Transportation Paralegal - Kanawha County

The Paralegal for the West Virginia Department of Transportation performs legal administrative support duties in a specialized legal practice area for the section. The incumbent in this position will serve with the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, Legal Services Section. Under general supervision, general direction is given as to what is to be accomplished, limitations, quantity and quality, deadlines, and priority of work. Procedures for performing duties are clearly established. May ensure documents are properly filed by applying procedural rules and regulations. Performs other related duties as required.

Pay Grade 14

• Provides support to staff attorneys and subordinate administrative staff of a specialized legal practice area in case file management including, assignments, determining work priorities, calendaring and meeting deadlines, and research projects
• Interacts effectively with attorneys and administrative supervisors in planning and reviewing unit activities
• Trains subordinate administrative staff in methods, procedures, and policies of the Division
• Performs administrative legal work in connection with specialized areas of assignment such as contract law, employment law, real property law, collections and civil litigation matters
• Researches legal resources such as statutes, recorded judicial, quasi-judicial, and administrative decisions, and legal codes in complex litigation
• Monitors the movement and status of pending litigation involving the Department of Transportation
• Writes abstracts of evidence presented at complex judicial and administrative hearings and summaries of information on hearings or claims
• Collects and summarizes information from discovery and research
• Composes complex correspondence, orders and other legal documents
• Personal contacts are with individuals or groups from outside the agency in a structured setting
• The work involves treating a variety of conventional problems, questions, or situations in conformance with established criteria
• Answering telephone inquiries, written inquiries including Freedom of Information Act requests and correspondence
• Travel may be required; therefore, a valid driver’s license is required.

• Knowledge of broad principles and application of law, evidence, pleadings, and judicial procedures in West Virginia
• Knowledge of judicial and quasi-judicial procedures
• Knowledge of legal citations
• Ability to analyze facts, evidence, and legal instruments
• Ability to gather and interpret statutory and regulatory provisions and present findings in a logical and persuasive written form
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other agencies, other WVDOT/DOH divisions, the public, and the federal government
• Ability to communicate effectively and express conclusions and arguments clearly and logically both orally and in writing
• Work is generally administrative requiring knowledge of pertinent related education and experience
• Ability to demonstrate discretion
• Ability to mentor, develop, and train subordinate administrative staff

REQUIRED TRAINING/EDUCATION 
• Successful completion of a Paralegal (Legal Assistant) training program.
• Substitution: Two (2) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in a legal setting which required performing legal research, reading and interpreting laws, and preparing legal documents, under the supervision of an attorney, may substitute for the required training/education.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE 
• Two (2) years of full-time or part-time equivalent paid experience as a Paralegal in a legal setting.
• Substitution: Successfully completed study from a regionally accredited college or university may be substituted for the required training/education and experience through an established formula.