Paralegal – Public Improvement District – Travis County

Title of the Job: Paralegal – Public Improvement District

Location: Austin, TX

Job Description: Job SummaryUnder moderate supervision or under supervision of an attorney, provides routine legal research support. Screens, reviews, analyzes and organizes case-related material required for Court presentation and/or case settlement in the Criminal and/or Civil Courts. Drafts agreed summary and default judgment motions and orders. Drafts various pleadings, discovery, motions, affidavits, and subpoenas. Coordinates the work of assigned secretarial support staff.Distinguishing Characteristics:This is the first in a series of two paralegal-related job classifications within the Administrative Support job family. This classification is distinguished from the Paralegal Senior in that incumbents do not supervise other Paralegals or serve as the primary agent in the research and drafting of legal memoranda on substantive and procedural legal topics. Sensitivity to detail and confidentiality. Customer and client contact. This classification may require work in secure facilities.Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepares and organizes pretrial case materials. Retrieves information from computer to assist case documentation. Contacts office staff, Court personnel, employees from other criminal justice agencies and others, as required to obtain information needed for prosecution of cases. Reviews, screens, and analyzes case-related materials for assigned cases and provides summary of facts to assigned attorneys. Processes documents, including preparation, filing and issuance of information. Obtains, indexes and outlines criminal histories, offense reports and all other relevant documents. Analyzes jury lists.
• Assists attorney(s) in preparation for depositions, trials, Court and administrative hearings. Coordinates witness appearance in all Court proceedings. Investigates facts, files pleadings and orders. Drafts correspondence to victims, clients, attorney(s), governmental agencies, law enforcement agencies and the general public as to the status of cases, contracts, or opinions. Conducts legal research, prepares files, subpoenas and other legal documents, as required. Meets with respondent’s or defendant’s attorney(s) to provide case information or discovery.
• Negotiates agreed judgments with defense attorneys. Drafts judgments, orders, contracts, payment agreements and other documents for assigned cases. May appear in Court with attorneys to take notes and follow up on items requested. Files documents with the court and appears on behalf of supervising attorney at Civil / District Court, and calls to obtain default judgments.
• Coordinates discovery, including drafting and calendaring of interrogatories, requests for disclosures, requests for production, requests for admissions and other requests in accordance with local, state, federal and administrative and agency rules and procedures. Drafts discovery responses and objections in assigned cases.
• Coordinates and schedules Court appearances, trials, depositions and meetings. Maintains Court settings for attorney’s calendar. Responds to inquiries related to the cases pending and returns messages for assigned attorneys. Maintains personal time and billing records. Maintains statistical records and prepares reports. Responds to inquiries related to the pending cases and returns messages for assigned attorney(s). Communicates with office staff, adverse counsel and staff, Court Clerks and personnel, and other Travis County employees. Contacts witnesses and expert witnesses, as required. Interviews witnesses and prepares summaries. Receives and responds to open records requests.
• May select, train and supervise clerical support staff, including reviewing prepared files and documents. May locate and make contractual arrangements with foreign language interpreters.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum RequirementsEducation and Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration or a directly related field AND two (2) years experience as a paralegal;OR,Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Paralegal Certificate from a professionally recognized Paralegal/Legal Assistant program.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Knowledge of:

• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Law office management and administration.
• Open meetings laws and Public Information Act.
• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to Court system.
• Discovery process.
• Current legal trends in the interaction of law and professional ethics.
• Statistical and record keeping applications, including databases and spreadsheets.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Acquiring, maintaining, organizing, analyzing and summarizing case evidence.
• Understanding legal terminology and English grammar.
• Case file examination for documentation accuracy.
• Operating a variety of modern office equipment, including a computer.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Train and supervise clerical and administrative employees.
• Accurately and succinctly summarize legal information.
• Perform legal research.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, judges, attorneys, Court personnel, other participants in the civil justice system, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Work Environment & Other InformationPhysical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to sitting, client/customer contact, standing, walking, vision to monitor, repetitive motion, stooping/kneeling, squatting, bending, and reaching to perform the essential functions.Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.Work Hours: Monday –Friday 8 am – 5 pmDepartment: County AttorneyLocation: 314 W. 11th Street, Ste. 300, Austin, TX 78701Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.FY2025 Travis County Benefit GuideIn this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.Credit Union
Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.Deferred Compensation
Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.Direct Deposit
Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.Employee Assistance Program
Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.Employee Organizations
Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.Employee Health & Wellness Clinic
Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.Holidays
An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.Insurance
Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County’s current policy is to pay 100% of the employee’s health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.Longevity
Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.On the regular payday on or after the employee’s fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.Parking
A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.Personal Holidays
Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:January – March3 personal holidaysApril – June2 personal holidays
July – September1 personal holidayOctober – DecemberNone
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.Retirement
Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.Sick Leave
Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.Parental Leave
Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.Tuition Refund
Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.Vacation
Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:0 to 5 years4.0 hours per pay period6 to 10 years4.5 hours per pay period11 to 15 years5.0 hours per pay period16 to 20 years5.5 hours per pay period21 plus years6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.Workers’ Compensation
The county provides all employees workers’ compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

Company Name: Travis County

Salary: $56687.32 – 60322.63 per year

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