Legal Associate

Provide administrative and legal support as a Legal Associate for the Division of Hearings and Appeals! The hours for this position are 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This position is headquartered at the Hill Farms Office Building, 4822 Madison Yards Way, Madison WI Join an organization that strives to exceed customer expectations by delivering efficient, high-quality state government services. The Department of Administration (DOA) provides direct services to state agency customers and designs and leads initiatives to make government more innovative and cost-effective. Working at DOA offers you the opportunity to make an impact on the quality of life in Wisconsin. As the flagship agency of the State of Wisconsin, our core values at Department of Administration are Adaptability, Collaboration, Stewardship, Equity, Service Excellence, and Integrity. Our values make it possible for us to fulfill our mission, with a set of shared principles and practices, and form the bedrock of how we operate, interact, and are seen by colleagues, partners, and other agencies. The Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA) is a quasi-judicial, independent entity created to conduct high quality, impartial, independent, and cost and time efficient hearings that serve customer agencies and the citizens of Wisconsin. DHA currently conducts hearings for fifteen state agencies and is also available to do hearings for other agencies when requested. It is a growing agency with a varied caseload which fall under these administrative units: Corrections Unit, Office of Worker's Compensation Hearings, General Government Unit, and Work & Family Services Unit. The DHA is a great place to work! In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, we offer a competitive benefits package featuring: Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of vacation to start, 9 paid holidays, and 130 hours of sick time that rollover each year. A casual office atmosphere, flexible work schedules, and telework options depending on the position’s requirements. An exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment, plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan. A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well-being. In addition to our generous employee benefits, we strive for inclusivity and celebrate different religious holidays and cultural observances and provide flexibility for utilizing paid time off for such celebrations. Position Summary This highly complex, paraprofessional legal associate position works independently to manage petitioners’ time sensitive appeal requests for the Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA). Requests for appeal are received from 72 counties and the tribes within the state and are initiated by notices of negative action issued on behalf of the Department of Health Services, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Administration. Comprehensive knowledge of guidelines within Wis. Stat. Chapter 227, which directs the administrative procedure, is required as well as the DHA practice and procedure, which is governed by Wis. Admin. Code § HA 3. The federal court MOUA decision (Moua, et. al. v. Patricia Goodrich, Secretary, Department of Health and Social Services, Case No. 89-c-888-C United States District Court, Western District of Wisconsin) and 7 C.F.R § 273.15 mandate the binding procedure for timely action for the coordination of cases scheduled, hearings held, and decisions issued by the Administrative Law Judge. Time sensitive appeal requests are researched to identify hearing type, issue, agency, and jurisdiction within Federal and State regulations, and scheduled for administrative hearing. This position requires independent decision making, prudent judgment and discretion with excellent oral and written communication skills and in-depth knowledge of over 60 categories of hearing types within three state agencies. The provisions of these hearings and appeals are governed by a wide variety of changing laws and department policies, as well as state statutes and federal regulations. This position is responsible for maintaining crucial electronic, digital, and paper documents for the DHA’s legal record in preparation for hearings. This position is assigned to pay schedule-range (02-13) with a starting pay rate of $26.61 per hour, plus excellent benefits. A twelve-month probationary period may be required. Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan at the time of hire. Due to the nature of the position, DOA will conduct background checks on applicants prior to selection. DOA does not sponsor work visas. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, and to complete the required employment eligibility form. After training for up to 6 months, this position may be eligible for a hybrid remote/in-office work schedule, up to 50% of a two week pay period remote, as determined by the supervisor based upon the needs of the position and the work unit. This topic and any remote work flexibility that may be available will be discussed in more detail in the interview process. Qualifications Qualifications below will be evaluated during the selection process and must be addressed in your resume and letter of qualifications. Qualified applicants will have experience performing each of the following activities: Providing administrative support (Activities may include maintaining multiple calendars, answering confidential phone calls, sending or reviewing email, redacting documents, faxing or scanning documents, etc.). Maintaining electronic records and files Providing customer service to external customers through emails and phone calls Using Microsoft Outlook and Word or similar programs in a professional setting (Activities may include utilizing distribution lists, mail merge (word documents and emails), adding attachments, using the formatting options (i.e. tabs, bullet/ list making, etc.), advanced functions may include delay delivery, voting buttons or read receipts.). In addition, well-qualified applicants will also have experience in at least one of the following: Researching, analyzing, or interpreting information to perform activities such as providing answers to customer questions, developing a recommendation, reaching a conclusion, etc. Submitted materials will be evaluated and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the hiring process for available vacancies. Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer or voluntary demotion) should complete the application process as described above by the stated deadline. The State of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affidavit Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. If you are a veteran with a 30% or greater service‑related disability and are not currently employed in a permanent position with Wisconsin State Government, please send a cover letter, resume, DD‑214 and documentation of your service‑connected disability rating (dated within 12 months) to the contact listed below. #J-18808-Ljbffr