJD Office of General Counsel.

Additionally performs complex (Senior-level) legal assistant work involving the coordination of legal activities; collecting, researching, analyzing, investigating, drafting, and editing legal documents and correspondence; assisting the agency¿s attorneys with case management; and planning and preparing related reports. Supports a variety of legal services as directed by TJJD general counsel or deputy general counsel, including legal services relating to personnel, juvenile corrections and supervision practices, open records, open meetings, administrative procedures, transactional matters, and litigation, with a potential focus on supporting the attorneys responsible for administrative due process hearings, proposed appeal decisions, and/or litigation. 

Administrative due process hearings include youth parole revocation hearings, employee termination grievance hearings involving legal, procedural, and technical issues, and administrative hearings before the State Office of Administrative Hearings involving potential revocation or suspension of certification for juvenile probation or supervision officers or declaration of ineligibility for certification for other juvenile justice professionals. Proposed appeal decisions are prepared in response to appeals filed by youth committed to TJJD, parents or guardians of such youth, or TJJD employees. Such appeals are generally appealing facility-level responses to youth grievances or the findings and decisions of youth disciplinary due process hearings for alleged rule violations. Other appeals include appeals of the findings of abuse, neglect, and exploitation investigations involving such youth and investigations in alleged employee misconduct involving harassment, retaliation, and discrimination. The litigation function requires legal assistance work for various stages of litigation. May assist in assigning and overseeing work performed by the OGC administrative assistants. 

Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. May be required to work more than 40 hours per work week. May be required to travel.

Reviews and ensures that TJJD receives the appropriate legal and supporting documents from the committing court, for the admission of a youth to TJJD.

Reviews the commitment order and other court documentation submitted by the juvenile court to determine if the documents meet the requirements for a valid admission of a youth to TJJD, before TJJD admits the youth; verifies technical data; and serves as the Team Lead for the review process.

Researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes and agency rules; compares offense and penal code citations used in the commitment orders against state penal code; and assists in identifying key factors in determination of misdemeanor and felony offenses.

Performs quality assurance checks to ensure appropriate and sufficient information has been received and accurately recorded.

Researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions, articles, treaties, property titles, rules and regulations, and agency policies; and drafts, reviews, edits, and participates in the preparation of synopses, abstracts, summaries of complex legal issues, and responds to correspondence and opinion requests involving legal interpretations and decisions.

Reviews and interprets related policies and procedures; and makes administrative decisions as appropriate. 

Acts as TJJD liaison to committing courts and county probation departments and contacts them regarding missing or insufficient documents.

Collaborates with intake staff in meeting established objectives and goals; and shares information, identifies concerns and trends, and recommends improvements to resolve problems or enhance operations. 

Serves as a team lead for other administrative support staff involved in the intake process; plans, assigns, reviews, and monitors the work of such staff, which includes documentation review, data entry, and clerical work; and provides technical support, consultation, and training to such staff. 

Schedules and prioritizes attorney caseloads; organizes case files; and coordinates the scheduling of interrogatories and administrative due process hearings.

Recruits and appoints youth defense attorneys for administrative hearings and follows up with written confirmation; and serves as agency liaison to such attorneys regarding such hearings.

Reviews and characterizes appeals, collects information for appeal responses, reviews record of hearings and prepares summary of hearing record; maintains appeals tracking log, assists in reviewing and editing appeal responses and drafts responses to appeals as directed; and ensures all claims and pending issues are resolved before closing file.

Prepares attorneys for meetings with complainants and witnesses; coordinates the drafting of interrogatories, requests for production, requests for admissions, and requests for information; and coordinates, assembles, and prepares evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and documents for use in legal proceedings.

Schedules administrative due process hearings and liaisons with defense attorneys and agency staff regarding related concerns or issues with due process hearings.

Attends initial interviews and depositions; conducts investigations; and prepares chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files.

Researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions, articles, treaties, property titles, rules and regulations, and agency policies; and drafts, reviews, edits, and participates in the preparation of synopses, abstracts, summaries of complex legal issues, and responses to correspondence and opinion requests involving legal interpretations and decisions.

Prepares, reviews, and edits pleadings, motions, briefs, abstracts, petitions, summary judgments, and other legal documents; and assists in editing and finalizing agency contracts.

Drafts or assists in drafting analyses of proposed legislation; and researches and prepares legislative histories.

Assists in the preparation of administrative reports, studies, and specialized research projects.

Performs all duties in compliance with agency safety policies and procedures:

• Reports safety hazards and corrects hazards when possible.
• Completes required documentation in the event of an accident/injury within requested time frames.

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency attendance and leave policies.

Will be required to travel up to 10% of the time.

Actively embody and support the Texas Model by demonstrating its core values in daily tasks and interactions with others.

