LEGAL ASSISTANT II AND III - OAHU (OHHI)

Legal Assistant

Recruitment Information

Recruitment Number OHHI-25009

This recruitment is being conducted under the Operation Hire Hawaii (OH-HI) project, a targeted outreach initiative featuring an expedited hiring process, fast-tracking qualified applicants into job opportunities throughout Hawai'i.

Applications received for this recruitment will be reviewed for Legal Authorization to work in the US. All applicants who pass the Legal Authorization review will be referred to the hiring department for consideration and an initial review of the application.

Applicants who meet the initial review requirements at the departmental level may be contacted by the hiring program for an interview. All applicants interviewed by the hiring program will be notified of their selection or non-selection by the department.

The application referral and potential interview conducted at the departmental level does not imply that applicants have met all Minimum Qualification Requirements. A thorough review of all applications received will be conducted by the Department of Human Resources Development and all applicants will be notified of the final disposition.

Salary: Legal Assistant II: $4,590 per month (SR-18, Step D) Legal Assistant III: $4,961 to $6,043 per month (SR-20, Step D to I) Note: The starting monthly salary for vacancies in Step D, is at the minimum rate of pay. For vacancies at Step D to I, hiring rates will be based on availability of funds, the applicant's qualifications, and other relevant factors. This continuous recruitment may be closed at any time. The notice of the last day to file applications will be posted on the State of Hawaii's Civil Service Job Opportunities Listing page of our website.

Duties Summary

Performs paralegal work in support of attorneys; provides preliminary legal consultation services to line departmental personnel; establishes evidence and develops cases; performs legal research; prepares drafts, outlines or summaries of legal subjects, laws, statutes, briefs and other legal documents; and performs other related duties as assigned. Level II is the entry level Legal Assistant and reflects workers who are fully competent in basic paralegal functions, procedures, techniques and skills, but must receive on-the-job orientation in State paralegal work and develop working relationships with court personnel, State line departmental personnel, attorneys, legal clerical staff and others who are contacted in the course of the work. Level III provides the full range of paralegal services required in an assigned program area. Positions independently provide preliminary legal consultation services to line departmental personnel; establish evidence and develop cases; perform legal research; prepare drafts, outlines or summaries of legal subjects, laws, statutes, briefs and other legal documents and related duties. Work at this level may also include training new legal assistant employees.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants will be placed on the eligible list for ALL levels for which they are qualified. To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements: Legal Authorization to Work: The State of Hawaii requires all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States. General Experience: Four years of paralegal work experience which demonstrates that the applicant possesses knowledge of interviewing techniques, rules of evidence, the legal system and procedures, legal research methods and sources of legal information, and that the applicant also has the ability to understand and explain legal processes and procedures, evaluate and analyze facts and legal issues, prepare legal reports, documents and correspondence, speak clearly and follow oral and written instructions. Specialized Experience: For Level III: Six (6) months Government paralegal work experience which demonstrates that the applicant has knowledge of government paralegal functions and the ability to provide preliminary legal consultation services to government personnel; establish evidence and develop the government's position in legal cases; and perform legal research and prepare drafts, outlines or summaries of legal subjects, laws, statutes, briefs and other legal documents. Note: Experience as a legal stenographer or legal secretary involving only the checking, filing, and processing of legal forms and documents is not considered qualifying. Substitutions Allowed: Relevant substitutions as described in the Minimum Qualification Requirements will apply. To view the Requirements in their entirety, please CLICK HERE (Download PDF reader).

Other Information

The State of Hawai'i complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations in completing an application, any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io for assistance. PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF) PROGRAM The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, please click: ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS The Department of Human Resources Development (HRD) will use electronic mail (email) to notify applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of their applications as part of our ongoing efforts to increase operational efficiency, promote the conservation of green resources, and minimize delays and costs. Please ensure that the email address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails or fail to check your email-box in a timely manner. In addition, please be aware that you may no longer receive notification about applications submitted if you choose to disable the Job Application Emails feature in your Account Settings. TESTING INFORMATION The examination for this recruitment will be conducted on an unassembled basis where the examination score is based on an evaluation and rating of your education and experience. It is therefore important that your employment application provide a clear and detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of each position you held. In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawaii may be required at the discretion of the hiring agency. If in-person interviews and/or further testing is a requirement, applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are referred to the vacancy must be available to participate in person and at their own expense in this required phase of the selection process. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. In addition to employment availability and score, the referral of qualified applicants may be based upon other factors including date of receipt of application. CLICK HERE (Download PDF reader) for further information about Equal Employment Opportunity, the Merit Civil Service System, Citizenship and other requirements, Reasonable Accommodation, Veterans Preference, Examination Requirements, and the State Recruiting Office's Levels of Review.

Your Job Benefits with the State of Hawaii

The State of Hawaii offers its employees who are members of the civil service a range of benefits. Some benefits are offered as a result of collective bargaining agreements and changes may occur. A summary of these benefits, which is based on full-time employment, is listed below. Note: Benefits for NON-CIVIL SERVICE appointments will be provided by the hiring department at the time of interview. With Civil Service modernization, effective July 1, 2002, employees appointed to temporary positions may also gain membership in the civil service upon satisfactory completion of an initial probation period of at least six months. As a temporary member of the civil service, you will be eligible to apply for promotion and transfer opportunities to permanent as well as other temporary positions. You may also enjoy other rights and benefits afforded to members of the civil service, with the exception of return rights and placement rights associated with a reduction-in-force of a permanent member of the civil service. Paid Holidays You may be eligible for 13 paid holidays each year; 14 holidays during an election year. Paid Vacation You may earn vacation leave at a rate that other employers find tough to match – 21 days each full year from the FIRST year of employment. This compares to an average of 10 days offered by private companies. You may accumulate up to a total of 90 days (720 hours) of vacation. Paid Sick Leave You may earn sick leave at the same rate as vacation – 21 days per year from the FIRST year, and there is no limit on the amount you can accumulate. Expectant mothers may also use sick leave for pre-natal or post-natal check-ups or any illness related to pregnancy. Plus, unused accumulated sick leave may eventually be used to increase your retirement benefits in certain situations. Other Leaves Reasonable time off with pay may be provided for jury or witness duty, a death in the family, some military duty, and donation to the Blood Bank. Leave sharing donations may be granted to eligible employees who have serious personal illnesses or injuries or need to care for a seriously ill or injured family member. Various leaves without pay may also be granted with full re-employment rights. Health Insurance The State pays a part of the premiums for each employee's enrollment in a State sponsored Medical, Drug, Vision, and Dental Plan. For more information, visit the Employer Union Trust Fund website for coverage and options. Group Life Insurance The State provides a free life insurance policy for employees. Retirement Plan The State contributes to a retirement plan for eligible employees. Generally, employees under the Hybrid Plan with 10 years of