Paralegal - Compliance & Revenue Division

Paralegal Position

The Harris County Attorney's Office (HCAO) is hiring a paralegal to join our Compliance & Revenue Division which specializes in lawsuits for debt collection and enforcement of laws that protect the interest of Harris County. Under the supervision of the Division Director, 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. The selected candidate may be eligible to participate in the HCAO telework program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage a high-volume caseload.
• Manage a high call volume with the public.
• Ability to communicate and meet with the public, clients, and defendants, including the ability to resolve issues within attorneys' parameters.
• Keep accurate notes in the database of each case.
• Maintaining knowledge of the procedure to open, close, and update files using the case management database to open, close, and update files using the Compliance Database and run reports.
• Analyzing, organizing, and tracking case files so all case history and activity may be available to the attorney in paper form or electronic form.
• Electronically and manually maintain and update case files as assigned.
• Draft, file, and/or mail demand letters, installment, and rule 11 agreements, pleadings, discovery, and motions
• Abstract judgments and send Writs of Execution to Constables for service
• Attend hearings and trials
• Electronically and manually maintain and update other miscellaneous cases as assigned.
• Properly calendar hearings, docket control orders, and case management in cases for trials.
• Regularly communicate with attorneys and other staff members.
• Acquiring familiarity with commonly used legal terms.
• Performs other 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.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need special services or accommodations, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements:

Supporting Job Application Documents:

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

Education and Experience:

• An Associate Degree or higher in Paralegal Studies or a closely similar field
• OR
• Paralegal certificate
• OR
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience as a paralegal.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent research, writing, and customer service skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to communicate and work in a collaborative group.
• Proficiency with technology and legal tools such as Windows, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Software, JIMS, TLO, and DEEDS.
• Knowledge of the Texas Tax Code, the Texas and Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Texas Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Ability to perform thorough legal and factual analyses and exercise good judgment.
• Ability to communicate and meet with the public, clients, defendants, courts, and clerks, including the ability to resolve issues within attorneys' parameters.
• Ability to organize and prioritize assignments to meet deadlines.
• Ability to comply with office training requirements.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

General Information:

The Harris County Attorney's Office:

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, Typical Work Schedule, and Working Environment:

• This is a full-time position.
• Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with occasional weekends and holidays as necessary.
• 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.

Physical and Mental Demands:

• This is largely a sedentary role that requires standing or sitting for prolonged periods, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body, repetitive motions requiring dexterity such as keyboarding that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers, communicating with others to exchange concepts and information, problem-solving, decision-making, organization, the ability to read/write, and the ability to manage workplace stressors such as adversarial interactions.

Compensation:

• The base compensation for this position will be determined on the candidate's qualifications and the pay of other employees in the job function. Total compensation includes attractive paid leave programs, health benefits, and retirement plans.
• In addition, the position is eligible for the accrual of compensatory time off for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, consistent with Harris County personnel policies and procedures.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.