Legal Assistant

Buzzclan; Tennessee; Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation seeks a Contract Legal Assistant to support the Office of General Counsel in environmental enforcement. Based in Nashville, this full-time hybrid role assists attorneys with reviewing orders, drafts, appeals, and documenting proceedings.

You will manage case updates, coordinate service of process, prepare letters, and support discovery, hearings, and settlements, with a focus on accuracy and timely communications.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of progressive administrative support experience.
• Legal administrative experience preferred.
• Paralegal certificate preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review enforcement orders for factual accuracy and documentation.
• Prepare attorney cover letters for commissioner's orders and coordinate service of process.
• Assist attorneys with appeals, discovery and hearings, and draft agreed final orders.
• Act as primary case manager for enforcement orders and track responses.
• Prepare and send demand letters and monitor responses or non-responses.
• Enter updates and upload documents in the case management database.

Skills

Administrative support

Legal assistance

Verbal communication

Proofreading

Scheduling

Customer service

Correspondence

Case management

Education

High School graduate

Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred

Paralegal certificate preferred

Tools

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Contract Legal Assistant

Job Description:

This contract position is responsible for assisting the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Office of General Counsel (OGC) with environmental enforcement. TDEC divisions within the Bureau of Environment issue well over 100 enforcement orders each year. This position will assist attorneys in reviewing draft orders prepared by division staff. After orders are issued, this position will assist attorneys with appeals and enforcing final orders.

The contract legal assistant position is full-time (37.5 hours per week). This hybrid in-office and work-from-home position is based in TDEC's central office in downtown Nashville.

Responsibilities:

Review draft enforcement orders for factual accuracy and documentation, correct named respondents, current addresses for service of process, proofreading, and other quality-control issues. Prepare attorney cover letters for commissioner's orders and coordinate service of process.

Assist OGC attorneys in handling appeals of enforcement orders. Facilitate communications with pro se respondents and opposing counsel. Draft agreed final orders. Prepare Notice of Hearing to docket matters. Proofread motions. Assist with discovery responses, depositions, and hearings. Prepare agreed final orders for settlements.

Assist OGC attorneys to enforce final orders, serving as the primary case manager. Draft demand letters for attorney signature, send them, and track responses or non-responses. Manage communications with pro se respondents or opposing counsel. Prepare attorney general referral memoranda.

Assist with collections of civil penalties and damages.

Prepare draft General Sessions warrants and affidavits for review by the assigned attorney. Once drafts are approved, secure the affiant's signature and arrange filing at General Sessions.

Communicate updates and share documents with the assigned attorney.

Promptly enter updates and upload documents in the case management database.

Background Verification

Minimum Verification Requirements

Please complete the following verification with Accurate/InfoCubic upon candidate's selection.

TN Combined Counties & Statewide Search

• Address History Locator
• National Criminal Record Search
• Sex Offender Registry
• Criminal County & Statewide Search - 7 year search, based on residential address history
• Criminal Federal Search - 7 year search, based on residential address history
• Global Watch
• AKAs - Search current name and all additional names

Please review the comments section of this requisition for any additional background check requirements.

Qualification Required Education Others Minimum - High School graduate Minimum: High School graduate. Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred. Paralegal certificate preferred. Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Skills Others Minimum five years progressive administrative support experience required Minimum of five years of progressive administrative support experience required. Legal administrative experience preferred. Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Skills Others Addressing Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Skills Others Administative Assistant Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Software Others Adobe Acrobat Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Skills Others Collections Proficient (4-6 Years) No Skills Others Correspondence - Email Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Skills Others Correspondence - General Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Skills Others Customer Service Proficient (4-6 Years) No Skills Others Emailing Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Software Others Internet Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Skills Others Legal Proficient (4-6 Years) No Software Others Microsoft Excel Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Software Others Microsoft Word Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes Skills Others Proofreading/Editing Proficient (4-6 Years) No Skills Others Scheduling Proficient (4-6 Years) No Skills Others Verbal Communication Proficient (4-6 Years) Yes