Senior Legal Assistant

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Office of Inspector General (OIG) seeks an experienced, innovative legal assistant with advanced litigation support skills to join the Chief Counsel Division. The Legal Assistant IV performs highly advanced (senior-level) paralegal work for attorneys in the Litigation section. The position provides substantive, procedural, analytical, and technical support to attorneys handling complex administrative enforcement actions, contested cases, sanctions matters, and related agency proceedings. The work involves researching, analyzing, and investigating legal and factual issues; drafting and editing legal documents; coordinating discovery; utilizing eDiscovery systems; maintaining case records; hearing preparation; and calendar management. Maintains responsibility for an active caseload. May serve as team lead, train, and mentor legal staff. Assists Chief Counsel leadership with various administrative matters. Works under the limited supervision of the Chief Counsel Office Manager, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Essential Job Functions: Manages and prioritizes attorney caseloads. Schedules and coordinates meetings, depositions, hearings, interviews, and training events. Monitors and calendars deadlines. Organizes case files and maintains information in case management system. (20%) Conducts investigatory and legal research. Reviews and analyzes case files, including investigation files and healthcare records. Researches and analyzes legal source. Prepares synopses and summaries of complex legal and factual issues. (20%) Drafts, edits, cite-checks, formats, and finalizes legal documents. Prepares reports, spreadsheets, and presentations. Performs substantive proofreading for accuracy, clarity, grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, and consistency. Verifies that all facts, citations, quotations, and references are accurate and follow the correct citation style. Ensures that all documents are in proper form, in accordance with agency and legal formatting standards, and court or agency requirements. Provides professional work product within established timeframes. (15%) Coordinates discovery, including the drafting, responding to, and calendaring of written discovery, subpoenas, and depositions. Utilizes eDiscovery platforms (currently Relativity aiR) and litigation support technology tools manage electronic records. Oversees incoming and outgoing productions. Assists with document review, preparing privilege and production logs, redaction, Bates labeling, and preparing documents for production. (15%) Prepares attorneys for and attends internal and external meetings, witness interviews, depositions, and hearings. Communicates with providers, opposing counsel, agency and court personnel, and other stakeholders. Prepares summaries and meeting notes. Dockets cases and files legal documents with agencies and courts. Manages hearing and trial preparation activities. Coordinates witnesses. Prepares evidence, exhibits, affidavits, binders, and other documents. (15%) Assists Chief Counsel leadership with projects, to include but not be limited to participating in work groups and preparing statistical and operational reports. Develops litigation procedures, reference materials, and job aids. Utilizes advanced functions of Word and Adobe Acrobat to develop forms, templates, and reports. Uses Microsoft Excel to organize, analyze, and present complex case data. Assists with the management of public information requests. (10%) Performs related work as assigned. Keeps supervisor informed as required or as necessary. (5%) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of legal principles, practices, proceedings, and terminology. Knowledge of Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, administrative hearing procedures, and electronic filing requirements. Knowledge of health and human services programs, functions, and systems, including related local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Knowledge of research methods and techniques Knowledge of hearing and trial preparation processes and methods. Knowledge of e-discovery processes and requirements. Experience using electronic discovery applications and tools, including, but not limited to Relativity Skill in communicating professionally and effectively orally and in writing and in presenting information. Skill in advanced legal writing, editing, proofreading, and cite-checking. Skill in conducting legal research using resources including Westlaw, Lexis, PACER, agency and court case management systems, and legislative reference sources. Skill in use of software including, but not limited to Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams), OneDrive, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and database programs. Ability to develop templates and forms in Word and Adobe Acrobat. Skill in using Excel for data analysis, pivot tables, and data visualization Skill in the use of eDiscovery applications and tools, including but not limited to RelativityOne. Skill in identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and implementing solutions Skill in collaborating and establishing and maintaining effective working relationships. Ability to research, evaluate, and analyze facts from complex medical and legal documents. Ability to interpret and apply laws, rules, and regulations; to summarize findings; and to present conclusions. Ability to create and maintain complex reports, spreadsheets and spreadsheets, utilizing Excel. Ability to use office technology including, but not limited to computers, printers, scanners, copiers; videoconferencing tools; and audio-visual presentation equipment Ability to organize work, prioritize time, and manage multiple deadlines. Preferred: Knowledge of health and human services programs, functions, and systems, including related local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Knowledge of the Texas Administrative Code and the Texas Administrative Procedure Act Skill in use of trial presentation software, including but not limited to Sanction, OnCue, Trial Director, ExhibitView, or similar technologies Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: Paralegal certification or the equivalent is preferred. Initial Screening Criteria: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Fifteen years' full-time professional experience as a paralegal or legal assistant in a litigation environment. Any one of these criteria could substitute for up to two years of college: Completion of a paralegal training program Two additional years of full-time professional experience as a paralegal or legal assistant in a litigation environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr