Paralegal - Transactions & Land Use Division

Travis County; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Travis County is seeking a paralegal to provide routine support under supervision. The role involves preparing PID, land use, and transaction documents, researching records, and coordinating with court personnel and staff.

The position requires a paralegal certificate or an applicable degree with two years of experience, plus knowledge of legal terminology and open meetings laws. It may involve work in secure facilities and requires strong organizational skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field with two years paralegal experience.
• OR any combination of education and experience equivalent to the stated requirements.
• Paralegal Certificate from a recognized program.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, maintain, and organize PID, land use/real estate, and transaction documents.
• Research, retrieve, and organize real estate records for case documentation.
• Coordinate with office staff, court personnel, and other agencies.
• Review, screen, and analyze materials for assigned matters; prepare and route documents for signatures.
• Maintain calendars and time/billing records; respond to inquiries.

Skills

Legal research

Document management

Case file review

Open meetings laws

English grammar

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Paralegal Certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

Court filing systems

Computers/typing

Job description

Under moderate supervision or under supervision of attorneys, provides routine paralegal support. Screens, reviews, analyzes and organizes files required for client representation. Drafts various contract related and client materials. Coordinates the work with secretarial support staff.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is the first in a series of two paralegal-related job classifications within the Administrative Support job family. This classification is distinguished from the Paralegal Senior in that incumbents do not supervise other Paralegals or serve as the primary agent in the research and drafting of legal memoranda on substantive and procedural legal topics. Sensitivity to detail and confidentiality. Customer and client contact. This classification may require work in secure facilities.

• Prepares, maintains, and organizes Public Improvement District (“PID”), land use/real estate, and transaction documents.
• Retrieves information from computer to assist case documentation, including researching, retrieving, and working with real estate records.
• Contacts office staff, Court personnel, employees from other agencies and others, as required to obtain information needed.
• Reviews, screens, and analyzes materials for assigned matters. Processes documents, including preparation, filing, recording, and gathering of documents.
• Prepare and route documents for signatures and maintain organized files.
• Obtains, indexes and outlines other relevant documents.
• Coordinates and schedules meetings, closings, and other matters.
• Maintains calendars.
• Responds to inquiries related to the cases pending and returns messages for assigned attorneys.
• Maintains personal time and billing records.
• Maintains statistical records and prepares reports.
• Responds to inquiries related to the pending cases and returns messages for assigned attorney(s).
• Communicates with office staff, adverse counsel and staff, Court Clerks and personnel, and other Travis County employees.
• May select, train and supervise clerical support staff, including reviewing prepared files and documents.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Paralegal Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration or a directly related field AND two (2) years experience as a paralegal;

OR, Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements

Paralegal Certificate from a professionally recognized Paralegal/Legal Assistant program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines.
• Law office management and administration.
• Open meetings laws and Public Information Act.
• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to Court system.
• Discovery process.
• Current legal trends in the interaction of law and professional ethics.
• Statistical and record keeping applications, including databases and spreadsheets.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Acquiring, maintaining, organizing, analyzing and summarizing case evidence.
• Understanding legal terminology and English grammar.
• Case file examination for documentation accuracy.
• Operating a variety of modern office equipment, including a computer.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Train and supervise clerical and administrative employees.
• Accurately and succinctly summarize legal information.
• Perform legal research.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, judges, attorneys, Court personnel, other participants in the civil justice system, representatives of outside agencies, and the general public.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to sitting, client/customer contact, standing, walking, vision to monitor, repetitive motion, stooping/kneeling, squatting, bending, and reaching to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Location: 314 W 11th St, Austin, TX 78701

Department: County Attorney

Criminal Background Check, Driving Record, Education, and Employment History Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: [e-mail].

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.