Legal Assistant

Job

Department: TN SBE (State Board of Education)

Position:
Legal Assistant

Location: 500 James Robertson Parkway, Davy Crockett Tower, 8th Floor, Nashville, Tennessee

Duration: 4+ Months

Hybrid

The Tennessee State Board of Education (“State Board”) is seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized part‑time paralegal or legal assistant to support the legal team in carrying out the Board’s statutory and regulatory responsibilities, and in advising the State Board on K‑12 education law and policy. This position will report to the General Counsel (GC) and will work closely with the State Board’s attorneys, paralegals, and legal interns to ensure effective management of the State Board’s legal work.

The paralegal/legal assistant will assist attorneys in legal research, drafting, document review, Board meeting preparation, rule making, legislative analysis, revising State Board rules and policies, and responding to inquiries from the media and the public regarding State Board matters. With support from the GC, the paralegal/legal assistant is also responsible for communicating with school districts, educators, and other stakeholders regarding K‑12 matters and for providing administrative support to the legal team as requested by the GC.

This position is an important opportunity to ensure Tennessee continues to adopt policies and standards that are in the best interest of students through advancement of the goals articulated in the Board’s Master Plan.

The State Board’s mission is to ensure policies and systems are in place so that all Tennessee students are prepared for success after graduation. We work closely with the Tennessee Department of Education, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, local school districts, and stakeholders across the state to ensure equity, oversight, and transparency in K‑12 education policy.

• Associate or bachelor’s degree.
• Paralegal certification or at least two years of experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, or in a similar role.
• Impeccable editing skills, including extraordinary attention to detail and the ability to review legal team documents for spelling, stylistic, and grammatical errors.
• Outstanding organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• A demonstrated ability to meet and exceed expectations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• A commitment to confidentiality and ethical standards in handling sensitive information.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Ability to conduct legal research.
• Proficiency in legal research tools (e.g., Westlaw, Lexis Nexis).
• Strong understanding of legal terminology, research methods, and administrative procedures.
• Experience working in or with K‑12 schools.
• Experience working for the state of Tennessee.
• Understanding of Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.

• Responding to K‑12 legal questions from a variety of stakeholders, including school district representatives, governmental agencies, teachers, legislators, and advocates.
• Assisting with the preparation and coordination of rule making activities, including compiling public comments, drafting rule making notices and agendas, editing and filing rules, and preparing materials for the Joint Committee for Government Operations in the Tennessee Legislature.
• Supporting the GC in preparing rules and policies for Board meetings and other legal proceedings.
• Conducting legal research on K‑12 education matters as requested by the GC.
• Tracking deadlines, rule making hearing schedules, and regulatory timelines to ensure compliance with applicable laws and procedures.

• Scheduling meetings for the GC and legal team.
• Processing travel and expense reports.
• Filing legal documents.
• Responding to public requests to speak at Board meetings.
• Ensuring Board members and staff complete annual compliance forms.
• Procuring items required by the legal team.
• Printing and mailing SBE documents.
• Booking meeting rooms for team events.
• Assisting with scheduling and hosting Webex meetings for the Board’s leadership team.
• Compiling and organizing binders for Board meetings and administrative hearings.
• Drafting, proofreading, and formatting legal documents, including rules, orders, memoranda, contracts, and correspondence.
• Maintaining and organizing legal team electronic files in accordance with state retention and confidentiality requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the work of the Office of General Counsel.