Paralegal - Children's Protective Services Division

General Summary:

The Harris County Attorney's Office (HCAO) is seeking a Paralegal to join the Children’s Protective Services Division which represents the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) in actions involving abused and neglected children in Harris County. Under the general supervision of the Lead Attorney, the Paralegal will perform delegated and supervised substantive legal work which requires an understanding of legal principles and procedures. The Paralegal in this role is responsible for ensuring the smooth and timely preparation of cases from inception through trial, and will serve 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.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Manages a high-volume caseload.

• Prepares and processes legal documents and correspondences such as petitions, orders, affidavits, motions, responses, pleadings, decrees, citations, publications, case findings, statements of evidence, and discovery.

• Researches and gathers necessary information and records pertaining to legal cases.

• Communicates with internal and external contacts regarding case-related matters and inquiries.

• Prepare for trial by performing tasks such as organizing exhibits.

• Creates, Organizes, and maintains case files and records in case management system.

• Performs notary services as a Traditional and Online Notary Public in the State of Texas for case-related matters.

• Attend hearings and trials to hear oral arguments or record necessary case information.

• Calendars hearings, docket control orders, notices, and deadlines for cases.

• Serves as backup to other Paralegals and support staff as needed.

• Participates in division meetings and other meetings regarding case-related matters.

• Encourages and mentors other support staff and interns.

• 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.

Education & Experience Requirements:

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

OR

• Paralegal certificate

OR

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

Supporting Job Application Documents:

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent research, writing, and organizational skills

• Excellent attention to detail

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to communicate and collaborate independently or within a team setting

• Proficiency in using technology and legal tools, such as Microsoft Office Suite, PDF Editing software, JWEB, DEEDS, and TLO

• Familiarity of the Texas Family Code, the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct, and Federal statutes related to child welfare laws

• Knowledge of Texas and federal electronic filing systems such as Texas e-file and federal ECF/Pacer to file and retrieve court documents

• Ability to use case management software effectively

• Ability to perform in-person and online e-notary services as a Traditional and Online Notary Public in the State of Texas

• Ability to perform thorough legal and factual analyses and exercise good judgment

• Ability to perform multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining an effective balance of priorities and high productivity

• Ability to comply with the Harris County Personnel Policies and Procedures and the policies of the County Attorney

• Ability to comply with the organization’s training requirements

• Occasional ability to work extended hours when necessary to accommodate caseload demands

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 and Typical Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time position
• Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday
• 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• 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.
• The physical demands associated with this job are minimal, with occasional lifting and moving of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. The role is predominantly sedentary, involving mainly sitting with occasional standing and walking.