Senior Legal Assistant - 67013342

Requisition No: 828793

Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Working Title: SENIOR LEGAL ASSISTANT - 67013342

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 67013342

Salary: $38,429.56 - $46,900.00 Annually

Posting Closing Date: 05/13/2024

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

POSITION: Senior Legal Assistant

• Career Service

WORKING TITLE: Fair Hearing Assistant

POSITION'S LOCATION: State Office

• Tallahassee, FL

POSITION NUMBER: 67014432

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities works in partnership with local communities to support people with developmental disabilities in living, learning, and working in their communities. APD provides critical services and supports for customers with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential.

The Agency serves people with spina bifida, autism, Down syndrome, children ages 3-5 at high risk of developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. There is no charge or co-payment for services provided through the Agency. www.apdcares.org

SALARY RANGE

$ 38,429.56- $46,900.00 Annually $1,478.06 - $1,803.84 Bi-weekly

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Employees of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities are required to demonstrate total commitment to outstanding customer service. This includes, but is not limited to, always acting in a responsive, professional, courteous manner with the employees, customers, and public we serve at all times.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Serves as a primary legal assistant for the Fair Hearing Unit. Drafts, edits, and prepares legal documents, pleadings, and court filings under the supervision of the Fair Hearings Attorneys and Deputy General Counsel.

Prepares and dockets legal pleadings with the Clerk of the Court and Office of Appeal Hearings, and through the specialized e-filing case management online system. Conducts research, prepares records on appeal for docketing with Florida's Courts of Appeal. Conducts analysis and performs redactions for public records requests. Prepares exhibits and coordinates witnesses for litigation.

Prepares documentation for use in litigation by agency legal staff.

Maintains internal case dockets and monitors legal court calendars. Maintains and updates the Fair Hearings case tracking information used by the attorneys weekly or more frequently as needed.

Prepares exhibits and other case materials, maintains case and other administrative files, and litigation timetables. Reviews incoming pleadings to determine legal significance and routes to appropriate attorneys. Attends depositions, hearings and/or trials to assist Fair Hearing Attorneys.

Process travel reimbursement vouchers for attorney travel in STMS.

Serves as a backup for assistant to retrieve and process mail for the OGC. Routes mail to the appropriate staff and provides follow-up as necessary.

Sends outgoing correspondence as requested, including, but not limited to, Agency Clerk Orders, certified mail, other legal orders, etc. Performs administrative tasks to support OGC such as making copies, scanning, providing technical assistance, answering, and directing phone calls and greeting visitors.

Completes ad hoc special projects as assigned.

Serves as the back-up to the administrative staff in the unit.

Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Ability to:

• Ability to make decisions in a timely manner.

• Ability to prioritize workload.

• Ability to develop workloads.

• Ability to maintain files.

• Ability to interpret administrative legal issues.

• Ability to work independently.

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of office procedures and practices.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

• Knowledge of problem-solving techniques.

• Knowledge of Purchasing and Budget.

• Knowledge of MFMP, FLAIR, FACTS, CCIS.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• High School Diploma or equivalent.

• Experience working in professional setting.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PROFILE COMPLETION

Applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile, including their work history with the month and year, to qualify for this position.

Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile, and "see resume" will not be considered an acceptable response.

Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information, but these will not replace the required completed Candidate Profile.

RETIREE NOTICE

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. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

DIRECT DEPOSIT PROGRAM

As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in the State Personnel System is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program. Rather than receiving a paper paycheck, your funds will be deposited directly into your account at your financial institution.

This will be accomplished by Electronic Funds Transfer. Banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are eligible to accept such deposits. Retirement funds are also required to be in the Direct Deposit Program.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer.

No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency.

Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Pursuant to S. 110.1127(1), Florida Statutes, this position requires a background investigation, including fingerprinting.

APD only hires U.S. citizens, and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. APD 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 U.S. after completing the employment eligibility verification form (I-9).

All applicants should complete the online application process. If assistance is needed to apply for this position, please call the people first service center at 1-877-562-7287.

Responses to the qualifying questions are required to be considered for this position. Answers to the qualifying questions must be verifiable based on your submitted application.

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.