Highway Paralegal – Kanawha County
Nature of Work
The Highway Paralegal will perform support work for the attorneys in handling litigation management and trial preparation for the collection matters in Magistrate Court on behalf of the State, and support for defense of the Division of Highway statewide in the West Virginia Circuit Courts and West Virginia Legislative Claims Commission. Duties include but are not limited to the following: the handling of gathering documents and drafting responses to interrogatories and requests for productions of documents; performing legal research for the litigation attorneys to enable defending of Agency in proceedings; drafting legal correspondences and documents such as notice of hearings, motions, answers, and proposed orders, in proper form and within statutory guidelines; filing documents according to court and administrative rules; developing and maintaining databases and spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel and Access; maintaining paper and electronic case files, logs and dockets; legal research and writing; scheduling hearings; and other related duties as required.
The successful candidate must have knowledge of legal terminology, legal writing, and legal document styles and formats. Must have the ability to communicate effectively; to understand and follow oral and written directions; to maintain a wide variety of legal files, records, and reports; and to interact with individuals at all levels of the agency as well as with individuals outside the agency. The successful applicant must be discreet and tactful in safeguarding sensitive information. Assist attorneys in the scheduling, hearing, and preparation of pleadings for the division of highways including legal research, writing and docket management. Must have a valid driver’s license and a willingness to travel statewide.
Pay Grade 10
Typical Duties and Responsibilities
• 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 Division of Highways
• 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 may be required.
Required Skills and Knowledge
• 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 Education and Experience
REQUIRED TRAINING/EDUCATION
• Successful completion of a Paralegal (Legal Assistant) training program.
• Substitution: Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
OR four (4) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in a legal setting which required performing legal research, reading and interpreting laws and other legal authorities, and preparing legal documents, under the supervision of an attorney, may substitute for the required training/education
OR a combination of training and experience as described above may substitute through an established formula for the required training/education.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
• No prior experience is required. This is the entry level classification in this series.
To apply, click here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wvdot/jobs/3146635/highway-paralegal-kanawha-county
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