Paralegal – Affirmative & Special Litigation Division

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location 

Houston, TX

Job Type

Regular Full-time

Job Number

13163

Department

County Attorney's Office

Opening Date

07/08/2024

Closing Date

8/8/2024 11:59 PM Central

• DESCRIPTION
• BENEFITS
• QUESTIONS

Position Description

The Harris County Attorney's Office (HCAO) is seeking a paralegal to join our Affirmative & Special Litigation Division which represents the nation's third-largest county, its elected officials, and 19,000 employees in state and federal litigation. The Affirmative & Special Litigation Division represents Harris County in complex, high-impact matters in a variety of areas, including constitutional rights, consumer protection, nuisance, fraud, elections, and contractual matters. The Division also investigates potential claims and regulatory enforcement against businesses and individuals. Our goal is to advance and protect, through litigation, the well-being, health, and safety of Harris County residents. The paralegal in this role is responsible for ensuring the smooth and timely preparation of cases from inception through trial and appeal, and will act as the liaison between the courts, clerks, attorneys, and the public as needed.

In addition to the ability to earn compensatory time for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per workweek, the selected candidate may be eligible to participate in the HCAO telework program, which currently allows employees to work from home a few days per week. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages a high-volume caseload.
• Drafts, proofs, files, and/or mails legal documents such as affidavits, motions, responses, answers, subpoenas, and pleadings.
• Prepares for motions, trial, and appeal by compiling motion and trial notebooks, assembling jury instructions, and compiling exhibit lists.
• Gathers, organizes, redacts, and produces discovery.
• Maintains and updates electronic case files in case management system.
• Calendars hearings, docket control orders, and deadlines for cases.
• Conducts research assignments.
• Communicates and acts as a liaison between the courts, clerks, attorneys, and the public as needed.
• Performs multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining an effective balance of priorities and high productivity.
• Responds promptly to phone calls, emails, and other correspondence.
• Participates in one-on-one sessions with the supervisor and/or manager to give and receive feedback.
• Participates in Division staff meetings.
• Assist attorneys and other paralegals as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Other Duties:

• This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. 

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
  https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
 If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email [email protected].
 
 This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Supporting Job Application Documents:

Applicants should provide a cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references with their application.

Education and Experience:

• An Associate Degree or higher in Paralegal Studies or a closely similar field

OR

• Paralegal certificate

OR

• A minimum of five (5) years of experience as a paralegal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to communicate and work in a collaborative group.
• Proficiency with technology and legal tools such as Microsoft Office Suite, Westlaw, and Adobe.
• Knowledge of Texas and federal electronic filing systems such as Texas e-file and federal ECF/Pacer to file and retrieve court documents.
• Experience conducting discovery.
• Knowledge of rules of civil procedure and evidence.
• Ability to perform thorough legal and factual analyses and exercise good judgment.
• Ability to problem solve, organize, and prioritize assignments to meet deadlines.
• Occasional ability to work extended hours to accommodate case load demands.
• Ability to comply with office training requirements.
• Ability to comply with the Harris County Personnel Policies and Procedures and the policies of the County Attorney.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

General Information

Located in downtown Houston, the Harris County Attorney’s Office represents Harris County government, the Harris County Flood Control District, the Harris County Toll Road Authority, and the Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network in all civil matters, including lawsuits. The office also provides legal advice to county officials and employees. 

Position Type, Typical Work Schedule, and Working Environment:

• This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with occasional weekends and holidays as necessary. 
• Hours may vary based on the business needs of the HCAO. 
• This job typically operates in a professional office environment, and the individual in this role uses standard office equipment such as computers, printers, scanners/copiers, and phones. 

Physical and Mental Demands:

• This is largely a sedentary role that requires standing or sitting for prolonged periods, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body, repetitive motions requiring dexterity such as keyboarding that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers, communicating with others to exchange concepts and information, problem-solving, decision-making, organization, the ability to read/write, and the ability to manage workplace stressors such as adversarial interactions.

Compensation:

• The base compensation for this position will be determined on the candidate’s qualifications and the pay of other employees in the job function. Total compensation includes attractive paid leave programs, health benefits, and retirement plans. 
• In addition, the position is eligible for the accrual of compensatory time off for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, consistent with Harris County personnel policies and procedures. 

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
 
 Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.