Paralegal (Real Estate)

City-of-Houston,-T; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Houston Legal Department seeks a skilled paralegal who can work independently on transactional assignments and collaborate with attorneys. Responsibilities include drafting ordinances and contracts, maintaining files, and communicating with client departments to track status.

Ideal candidates will have a paralegal certificate or related studies, strong writing and research abilities, and proficiency with Microsoft Office and legal research tools.

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or GED and a paralegal or legal assistant studies certificate.
• An associate degree may be substituted for the above certification.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite is required.

Responsibilities

• Drafting various legal documents, including ordinances and contracts for review, approval, and use by attorneys.
• Maintaining physical and electronic files.
• Regularly communicating with client departments and section attorneys to provide status updates and request additional information.
• Case management and tracking attorney workload.
• Performing basic legal research.

Skills

Excellent communication

Drafting

Analytical

Organizational skills

Familiarity with municipal or public,?

Education

High school diploma or GED

Paralegal or legal assistant studies certificate

Associate degree preferred

Tools

Office 365

Westlaw Edge

Practical Law

Drafting Assistant

Job description

Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

Department: LEGAL DEPARTMENT

Reporting Location: 900 BAGBY

Workdays & Hours: MONDAY – FRIDAY 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM* *Subject to Change

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Office of the City Attorney for the City of Houston (the “OCA”) provides municipal legal services to the City, its elected and appointed officials, and its employees while adhering to the following guiding principles:

• Quality & Service – Achieving high customer satisfaction as judged by our clients.
• Partnership & Teamwork – Working cooperatively internally and with our clients to achieve the City’s goals.
• Integrity & Candor – Placing honesty and ethical behavior first.
• Dignity & Diversity – Promoting each person’s value.
• Innovation & Imagination – Seeking novel and creative approaches to achieving the City’s objectives.

Composed of approximately 100 of Houston’s finest attorneys working in 10 legal practice sections, the OCA handles personal injury, commercial and civil rights litigation, major commercial and real estate transactions, and a diverse array of human resources, labor and employment matters, while also counseling the municipal corporation on economic development, constitutional, election matters, ethics and quality of life matters, and preparing City ordinances governing Houston and its citizens.

Every member of the OCA must be committed to “Service Through Law”.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The City of Houston Legal Department seeks a skilled, energetic, team-oriented Paralegal who is self-motivated and can work independently on various transactional assignments.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Drafting various legal documents, including ordinances and contracts for review, approval, and use by attorneys.
• Maintaining physical and electronic files.
• Regularly communicating with client departments and section attorneys to provide status updates and request additional information.
• Responsibilities include case management and tracking attorney workload.
• Performing basic legal research.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc. There are no major sources of discomfort in a normal office environment.

EDUCATION

Requires a high school diploma or a GED certificate and a certificate in paralegal or legal assistant studies. An associate degree may be substituted for the above certification requirement. Above average academic performance is preferred. Requires basic computer skills and working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite.

EXPERIENCE

No experience is required.

Preference will be given to applicants with:

• Excellent communication, drafting, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with municipal or public law.
• Proficiency with the Office 365 suite of programs, including Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, OneDrive Business, as well as electronic legal research tools such as Westlaw Edge, Practical Law, and Drafting Assistant.

Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6.

SELECTION/SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED

All applicants will be expected to provide a writing sample and transcripts. All applicants must upload a current resume in addition to completing the application.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION

No

SALARY INFORMATION

Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in the appropriate classification.

Pay Grade: 12

EOE - Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.