Paralegal / 61014372

State-of-South-Carolina; South Carolina; On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Long-term disability

Life insurance

15 days annual leave

15 days sick leave

13 paid holidays

Paid parental leave

State retirement plan

Deferred compensation

Job summary

The SC Department of Social Services seeks a Paralegal to support assigned attorneys in Family Court matters, including child protection, foster care, and adoption. You will manage pleadings, notices, and LCMS documents while coordinating with DSS staff and law enforcement.

Strong organizational skills and a valid driver’s license are required. You will be part of the Office of General Counsel in Lexington County, handling case preparation, hearings, and filing duties to ensure proper service

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required; related work experience considered
• Paralegal or legal secretarial experience preferred
• Valid driver’s license required; access to vehicle
• LCMS experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Assist assigned attorney in family court matters including child protection, foster care, adoption, and adult protection
• Prepare pleadings, orders, notices, and other documents using LCMS
• Organize cases, verify service, and manage court dockets and hearings
• Draft and file legal documents with Clerk of Court; circulate orders
• Attend hearings and trials and maintain accurate notes and records
• Gather witness statements and exhibits; assist with discovery requests and motions
• Serve as liaison between attorney, DSS staff, law enforcement, and Family Court
• Protect sensitive personal information and safeguard agency systems and data
• Perform related duties as required

Skills

Paralegal experience

Legal secretarial experience

Liaison with agencies

Education

High School Diploma

College degree substitution

Tools

LCMS (Legal Case Management System)

Job description

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful contributions to your community?

Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of South Carolina's children, families, and vulnerable adults? If so, the SC Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you!

Job Duties:

• The Paralegal provides assistance to assigned attorney to provide legal services and representation in Family Courts on issues relative to child protection, foster care, adoption, child day care, and adult protection.
• Utilizes the Legal Case Management System (LCMS) to prepare pleadings, orders, notices, and other documents. Maintains accurate LCMS data by inputting documents and information including names of parties, addresses, and hearing outcomes.
• Prepares cases for Family Court including file organization, initiation and verification of service and ensures all parties are properly served, distribution of treatment plans, preparation and distribution of dockets to appropriate parties, draft proposed orders for attorney review, process continuance requests, and re-docket subsequent hearings.
• Prepares pleadings, motions, and proposed orders for attorney's review; files pleadings, motions, notices, and other legal documents with the Clerk of Court; circulates, files, and serves orders.
• Attends hearings and trials, assists with the orderly flow of cases into the courtroom, and maintains accurate notes reflecting attendance, testimony, evidence, and the Court's ruling.
• Collects, assembles and verifies witness statements, reports, documents and exhibits for use by attorney in preparation of court cases. Researches issues, prepares briefs, discovery requests, and motions.
• Acts as liaison between the attorney and DSS staff members, and representatives of law enforcement and Family Court.
• Ensures that personal identifying information (Pl I) is properly used, accessed, gathered, shared and disposed. Protects the Agency networks and applications by safeguarding systems, equipment and data.
• Performs related duties as required.

A High School Diploma and work experience that is directly related to the area of employment.

A college degree may be substituted for all or part of related work experience.

Paralegal or legal secretarial experience and a valid driver's license.

Must have a valid drivers' license and access to motor vehicle; ability to access 4/ 5 drawer file cabinets and/or various filing systems; ability to enter information into computer; ability to lift 20lbs.

Division:

Office of General Counsel / LexingtonCounty

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs