Easter Seals Jobs

Legal Assistant III performs complex legal support duties in the Executive/Legal Section, involving the initial review and processing of electronic DPS reports related to applicants, drafting legal documents and correspondence, and disseminating information regarding agency laws and procedures. Work involves reviewing license applicant criminal history background checks through the Department of Public Safety, and the collection, filing, retrieving, and dispatching of records for the agency's computerized Electronic Document Imaging System. Work is performed under general supervision with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Coordinates, assembles, and prepares evidence, exhibits, affidavits, and documents for use in legal proceedings.

Prepares, reviews, and edits pleadings, motions, briefs, abstracts, petitions, summary judgments, legal correspondence, and other legal documents. Prepares synopses, abstracts, or summaries of complex legal issues.

Prepares attorneys for meetings with complainants, witnesses, and expert witnesses.

Drafts and responds to correspondence and opinion requests involving legal interpretations and decisions. Researches and analyzes legal sources such as statutes, case law, administrative records, opinions, articles, treaties, property titles, and rules and regulations.

Schedules and prioritizes attorney caseloads; organizes case files; attends initial interviews and depositions; conducts investigations; and prepares chronologies, fact summaries, and witness files.

Assists in drafting cost analysis and bill summaries for proposed legislation, and tracks and analyzes relevant legislation.

Electronically submits and retrieves batches of licensee and applicant names to and from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Reviews criminal history record of each licensee or applicant and compares it to the Criminal Conviction Guidelines to make the initial recommendation of license revocation or denial.

Refers possible denial candidates to a prosecutor. Enters enforcement holds into licensing databases on applicants when directed by a prosecutor and clears enforcement holds in licensing databases when directed by a prosecutor. Investigates criminal background of license applicants.

Opens cases in the case management system and updates the case management system with appropriate actions reflecting case events and status. Also updates all case assignment spreadsheets when opening or assigning complaints for investigation.

Assists licensing and investigations in managing a high volume of criminal history background checks, processes a daily input of DPS reports, and ensures the expeditious movement of new cases to the investigators.

Drafts and issues correspondence related to cases seeking more information regarding

applications and Criminal History Questionnaires.

Researches and interprets statutes, rules, regulations, codes, and administrative records, and analyzes their applicability and significance in fact situations presented in cases.

Conducts Internet research as needed to secure identity, location, ownership, and other backgroundinformation about individuals, business entities, properties, and events.

Conducts individual criminal history background checks using the DPS website.

Responds to inquiries from applicants regarding their application filed with the agency, the agency's multiple statutes and rules, and the agency's enforcement procedures and policies. Responds to such inquiries both orally and in writing on a daily basis.

Performs duties in accordance with the Complaint Resolution Procedures Manual, the Enforcement Plan, and the Criminal Conviction Guidelines.

Assists in responding to public information requests.

Consistently provides friendly, caring, and professional customer service.

Complies with division and/or agency training requirements.

Demonstrates a spirit of teamwork, ffering positive and constructive ideas, encouragement, and support to other members of the staff and team, while upholding the agency's core values.