LEGAL ASSISTANT - 04022024-56602

Job Information

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION DIVISION, KNOX COUNTY

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Education equivalent to graduation from an accredited college, university, or professional school with one of the following: (1) an Associate's Degree in Paralegal or Legal Assistant studies; (2) a Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal or Legal Assistant studies; (3) a Paralegal Certificate; or (4) one year (28 semester hours) of graduate level law school.

OR

Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school and two years of full-time experience in researching legal issues and documenting findings to assist in building case files, settling legal disputes, and/or providing legal counsel to clients.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Positions within DHS may be required to:

• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;
• Supply a fingerprint sample prescribed by the TBI based criminal history records clerk.

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Summary

Summary: Under immediate supervision, is responsible for paraprofessional Legal Assistant work of average difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is the only class in the Legal Assistant sub-series. An employee in this class performs legal assistant work under the supervision of licensed attorneys.

Responsibilities

Getting Information:

• Researching information using databases, the internet, books and case files in order to prepare files for litigation.
• Requesting information from internal and external sources in writing or verbally to ensure all relevant information is obtained.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

• Reading and summarizing in writing relevant laws, court decisions and Attorney General opinions.
• Preparing recommendations for supervising attorney on the application of law.
• Reviewing documents to ensure compliance with laws, regulations or standards.
• Utilizing individual knowledge and judgment to determine if additional action is needed for case or task completion.
• Utilizing active listening with internal customers to determine appropriate course of action.

Organizing, Planning and Prioritizing Work:

• Incorporating last minute or unscheduled tasks into current workload to ensure timely and accurate completion of work.
• Monitoring and observing daily activities of the attorneys to avoid scheduling conflicts to ensure appropriate staff is available and to notify affected parties of scheduled changes.
• Identifying work priorities to ensure the most important work is completed first based on work experience, supervisor guidance, and departmental, state and federal laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Organizing and prioritizing personal work load using calendars and lists to ensure timely and accurate completion of work.

Processing Information:

• Compiling all supporting information and documents for trial notebooks.
• Preparing and submitting invoices and supporting documentation to fiscal for payment.

Performing Administrative Activities:

• Writing, drafting, and editing legal documents and summaries.
• Responding to email, phone calls, and other correspondence in a timely manner.
• Editing written material for typographical errors, grammatical errors, logic and organization.
• Performing general and clerical administrative duties to ensure smooth operation of the agency.

Interacting with Computers:

• Using office software including but not limited to email, spreadsheets, databases, word processors, and internet search engines to document, research and enter data.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

• Summarizing legal additions and changes for clear interpretation.
• Reading proposed or actual changes to state laws and regulations to identify potential impact on agency operations.
• Informing staff of changes and additions to relevant legislation.
• Copying and disseminating pertinent legal changes, additions, and summaries to affected staff.
• Maintaining annual training as required by policy.

Documenting/Recording Information:

• Filing orders, petitions, legal publications, supplements, updates, federal registers, court reports, Attorney General opinions and other legal documents according to established system.
• Establishing a filing system that allows easy utilization of case files, legal reference sources, and other documentation.
• Organizing and maintaining documentation files and law libraries.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

• Maintaining professional working relationships with external customers to ensure smooth and effective team operations.
• Communicating with supervising attorneys, co-workers, and others within the agency to maintain positive working relationships.

Controlling Machines and Processes:

• Operating a variety of office equipment including but not limited to copiers, scanners, calculators, fax machines, and telephones to complete assigned tasks.

Competencies

Competencies:

• Written Communication
• Planning
• Informing
• Organizing
• Customer Focus
• Integrity and Trust
• Decision Quality
• Learning on the Fly
• Problem Solving
• Listening

Knowledge:

• Law and Government
• Clerical
• Computers and Electronics
• Customer and Personal Service

Skills:

• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Time Management
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Complex Problem Solving
• Active Learning
• Coordination

Abilities:

• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Speech Clarity
• Memorization
• Time Sharing
• Deductive Reasoning
• Speed of Closure
• Speech Recognition

Tools & Equipment

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

**Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.