Actively embodies and supports TJJD¿s Mission, Vision, Pillars, and Values.

Bachelor¿s degree. One (1) year full-time wage-earning experience as a legal assistant or paralegal. Four (4) years of full-time wage-earning experience that may be a combination of the following:  paralegal, legal assistance, legal secretary, technical writing, or general office experience in a legal or governmental agency environment. Experience and education may be substituted for one or the other. 

OR

High School Diploma or equivalent. One (1) year full-time wage-earning experience as a legal assistant or paralegal. Eight (8) years of full-time wage-earning experience that may be a combination of the following: paralegal, legal assistance, legal secretary, technical writing or general office experience in a legal or governmental agency environment. Experience and education may be substituted for one or the other.

• Legal assistance experience in a governmental agency.
• Paralegal Certification.

Experience and Education Substitutions:

Paralegal Certification or Legal Assistant Certification may substitute for two years of experience. The certification may not substitute for the minimum one year of legal assistant or paralegal experience.

One year of appropriate experience may substitute for one year of college (30 course hours) on a year for year basis.

Completed course hours of undergraduate study may substitute for up to four years of experience on a basis of 30 course hours for one year of experience. The undergraduate course hours may not substitute for the minimum one year of legal assistant or paralegal experience.

Completed course hours of graduate study may substitute for up to two years of experience on a basis of 12 graduate course hours for one year of experience.

Pro-rated part-time experience may satisfy the experience requirements.

Requirements for Continued Employment:

• Failure to maintain required licensure/certification will result in termination of employment.

Note:  Any degree, diploma, high school equivalent, or course hours required to meet minimum qualifications must be from an accredited educational institution.

• Knowledge of legal terminology, research methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of administrative and court procedures.
• Knowledge of the legislative process.
• Knowledge of public notice requirements.
• Knowledge of agency rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of office practice and administrative procedures.
• Skill in understanding and following complex written and oral instructions and working independently.
• Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing.
• Skill in proofreading the work of others.
• Skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Skill in operating office equipment, computers and using applicable computer software.
• Ability to gain knowledge of agency rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Ability to conduct research.
• Ability to draft, prepare, edit and interpret legal and technical documents.
• Ability to organize and be familiar with a vast number of highly detailed facts.
• Ability to establish and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks; plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments; and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with all stakeholders and maintain a professional, courteous demeanor.
• Ability to process information logically, make decisions, and to demonstrate the soundness of those decisions.
• Able to supervise the work of others.
• Ability to work more than 40 hours per work week.

The following physical demands and working conditions are representative of those encountered and/or necessary for the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Analyzing

Alphabetizing

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing

Ability to see

Ability to hear (with or without aid)

Ability to perform tactile discernment

Heavy lifting, up to 25 lbs.

Heavy carrying, up to 25 lbs.

Pulling

Pushing

Walking

Standing

Sitting

Prolonged sitting

Repeated bending

Identify colors

Depth perception

Operate motor equipment

Reaching above shoulder

Manual/finger dexterity

Dual simultaneous grasping

Twisting

Kneeling

Stooping

Climbing stairs

State of Texas Benefits and Retirement Information can be found at https://www.ers.texas.gov. Benefits include:  Retirement plan, paid group health & life insurance for employee, paid holidays, paid vacation leave, paid sick leave, longevity pay, educational assistance program, employee assistance program.  Optional add-on benefits include:  Dental, Vision, Optional Life Insurance, Voluntary AD&D Insurance, Dependent Health & Life insurance, Health & Dependent care flexible spending accounts, etc.  Additionally, certain designated positions are eligible for hazardous duty pay, and career ladder advancements.

In order to receive veteran¿s preference, a copy of your DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), VA disability rating (if applicable), or a DD Form 1300 (Report of Casualty) must be attached to your application.

For Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Code or Crosswalk, please visit: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf 

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.  Whenever possible, please give the hiring representative sufficient time to consider and respond to your request.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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 Job Applications¿ on the three-dot menu in the top right corner.

https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psc/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant 

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services

Thank you for considering employment with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

SPONSORSHIP

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship.

Your application must contain complete job histories, which include job titles, name of employer, dates of employment (month & year), name of direct supervisor and phone number, and a description of duties performed, and whether it was full-time or part-time and hours per week. If any of this information is not provided, your application may be rejected as incomplete.  

Resumes do not take the place of this required information.

Applicants must be able to pass a Criminal Background Check and any other requirements listed under Minimum Qualifications.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS:  Work in Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the CAPPS Recruit Prescreening Questionnaire to be considered for the posting.

To complete the Prescreening Questionnaire, go to CAPPS Recruit to register or login:

https://erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psc/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant