Legal Assistant Date Posted: Feb 26, 2024 Requisition ID: 439828 Location: La Porte, IN, US, 46350 Work for Indiana Grow your career with the State of Indiana! With more than 50 executive branch agencies, the State of Indiana is a diverse workforce offering employees stimulating and challenging projects across a broad scope of career opportunities. As a State of Indiana employee, you impact the well-being of Indiana’s communities every day. At the State of Indiana, we don’t just talk about diversity and inclusion - Our goal is to create a welcoming, accessible, and equitable workplace, with a workforce that is representative of the State of Indiana population. As a proud equal opportunity employer, reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process, as well as perform the essential functions of a role. Next Level benefits at the State of Indiana are here! Be sure to review our expanded benefit package offerings below. About the Department of Child Services: Join a team that engages with families and children to improve lives in meaningful and significant ways. DCS engages authentically with children who are victims of abuse or neglect and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. The Department also administers family preservation and prevention services, foster care, and child support throughout the State of Indiana. You will relentlessly pursue permanency for children and families through reunification, guardianship, adoption or support youth in making a successful transition to adulthood. While this job is difficult and may have long and sometimes unconventional hours, this is more than a job—it is a calling to improve your community and neighbors. Will you join us in supporting our Mission, Vision, and Values?Mission: The Indiana Department of Child Services leads the state’s response to allegations of child abuse and neglect and facilitates child support payments. We consider the needs and values of all we serve in our efforts to protect children while keeping families together whenever possible.Vision: Children will live in safe, healthy and supportive families and communities.Values: We at the Indiana Department of Child Services empower our team, in collaboration with state and local partners, to make decisions in the best interest of every child in our care by embracing: Child Safety Permanency Collaborative partnerships with foster and adoptive families Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion A culture of safety and transparency A commitment to continuous improvementSalary Statement: This position traditionally starts at an annual salary of $39,000. Salary for this position may be commensurate with education and job experience.About the Job: As the Legal Assistant, you will be responsible for providing paralegal and administrative support services to general counsel or administrative law judge within a state agency.A Day in the Life: The essential functions of this role are as follows:
Provides administrative and legal support to attorneys and legal divisions.
Performs legal research under the direction of staff counsel or administrative law judge.
Assists at depositions and hearings by taking notes, providing follow-up questions to attorneys, and keeping track of documents.
Prepares, proos, or processes legal documents, such as summonses, subpoenas, complaints, appeals, motions, or pretrial agreements.
Mails, faxes, or arranges for delivery of legal correspondence to clients, witnesses, and court officials.
Receives and responds to inquiries regarding current hearings from attorneys, legislators, or clients by telephone, email, and/or correspondence.
Schedules hearing dates and sites, makes appointments, and manages calendars.
Travels to hearing sites, sets up site, materials, and equipment.
Organizes and maintains law libraries, database systems, documents, and case files.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time. What You'll Need for Success: The ideal candidate in this role should minimally have a High School Diploma or equivalentUpon entering the role, individuals must have or obtain the following requirements:
Knowledge of legal procedures and terminology
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritze tasks effectively
Strong attention to detail and prooing skills
Proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)
Ability to work with sensitive documents and information, and be privy to sensitive agency information without divulging information to internal or external parties
Ability to work independently
Ability to provide effective and professional customer service to internal and external parties
Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports: This role may be utilized in a supervisory capacity based on agency needs.Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana: The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:
Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
Flexible work scheduling options, including the potential for hybrid remote work for employees whose work may be performed outside state facilities
Deferred compensation 457B account (similar to 401k plan) with employer match
Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
150 hours of paid new parent leave
Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
Education Reimbursement Program
Group life insurance
Referral Bonus program
Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Free Parking for most positions
Free LinkedIn Learning access
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruit, select, develop, and promote employees based on individual ability and job performance. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunity to all people in all aspects of employer-employee relations without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or veteran status. We will comply with the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable state and federal laws.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at [emailprotected].
The State of Indiana has established a culture that welcomes equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all employees and applicants. We encourage you to apply if you feel you have the transferrable skills to be successful in this position and we look forward to reviewing your application.
Current Employee? Click here (https://performancemanager8.successfactors.com/sf/careers/jobsearch?bpltecompany=indianaoff) to apply.
