Legal Assistant

Contract Legal Assistant

This contract position is responsible for coordinating service of process and preparing draft General Sessions warrants for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of General Counsel (OGC). Service of process is required for enforcement orders, which are issued by several divisions within the Bureau of Environment, and other legal documents. Divisions refer challenging service of process situations to OGC.

General Sessions warrants are used for collections of amounts owed up to $$$$$,000.

The contract legal assistant position is part-time (up to 15 hours per week). This hybrid in-office and work-from-home position is based in TDEC’s central office in downtown Nashville.

Responsibilities:

• Receive and acknowledge receipt of requests from divisions for service of process.
• Confirm current address. If needed, request CLEAR search from an OGC paralegal.
• Select the appropriate method of service and confer with assigned attorney to confirm.
• Contact the selected process server and arrange for service of process. Provide clear instructions for service. When appropriate, provide a blank affidavit of service to be completed.
• Coordinate payment of the process server.
• Track all service of process requests.
• Contact the process server for updates and update the tracking spreadsheet.
• Secure and review proof of service for accuracy and completeness.
• Prepare draft General Sessions warrants and affidavit for review by the assigned attorney. Once drafts are approved, secure signature of affiant, and arrange for filing at General Sessions.
• Communicate updates and share documents with the assigned attorney.

Background / Experience /

Education:

• Minimum - High School graduate. Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred. Paralegal certificate preferred.
• Public notary preferred.
• Minimum five years progressive administrative support experience required. Legal administrative experience preferred.
• Must satisfactorily complete background check.

Required Skills:

• Well organized with the ability to handle multiple and competing priorities.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills.
• Microsoft Office skills including Word, Excel, and Outlook required.
• Ability to respect at all times the confidential nature of the work of OGC.
• Ability to consistently display good judgment.
• Ability to convey a positive and professional image to internal and external customers.