Paralegal - Public Finance 72401

Job Juncture; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Job Juncture is assisting a Dallas-area law firm in adding a Public Finance Paralegal to its practice group. The role supports attorneys in transactional work for municipal utility districts and related districts across Texas, with direct client contact and board interactions.

The ideal candidate has two or more years of law firm paralegal experience in public finance or related drafting duties, with strong writing skills and attention to detail.

Qualifications

• 2+ years paralegal experience in law firm or related setting.
• Experience drafting documents for public financing or bond issuances.
• Strong writing and organizational skills; attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Attend board meetings of municipal utility district clients and take notes.
• Draft agendas, orders, and resolutions for board meetings.
• Prepare minutes and maintain compliance with legal procedures.
• Interact with district directors, engineers, bookkeepers and tax staff.
• Prepare bond documents and assist with transcript submissions for review.
• Track filing requirements and assist with annual budget and tax processes.
• Maintain client billable hours in the firm system.

Skills

Paralegal experience

Legal document drafting

Board meeting support

Client coordination

Multilingual agendas

Education

Paralegal certificate

Bachelor's degree

Tools

NetDocuments

LMS+

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Job description

Our client, a Dallas area law firm, has a new opportunity for a Public Finance Paralegal.

Paralegals in this practice group work with a high level of responsibility both independently and in coordination with attorneys to provide skilled and substantive transactional legal services to the practice group’s clients,whichincludemunicipalutilitydistricts(MUDs)andotherspecialpurposedistrictslocatedthroughoutTexas. Theworkregularlyinvolvesdirectclientcontactthroughworkwiththedistrict’sgoverningboardofdirectorsandthe district’s professional, outside consultants. The work sometimes requires overtime with evening meetings that take placeatthelocationofthedistricts;reliable,personaltransportationisarequirementofthejob.Alldailytimeincurred on a matter is billed to the client.

Theidealcandidatewillhavetwoormoreyears’experienceinalawfirmorrelatedsettingwithadirectbackground in public finance or drafting legal documents related to the issuance of public financing bonds or working with governing (public or private) corporate boards.Familiarity with special purpose entities (with particular focus on municipal utility districts) is a plus.Strong consideration will be given, however, to entry-level/trainee candidates with strong academic credentials and proven writing skills with undergraduate degrees in majors such as Communications,English,Writing,orotherliberalartsfields.

Job Responsibilities and Duties:

• While working both independently and collaboratively to accomplish a dynamic set of tasks as may be assigned, day-to-day responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• AttendmeetingsoftheBoardofDirectorsofthefirm’smunicipalutilitydistrictclientsandtakenotesofall board actions and decisions.
• Draftandprepareagendas,orders,andresolutionrequiredforBoardofDirectorsmeetingsandpreparemulti- lingual agendas for election matters (outside translation services are used).
• Ensure that the Board of Directors follows proper legal procedures at meetings.
• PrepareminutesoftheBoard meetings.
• InteractwiththeDirectorsofthedistrictsaswellastheotherconsultantsforthedistricts,includingengineers, operators, bookkeepers, and tax assessor/collectors.
• Prepare required bond documents and assemble into a transcript of proceedings and assist in submission to the Attorney General of Texas for review prior to the district’s issuance and selling of bonds.
• Preparesdocumentsforobtainingtheapprovalforannexationoflandtodistrictsandadministers t he applications for such approval.
• ReviewmemorandaregardingcurrentlegislationandinformtheBoardaboutnew regulations.
• Review new rules from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and inform the Board of Directors.
• Assistwiththerenewalofvarious permits.
• Preparedocumentsforthedistricts'annualtaxexemptionsandassessingthecollectionchargesondelinquent taxes.
• Keep track offiling requirements, such as the Registration Form dueatleast every two years and the Water Loss Audit due every five years for the TCEQ.
• ReviewtheAnnualFinancialReport(audit)andfilewiththeappropriate parties.
• Provide documentsfor the required annualreviewof investmentpoliciesand investmentstrategies;prepare required certificate pages.
• Assist with the distribution of the Water Quality Reports.
• Assist with the annual setting of the tax rate, including preparation of the Order Levying Taxes and Amendment to the Information Forms; make sure the forms are properly filed.
• Assist with the annual Operating Budget for the districts' operating funds.
• Record all client billable hours on the firm's tracking system timely.

Requirements:

• Familiarity with NetDocuments (document management system), LMS+ (client billing system), and Adobe Acrobat Pro a plus
• On-site training in NetDocs, LMS+, and other IT systems will be provided
• A writing sample is required at the time of application from all candidates; no specific subject matter is required.
• Excellent organizational stills, with ability to attend to multiple deadlines and details.
• Ability to work with a wide variety of professional personnel with professional questions.
• Ability to professionally and courteously respond to customers of client-districts who might have complaints from time to time.
• Degree or paralegal certificate is a plus.