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.

• Drafts petitions, motions, discovery motions, and orders, such as but not limited to final orders, summary judgments, denials, motions to set, and dismissals.
• Manages caseload from intake to closing with accuracy, including tracking, and updating cases.
• Manages a calendaring system and case deadlines.
• Drafts requests and responses for interrogatories, production, disclosures, and admissions.
• Manages complex civil discovery deadlines, civil jury and non-jury trial preparation: including but not limited to witness lists, witness coordination, exhibit lists, bates numbering and logging, pretrial motions, and orders.

• Drafts subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum.

• Performs general clerical duties including answering the telephone, filing, typing correspondence, etc.
• Assists the public via telephone or in person with information pertaining to various legal issues/questions.
• Establishes and manages computerized information records systems and paper filing systems with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Assures the services delivered meet quality and timeliness standards. 

• Prepares cases for hearings and depositions including but not limited to gathering and marking exhibits, coordinating witnesses, and maintaining witness schedule.

• Contacts, coordinates and requests documents and information from county departments involved in active litigation cases and claims; reviews received documents and information for completeness.
• Performs legal research on a variety of legal issues, as needed
• Drafts and proofreads letters and memoranda, resolutions, proclamations, and contracts.
• Keeps the Civil Division of the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, and other appropriate County offices apprised of new litigation and claims.
• Maintains all litigation, claims and grievance files, while coordinating with the Human Resources Department.
• Adheres to mandates by the Texas Public Information Act and other state statutes in providing responses to requests for governmental records within the allotted time period. 
• Coordinates the gathering of the requested information within all departments of the County. 
• Redacts or reviews redactions in confidential records before releasing documents to the public.
• Calculates and assesses charges for Open Records in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act
• Tracks and meets the schedules and deadlines associated with the Texas Public Information Act 
• Notarizes legal documents.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of State of Texas and Hays County laws, regulations, ordinances, policies, and procedures as they relate to the mission of the department and the county.
• Knowledge of the purposes, principles, terminology, and practices employed in civil and criminal law.
• Knowledge of the court system, its employees, and its operations.
• Knowledge of professional techniques related to civil law, criminal law, and the legal system.
• Knowledge of county procedures
• Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Code of Criminal Procedure, Penal Code, Texas Rules of Evidence, Rules of Court, Family Code, Government Code, Local Government Code, and local rules.
• Knowledge of the Texas Civil Forms, The Blue Book, The Green Book.  
• Knowledge of basic legal terminology.
• Knowledge of civil litigation practice and procedure.
• Knowledge of legal writing and drafting. 
• Knowledge of E-file Texas.
• Knowledge of basic arithmetic including addition; subtraction; multiplication; division; and interest, decimal and percentage calculations.
• General knowledge of basic hardware and software and uses of a variety of different computer operating systems including but not limited to Microsoft.
• Knowledge of other common law office programs, including, Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, Quick Books, HotDocs or ProDoc.  Knowledge of The Software Group packages.
• General knowledge of modern business office practices and procedures. 
• General knowledge in legal citation and bluebook form. 
• General knowledge of appellate deadlines.
• Knowledge of the Texas Public Information Act.
• Knowledge of Tyler Technologies packages, New World Systems, and Nova Time.

• 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.