Paralegal / 61014372

State of South Carolina; West Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision, LTD, Life Ins.

Vacation 15 days

Sick leave 15 days

13 paid holidays

Paid Parental Leave

State Retirement Plan

Deferred Compensation

Job summary

South Carolina Department of Social Services is seeking a Paralegal to support assigned attorneys in Family Courts on child protection, foster care, adoption, and related matters. The role involves preparing pleadings, notices, and orders, and using the LCMS to manage case documents.

The candidate will assist with case preparation, service, docket management, and filing, while attending hearings and trials.

Qualifications

• Assist assigned attorney in Family Courts on child protection, foster care, and related issues.
• Prepare pleadings, orders, notices, and other documents; input data into LCMS.
• Prepare cases for Family Court including service, docket distribution, and filing of orders.
• Draft and file pleadings, motions, and proposed orders for attorney review and service of court documents.
• Attend hearings and trials; maintain notes on attendance, testimony, evidence, and rulings.
• Gather and verify witness statements, reports, documents and exhibits; prepare briefs and motions.
• Liaise between attorney, DSS staff, and law enforcement regarding cases.
• Protect personal identifying information; safeguard agency networks and data.

Responsibilities

• Assist with preparation of legal documents and court filings.
• Maintain accurate LCMS records with party names, addresses, and hearing outcomes.
• Coordinate service of documents and distribution of dockets to parties.
• Draft orders for attorney review and manage continuance requests.
• Attend hearings to ensure orderly flow and accurate notes of rulings.

Skills

Legal research

Court procedures

Organization

Communication

Education

High School Diploma

College degree may substitute for related experience

Tools

Legal Case Management System (LCMS)

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 drivers 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.

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

Division

Office of General Counsel / Lexington County