Legal Assistant DCSE #W2101

Title: Legal Assistant - DCSE #W2101

State Role Title:Gen Admin Supv I/Coord I

Hiring Range: $55000-$67000 per year (salary commensurate with exp.)

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Department of Social Services

Location:DCSE NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Agency Website:

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

At the Virginia Department of Social Services we put people at the center of everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and that all voices ideas and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement we commit ourselves to listening learning and cultivating environments of trust respect and positive engagement. Together we are mission-driven eager to achieve and passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve.

We design and deliver high-quality human services that help Virginians achieve safety independence and overall well-being. We are a $2 billion agency one of the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia partnering with 120 local departments of social services and 31 community action agencies along with faith-based and non-profit organizations to promote the well-being of children adults and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside 1650 (state) and 12200 (local) human services professionals throughout the Social Services System who ensure that thousands of Virginias most vulnerable citizens have easy access to the services and benefits available to them.

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) engages families for success. Its Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) manages nearly 246000 cases to ensure that child support payments of $598 million per year reach families across the Commonwealth. Virginias children need both financial and family support to grow and thrive. Children with actively involved parents perform better in school have high self-confidence and generally achieve greater success in life. DCSEs mission is to promote strong self-reliant families by delivering child support enforcement services as provided by law through the location of noncustodial parents establishment of orders enforcement of orders collection of child support and distribution of child support.

DSCE is seeking a highly motivated individual to fill the role of Legal Assistant. The incumbent of this position would provide legal assistance and administrative support to the Assistant Attorneys General provided to the Division of Child Support Enforcement and oversee the daily operation of legal services for the Central Region child support district office while working cohesively with other administrative legal assistants within DCSE throughout the Commonwealth. This position would also be required to cover other district offices within and outside the region as needed.

Day to day duties of this position may include but are not limited to:

Preparing creating proofreading and finalizing legal documents from various sources to include legal documents notes rough drafts dictation and/or previously prepared documents and correspondence both timely and accurately.
Assisting the assistant attorney generals in preparing for court cases and respond to legal questions and correspondence while ensuring details remain confidential.
Providing professional helpful quality and friendly service to customers as well as building strong working relationships.
Maintaining the attorneys complex court schedule and calendar.
Providing daily administrative support that includes but is not limited to: Answering and directing calls taking messages for the assistant attorney generals answering written or verbal correspondence faxing filing making photocopies preparing travel vouchers collecting and distributing mail.
Participating on workgroups and assist with process improvement and serves as a trainer and mentor to other legal staff.
May be required to travel to and from courts as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Working knowledge of:
Legal terminology court procedures and processes and legal drafting
Administrative support functions

Demonstrated ability in:
Experience in reviewing drafting preparing proofreading and editing legal documents and correspondence for attorney review.
Preparing and processing required documents with minimal errors to meet specified deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply laws regulations and policies.
Answering and responding properly to phone calls text messages and emails from internal and external employees and customers.
Experience implementing or using a calendaring and tickle system.
Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Word Excel PowerPoint) and Adobe.
Knowledge of Uniform System Citation.
Working with automated systems and databases.
Providing training guidance or mentoring to others.
Organizing and prioritizing work as well as adapting quickly to manage a diverse workload with attention to detail with meeting impending deadlines.
Preparing required draft legal documents with a high level of accuracy and timely and appropriately process documents within specified deadlines.
Working independently and as part of a team.
Communicating clearly and concisely both orally and in writing with varied level of internal and external customers.
Exercising sound judgment maintain complete discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive matters.
Must have a professional and helpful demeanor in handling incoming communication with Judges attorneys the Division of Child Support Enforcement and the public
Experience in providing training or mentoring other staff.

Additional Considerations

Experience with DCSE policies and case processing procedures.
Familiarity with DCSE case management system and document viewer.
Experience in reading comprehending and determining the difference in legal referrals legal questions and agency policy.
Certificate in Paralegal Studies Legal Assistant major coursework in Legal Studies or considerable training providing legal support.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to Your Application in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

To be considered for this position you must submit a Commonwealth of Virginia application or resume through the on-line Virginia Jobs (RMS) employment site no later than 11:55 p.m. on the closing date listed. Each application is reviewed for documentation that shows the applicant meets the minimum and additional qualifications stated in the job announcement. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information provided. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration. Please refer to your RMS account for the status of your application and this position. Multiple positions may be filled from recruitment.

This position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability hours and duration will be in accordance with the Commonwealths Teleworking policy on a case-by-case basis. This is not a 100% telework position.

VDSS values the service and experience of our Veterans. As such Veterans are encouraged to apply and receive preference in the hiring process. AmeriCorps Peace Corps and other national service alumni also are encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants if requested during the application and/or interview process.

Virginia Department of Social Services does not provide sponsorship.

The Virginia Department of Social Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity within its workforce.

We are a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) official certified company and state agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and Members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29 (2010). If you are a Veteran or Virginia National Guard Member we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application or resume. Minorities Individuals with disabilities Veterans and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply. For more information about our employment practices please visit our Vision Mission and Strategic Plan. Multiple positions may be filled from this recruitment within 90 days of the closing date.

In addition to a rewarding work experience VDSS offers excellent health and life insurance benefits pre-tax spending accounts state funded Short and Long Term Disability paid holidays vacation tuition assistance free wellness programs and a state retirement plan with options for tax-deferred retirement savings including employer matching Employee Benefits.

If you have been affected by Policy 1.30 Layoff as a state employee and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Form) or a Preferential Hiring Card (Blue Card) you must submit this document through the Virginia Jobs (RMS) employment site when you apply.

Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks.

VDSS will record information from each new employees Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

Selected candidate may be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

Contact Information

Name: VA Dept. of Social Services Division of Human Resources

Phone:

Email:

In support of the Commonwealths commitment to inclusion we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS) or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation if applicable to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at .

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1 2022- February 29 2024 can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.