Legal Assistance/Paralegal

Overview The Gilchrist Law Firm, P.A. is seeking a highly skilled legal para-professional to provide services as a Legal Assistant, supporting the Office of United States Attorney (USAO),Western District of Texas, Legal Support Division Unit, Del Rio office. The ideal candidate for this role has experience providing legal, clerical, and administrative support in a legal or litigation environment; strong working knowledge of legal procedures, litigation processes, and preparation of complex legal documents; ability to interact professionally with attorneys, court personnel, law enforcement agencies, and the public; strong organizational skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with automated case tracking and database systems.

Scope of Work

Responsible for directly and independently supporting the work of the office by providing a wide variety of technical assistance services. The work requires a specialized knowledge of the processes, procedures, and practices of legal assistance activities in conjunction with a knowledge of clerical and administrative office skills and an ability to apply these skills.

Key Duties

Include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Provides a variety of direct legal and secretarial support services to the office. Typical assignments include:

Examines, prepares and processes technical legal documents

Reviews incoming material and independently determines the need for assembly and preparation of a variety of legal documents, e.g., complaints, motions, orders, search and tracking warrants, subpoenas, etc., ensuring all documents are in conformance with rules governing style and format.

Prepares discovery packages for distribution, ensuring discovery is complete and necessary redactions are made.

Provides assistance to attorneys in trial preparation : independently compiling notebooks, compiling witness and exhibit lists, and organizing discovery documents.

Establishes and maintains a variety of files. Ensures appropriate and timely filing.

Composes original letters that do not require legal interpretations, but do require a good working knowledge of legal procedures and specialized terminology, e.g., discovery and proffer letters, requests for extensions of time in certain cases, declination letters for law enforcement agencies, etc.

2. Provides a variety of direct clerical and administrative support assistance services to the unit. Typical assignments include:

Operates a computer terminal, personal computer, or dedicated word processor using a standard typewriter style keyboard with additional function keys to produce a wide range of documents. Typing is required. Must be able to operate copiers, scanners, and general office equipment.

Receives visitors and telephone callers in a courteous and tactful manner. Furnishes requested information concerning pending and closed matters and cases, functions and general procedures of the office. Determines which matters should be referred to the AUSA and the urgency of the matter.

Utilizes and maintains directories, personnel lists and other guides and references to provide a variety of information on the office and to refer questions to other offices.

Performs docketing duties : opening, updating and closing cases through use of the automated case tracking system.

Maintains calendar of assigned active cases. Using calendaring software, maintains calendar(s) of the AUSA(s) to schedule court appointments, interviews, and conferences, and set reminders of commitments and court appearances. Develops and maintains suspense system for ongoing cases and informs the AUSA of pending dates and deadlines. Maintains filing and ensures all documents required for court hearings, interviews, and scheduling conferences are promptly and accurately placed in the case file.

Performs court runs and mail duties; to include distributing mail to various agencies, sorts mail and delivers mail accurately and timely.

1. Produces a variety of written documents and materials (including complicated tables, graphs and charts to be incorporated into legal documents or courtroom presentations) by utilizing a wide range of office software applications.
2. Performs other related duties as assigned.
3. Ability to drive a vehicle. Must have valid driver's license.

Performance

The contractor shall work from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The contractor will work in an office setting; some walking, standing, bending and carrying of small office items is required.