Open Rank: Paralegal/Legal Assistant

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Tyler (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Tyler is seeking an open-rank Paralegal or Legal Assistant to support the Office of Legal Affairs. The role involves independent handling of non-routine legal matters and procedure formulation.

The Paralegal will conduct legal research, draft documents, manage case files, and communicate with clients and external stakeholders. The position also supports daily operations of the Office of Legal Affairs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field.
• Five years of experience in a legal setting.
• Paralegal certificate preferred.
• Experience in litigation support, contracts, compliance, higher education, government, healthcare, or employment law.
• Strong legal research, writing, organization, and confidentiality skills.
• May accept a combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Track deadlines and maintain case-management systems.
• Prepare periodic activity reports and contracts/reports.
• Compile Public Information Act responses and maintain web pages.
• Assist Privacy Oversight Committee activities and disclosures log.
• Maintain OLA SharePoint site and update forms/contracts.
• Assist with ethics and conflicts of interest matters.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Organization

Confidentiality

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Paralegal certificate

Five years of legal experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Job description

Open Rank: Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Position Title: Paralegal or Legal Assistant This is an open rank position based on the hiring needs of the department and education/experience of the candidate selected.

Position Information

Job Type/Hours per Week

Full-Time/40 Hours per Week

Salary

Salary commensurate with relevant work experience.

Hiring Department

Office of Legal Affairs

Location

This position is located on the UT Tyler campus. The position is not eligible for remote work.

Required Application Materials

A single PDF or Word document containing a resume, letter ofinterest, and a list of the names and contact information for three(3) professional references is required to apply.

Job Summary

This is an open rank position based on the hiring needs of the department and education/experience of the candidate selected.

The Legal Assistant is responsible for providing analytical,technical, and administrative skills necessary to manageinformation and perform all duties in support of the academicenterprise in the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) at the Universityof Texas at Tyler (UTT). The position must exercise independentthought over non-routine clerical or legal matters and assist inthe formulation of operating procedures.

The Paralegal enhances the effectiveness of the Office of LegalAffairs by conducting legal research, drafting legal documents,managing case files, and communicating with clients and externalstakeholders. The position functions as a paralegal and performs a variety of specialized tasks to support the daily functions of theOffice of Legal Affairs.

Major Responsibilities / Duties / Critical Tasks

• Track deadlines and maintain case-management systems.
• Prepare periodic activity reports and produce contracts andother ad hoc reports as requested.
• Compile and organize Public Information Act request responsesand maintain public web pages.
• Schedule and assist with Privacy Oversight Committeeactivities, maintain disclosures log, and assist with privacymatters as requested.
• Maintain OLA Sharepoint site, including updating form contractsand other information as needed.
• Assist with ethics and conflicts of interest matters asrequested.
• Serve as a resource on contracts preparation and contractmanagement, including assistance with drafting and reviewing foraccuracy and compliance with the requirements of UTT, UT SystemOffice of General Counsel, and Board of Regents.
• Maintain notary public designation and provide notary servicesfor UTT as necessary or requested as needed.
• Serve as a resource for support staff and attorneys regardinglegal procedures.
• Interface and handle inquiries from UTT Administration, facultyand staff, UT System and UT System Office of General Counsel, TexasAttorney General's Office and outside organizations.
• Compile and organize information and documentation for casedefense and responses to discovery, including case summaries,witness lists, affidavits and chronologies, subpoena responses andappeal hearing documents.
• Monitor and maintain outside counsel expense reports andprocess payments, accordingly, including required submission to theTexas Attorney General's Office.
• Provide administrative support for department as needed.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

The Paralegal position will also be responsible for the following:

• Conduct legal and factual research.
• Draft and review legal correspondence, reports, anddocuments.
• Coordinate the collection of evidence, documents andinformation concerning legal issues from a variety of internal andexternal sources; prepares discovery responses or otherresponses.
• Research, compile, prepare, and provide legal reports andmemoranda to the attorneys in the Office of Legal Affairs, as wellas attorneys at the UT System Office of General Counsel.

Required Education / Experience – Paralegal

• Bachelor's degree in business or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience in a legal setting.
• Paralegal certificate preferred.
• Experience in litigation support, contracts, compliance, highereducation, government, healthcare, or employment law.
• Strong legal research, writing, organization, andconfidentiality skills.
• May accept a combination of education and experience.

Required Education / Experience – Legal Assistant

• Bachelor's degree in business or a related field.
• Three (3) years of administrative experience in a relatedenvironment.
• May accept a combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education / Experience

• Prior experience in higher education or governmental setting.Accompanying Knowledge, Skills, Abilities andCompetencies
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products and officeequipment.
• Strong customer service and communication skills, both inperson and over the phone.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage multipleresponsibilities effectively.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to plan,prioritize, and coordinate events and activities.
• Proficiency in managing and reviewing documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify andresolve issues efficiently.
• Interact professionally with students, faculty, and universityleadership.
• Demonstrated flexibility and initiative in a dynamic workenvironment.
• Ethical.
• Ability to maintain confidential information.

About The University of Texas at Tyler and UT Tyler Health Science Center

The University of Texas at Tyler is part of the prestigiousUniversity of Texas System that includes 14 institutions located throughout the state. Founded in 1971, UT Tyler today enrolls10,000 students and consists of six colleges.

Designated as an R2 research institution by the CarnegieClassification of Institutions of Higher Education, UT Tylersupports our surrounding region through innovation intended touplift communities, spearhead sustainability initiatives, preserveecosystems and support entrepreneurship. UT Tyler has the highestCarnegie classification in East Texas.

Providing exceptional patient care, comprehensive education andinnovative research, The University of Texas at Tyler HealthScience Center and UT Health East Texas combine to serve as theuniversity medical center for Northeast Texas and beyond.

For more information, please visit https://www.uttyler.edu/about.

Additional Information

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code Section 51.215, which authorizes the employer to obtain criminal history record information. Applicants selected must be able to show proof of eligibility to work in the United States by time of hire.

For more information regarding benefits offered by UT Tyler, please visit https://www.uttyler.edu/offices/human-resources/employees/benefits.

Learn more about working at UT Tyler by visiting Why UTTyler?

EEO Statement

The University of Texas at Tyler is an Equal Employment OpportunityEmployer.