Paralegal - Civil Division

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, include the responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics listed below.  This list of responsibilities is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Summary

Under general supervision, the Paralegal in the Civil Division of the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office provides routine legal research, including document management. Screens, reviews, analyzes and organizes case-related material required for Court presentation and management in the Civil Courts. Performs a variety of administrative and clerical support functions for the Criminal District Attorney or an Assistant Criminal District Attorney to whom assigned.  This position affects the accuracy, reliability and acceptability of further processes and services.

• Draft original petitions, motions and orders, such as but not limited to final orders, summary judgment, special exception, change of placement , motion to set, motion to enter, motion to sever, motion to transfer/consolidate, temporary orders for suits affecting the parent-child relationship, status hearing orders, placement hearing orders, permanency order, nonsuits and dismissals.
• Manage caseload from intake to closing with accuracy, including tracking and updating cases.
• Manage a calendaring system and statutory case time frames and deadlines.
• Manage complex civil discovery deadlines.
• Draft requests and responses for interrogatories, production, disclosures, admissions.
• Manage complex civil jury and non-jury trial preparation: including but not limited to witness lists and witness coordination, exhibit lists and coordinations, bates numbering and logging, pretrial motions and orders.
• Meet with applicants to explain process and qualification for a protective order. Drafts and prepares protective order documents for prosecutor’s review.
• Coordinate and schedule mediations with opposing parties, their attorneys, CPS, Bail Bondsmen, and attorney mediators and coordinate settlement negotiations.
• Draft subpoenas, subpoena dues tecums, settlement offers, and arrange for service of witnesses, law enforcement, caseworkers, investigators and experts.
• Coordinate with court coordinators, caseworkers, Bail Bondsmen, and attorneys to schedule and calendar hearings, bench trials, and jury trials. 
• Review redacted files to ensure compliance with Texas statutes and Open Government Statute.
• Assist with docket days, including taking case notes during docket, distributing affidavits of indigence to parties, notarizing affidavits of indigence, and tracking orders.
• Gather reports, videos, audio, photographs, records and/or criminal case documents from local law enforcement agencies, as requested.
• Management of evidence, including but not limited to, photographs, video and audio tapes and any other physical item in the custody of the District Attorney for evidentiary or Open Records purposes.
• Perform general clerical duties including answering the telephone, filing, typing correspondence, etc.
• Assist the general public via telephone or in person with information pertaining to various legal issues/questions.
• Establish and manage computerized and/or paper filing system.
• Coordinate citation and service of petitions.
• Assure the services delivered meet quality and timeliness standards. 
• Process computerized information records systems with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Prepare original and responsive pleadings in child protection, Bond and Asset Forfieture cases and follows applicable law. 
• Prepare cases for jury trials including but not limited to gathering and marking exhibits, coordinating witnesses, maintaining witness schedule after the end of each trial day, organizing trial boxes assisting attorneys during voir dire.
• Records management (i.e. medical records, psychological, psychiatric records, etc.) and Bates logging the records as they come in office. Manage the calendar for the attorney workroom and assist the public in scheduling use of the attorney workroom. 
• Performs legal research on a variety of legal issues, as needed. 
• Draft answers and general denials in cases regarding Expunctions and Nondisclosures, Bond and Asset Forfeiture case, and requests for ruling to the Office of the Attorney General as it relates to requests received pursuant to the Public Information Act
• Maintain and track all data related to Felony and Misdemanor Bonds including settlements, records, and court costs. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Required Bachelor’s Degree, AND
• Certificate in Paralegal Studies, or the equivalent such as: master’s degree in legal studies, OR in the process of obtaining a paralegal certificate.

• Class C driver’s license.
• Bilingual preferred (Spanish and English).
• Paralegal certificate or related education or experience preferred.
• Attend and successfully complete TLETS training.