PARALEGAL SPECIALIST I - 41000943

Requisition No: 842730 

Agency: Office of the Attorney General

Working Title: PARALEGAL SPECIALIST I - 41000943

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 41000943 

Salary:  $49,000.12 Annually 

Posting Closing Date: 12/19/2024 

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Our Organization and Mission: The Office represents the State of Florida in state and federal civil and criminal courts, from trial courts to the Supreme Court of the United States. 

Position Summary: This position is in the Office of the Attorney General within the Consumer Protection Division in Tampa, Florida.  This is a full-time, highly responsible paralegal position that requires the individual to work independently with limited supervision. This position requires strong organizational skills, excellent communication skills (both verbal and written), strong legal research, document drafting and proof-reading skills, and the ability to multitask effectively.  This position provides paralegal support to several attorneys in a fast-paced environment and requires an excellent understanding of the court procedures and rules.

Pay: $49,000.12 Annually

Qualifications: 

Completion of a two-year accredited training program to become a legal assistant, a paralegal, a legal paraprofessional or a lawyer's or attorney's assistant; OR
A degree or certificate in legal technology, legal administration, legal studies, or criminal justice; OR
Law school degree from a law school in the United States, or upon management approval, from a law school outside the United States; OR
Four years of experience performing the duties of a paralegal or legal assistant. 

Preference will be given to applicants with:

- Paralegal certification or graduation from an accredited paralegal training program OR currently enrolled paralegal students who have completed at least 50% of the course credits.

- Experience e-filing and e-serving court documents.

- Experience doing legal research and checking case cites.

- Experience drafting and formatting pleadings and other documents for court filings.

- Experience with eDiscovery review and case management.

- Experience supporting civil litigation cases.

- Recent experience preparing attorneys for hearings and/or trials.

- 3 or more years of recent paralegal or legal assisting experience in a law firm or legal department.

Skills exercises may be used as part of the selection process for this position.  These skills exercises must be completed in person at one of the OAG offices in Florida, and a passing score of at least 50% is required to advance in the process.

The Work You Will Do: The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to the following: 

Case Management: 

• Analyze, select, compile, and summarize information on statutes, financial records, legal decisions, legal opinions, memoranda, or other legal material for internal use.
• Conduct online legal research using commercially available research applications.
• Conduct factual research to assist with pending cases or investigations.
• Draft legal documents, including discovery requests, witness lists and exhibit lists.
• Prepare exhibits for hearings, depositions and trials.
• Conduct document review.
• Organize documents and exhibits for review by attorneys.
• Coordinate service of process and subpoenas.
• Summarize deposition and trial transcripts.
• Examine and analyze briefs, petitions, complaints and evidence of alleged or suspected violations of laws or regulations in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, rules, precedents or policies.
• Examine legal instruments or other documents to assure completeness of information and conformance to pertinent laws, rules, regulations, precedents, or office requirements.
• Assist with preparation of cross-designation documentation for attorney appearances.
• Assist in case preparation for civil litigation or agency hearings.
• Attend court proceedings and trials with attorneys and provide assistance as needed.
• Conduct legal research as directed.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Specific task assignments will be related to the examples listed above and may vary based on the tasks applicable to the assigned Unit. 

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida: Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits.
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year.
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options.
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com).
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers.
• And more! For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To be considered for the position, all applicants must:

Submit a complete and accurate application profile necessary for qualifying such as dates of service, reason for leaving, etc. In addition, all applicants must ensure all employment and/or detailed information about work experience is listed on the application (including military service, self-employment, job-related volunteer work, internships, etc.) and that gaps in employment are explained. 

NOTE: Any required experience and/or preferences listed in the advertisement must be verified at the time of application.

• Ensure that applicant responses to qualifying questions are verifiable by skills and/or experience stated on the employment application and/or resume. Applicants who do not respond to the qualifying questions will not be considered for this position.
• The elements of the selection process may include a skill assessment exercise. 
• Current and future vacancies may be filled from this advertisement for a period of up to six months. Following the six-month period, a new application must be submitted to an open advertisement to be considered for that vacancy.
• OAG employees are paid biweekly. All state employees are required to participate in the direct deposit program pursuant to s. 110.113, Fs.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS/ DRUG FREE WORKPLACE: All OAG positions are "sensitive or special trust" and require favorable results on a background investigation including fingerprinting, pursuant to s. 110.1127(2)(a), F.S. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free Workplace, all employees are subject to reasonable suspicion or other drug testing in accordance with section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. We hire only U.S. citizens and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.

E-VERIFY STATEMENT: The Office of the Attorney General participates in the U.S. government’s employment eligibility verification program (e-verify). E-verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States after completion of the employment eligibility verification form (i-9).

PERSONS WITH DISABILITY/ADA STATEMENT: The OAG supports the employment of individuals with disabilities and encourages them to seek employment within our agency. If you need an accommodation because of a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, in order to participate in the application process, please notify the people first service center at 877-562-7287. If you need an accommodation during the selection process, please notify the hiring authority in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.

REMINDERS: Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website at: https: //www.sss.gov. If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. If you return to FRS employment before satisfying the required waiting period, your retirement may be voided, and you may have to repay all benefits you have received, including any Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) payout.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.