Legal Assistant

Job Posting

Important Recruitment Information for this vacancy:

• Job Posting closes: July 14, 2024

Kansas Department of Transportation

At KDOT, we reward our staff's hard work by providing training opportunities, a family-oriented work environment and service recognition. Promotional opportunities, free parking, and potential hybrid work schedules are also offered. KDOT is a great place to work, so come be part of our team!

Verification of identity and employment eligibility to work in the United States is required by federal law. For a list of acceptable documents that establish these criteria, please refer to the federal Form I-9. KDOT does not provide sponsorships for this position.

E-Verify: The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For additional information regarding E-Verify, please click here. For additional information regarding Immigrant and Employee Rights (IER) please click here.

About the Position:

• Who can apply: Anyone

• Classified/Unclassified Service: Unclassified

• Full/Part-time: Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary: Regular

• Work Schedule: Monday

• Friday

• Eligible to Receive Benefits: Yes

• Veterans' Preference Eligible: Yes

• Search Keywords: Holton, Oskaloosa, Lawrence, Ottawa, Osage City, Eskridge, Alma, Wamego

Compensation:

• Annual Salary Range: $41,870.40 - $50,918.40
• Hourly Pay Range: $20.13 - $24.48

Employment Benefits:

• Work-Life Balance Programs:

• Paid Leave: Vacation, Holidays, Parental, Military, Sick, Funeral and Jury Duty

• Employee Assistance Program

• For help managing daily life at no cost to you

• Infant at Work Program

• Voluntary Benefits: Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance

• First-Day Coverage:

• Medical Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vison Insurance

• Tax Advantage Accounts: HSA, HRA, FSA with qualifying plans

• Life Insurance:

• Employer paid basic group life

• Optional group life insurance available at a reasonable cost.

• Retirement:

• KPERS and Deferred Compensation

• Other Benefits:

• Tuition reimbursement

• Paid on-the-job training programs.

• Personal and Professional Development Opportunities

• Employee discounts with the STAR Program

• And more!

Visit the Employee Benefits page for more information…

Position Summary & Responsibilities:

Position Summary:

This Legal Assistant position is located in Topeka, at the Eisenhower State Office Building, and is within the Office of Chief Counsel (OCC). This position is one of two Legal Assistant positions providing support for the handling of case management, drafting of legal documents, and performing limited legal research in the areas of eminent domain and relocation appeals. This position also provides legal assistant support for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, Rail and Freight, and other legal matters, as well as providing back-up coverage for phones, assisting walk-ins, processing mail, and processing vouchers.

Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

• Prepares and maintains case summaries, case files, and calendars, and as well as drafting, editing, and filing with courts standard motions, orders, and other pleadings. This position also drafts routine and special correspondence, compiles and assembles hearing notebooks, and coordinates necessary actions with agency personnel, consultants, opposing counsel, clerks and judges of the courts, the public, and other government offices.

• Reviews, compiles information, and researches case files referred to the OCC for legal action, and reviews title work, appraisals, and supporting documentation to determine appropriate interested parties. This position also researches and identifies proper party and address for service, summarizes relevant issues, makes recommendations to attorney, locates qualified persons to serve as court-appointed appraisers, and prepares condemnation checklist, summary, pleadings index, and other tracking lists.

• Serves as the primary back-up receptionist, answering and directing phones and visitors, as well as back-up office specialist, processing payment vouchers and purchase orders.

• Prepares and assists in responding to opposing counsel's discovery requests, drafts and prepares standard interrogatories, Requests for Production, and Requests for Admissions, and files relevant documents with courts. This position also arranges and schedules depositions, prepares subpoenas as needed, and sees that subpoenas are served properly.

• Provides legal assistant and administrative support to attorneys, prepares and edits correspondence and various documentation, makes copies and scans documents, types file labels and assembles files, and prepares mailings.

• Schedules and briefs witnesses for court proceedings prior to appearances, handles witness accommodations and witness fees, and assists with preparation of standard jury instructions, trial notebooks, juror summaries, exhibits, and other matters related to trial.

• Performs basic legal research and performs other duties as assigned.

View the full position description

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Six months of experience as a legal assistant, paralegal, or legal secretary.

• Education may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency. Transcripts are required for education to be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education and/or experience in the use of legal terminology, legal concepts, legal practices, and research techniques.

• Education and/or experience in drafting, proof-reading, and editing legal documents.

• Experience utilizing the Internet and/or specialized computer software for legal research.

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Professional.

Post-Offer/Pre-employment Requirements:

• Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate required in accordance with Executive Order 2004-03. Each applicant (even non-residents) who is selected for a State of Kansas job vacancy must apply for a Tax Clearance Certificate within 10 days from the date of the offer letter by accessing the Kansas Department of Revenue's (KDOR) website at www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/taxclearance/Default.aspx .

If you need assistance with the tax clearance, please contact KDOR at (785) 296-3199 or by email at kdor_specialprojects@ks.gov

Recruiter Contact Information:

• Name: Tulsa Wade

• Email: KDOT.HQ.JobApps@ks.gov

• Phone: (785) 296-7242

Job Application Process

• First Sign in or register as a New User.

• Complete or update your contact information on the Careers -> "My Account Information" page.

*This information is included on all your job applications.

• Start your draft job application, upload other required documents, and submit when it is complete.

• Manage your drafted and submitted applications on the Careers-> "My Job Applications" page.

• Check your email and the "My Job Notifications" page for written communications from the Recruiter.

• Email - sent to the Preferred email on the "My Account Information" page.

• Notifications - view the Careers-> "My Job Notifications" page.

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: "How to Apply for a Job

• Instructions" and "How to Search for a Job

• Instructions"

Optional Documents for this Application to be Complete

Upload these on the Careers

• My Job Applications page

• Transcripts (if substituting education)
• DD214 (if you are claiming Veteran's Preference)

Upload these on the Attachments step in your Job Application

• Resume (or choose existing if you have one)
• Cover Letter

Helpful Resources at jobs.ks.gov: "How, What, & Where do I Upload Documents"

How to Claim Veterans Preference

Veterans' Preference Eligible (VPE): Former military personnel or their spouse that have been verified as a "veteran"; under K.S.A. 73-201 will receive an interview if they meet the minimum competency factors of the position. The veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job. Positions are filled with the best qualified candidate as determined by the hiring manager.

Learn more about claiming Veteran's Preference

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Kansas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability, or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the agency recruiter.