Paralegal (Property Unit)

State of Louisiana

About This Job

Paralegal 1–2 (Property Litigation Unit)

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Legal Section is seeking a Paralegal to support the Property Litigation Unit. This unit assists the Real Estate Section with acquiring right-of-way needed for highway projects through expropriation and handles matters involving encroachments, inverse condemnation claims, and other property disputes.

The selected candidate will assist attorneys by organizing litigation files, conducting legal research, preparing exhibits, and supporting trial preparation to help resolve property-related legal matters affecting transportation projects across Louisiana.

https://dotd.la.gov/about/office-of-management-and-finance/human-resources/career-center/

Minimum Qualifications

Completion of an approved Paralegal or Legal Assistant program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), or at an accredited college or university; OR

Possession of a Certified Paralegal (CP) certification issued by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.; OR

A Juris Doctorate.

Note

Disbarred attorneys and those who have permanently resigned from the practice of law in lieu of discipline may not be hired in any position in connection with the practice of law. Suspended attorneys or an attorney transferred to disability inactive status during the period of suspension may not be hired in any position in connection with the practice of law unless such hiring is first preceded by the submission of a fully executed registration statement to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, on a registration form provided by the Louisiana Disciplinary Board and approved by the Louisiana Supreme Court. See Rule 5.5(e)(1) of the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct; In Re Davenport, 2021-01371 (La. 11/3/21) and 326 So.3d 882; In re Sharp, 2012- 2463 (La. 1/11/13), 106 So.3d 105. The hiring agency is responsible for conducting the necessary background checks prior to appointment.

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties And Other Information

The job duties and responsibilities may vary depending on the level at which the incumbent is hired. The job duties and responsibilities listed below are for the Paralegal 2 position and represent the duties and responsibilities that the incumbent will be expected to fulfill at the end of the training series.

Job Duties

Support attorneys in the Property Litigation Unit by preparing cases for court, including drafting legal documents such as petitions, correspondence, and discovery responses
Conduct legal research and gather relevant statutes, case law, and court records to assist attorneys in preparing property litigation matters
Organize litigation files and prepare trial notebooks, exhibits, and supporting documentation for hearings and trials
Coordinate document production for litigation matters, including identifying responsive records and managing duplication and delivery
Gather and produce records in response to Public Records Requests in accordance with applicable laws and agency procedures
Assist with administrative and operational support for the Legal Section, including processing payments for Public Records Requests and Damage Claims
Support Legal Section operations by monitoring training compliance, assisting with safety coordination activities, and completing special projects as assigned

Position-Specific Details

Appointment Type: Probational, Promotional, or Job Appointment or Detail to Special Duty.

Career Progression: This position may be filled as a Paralegal 1 or 2. The level at which the vacancy is filled will be determined by the qualifications of the candidate selected.

Compensation: This position is eligible for $2.00 per hour in Premium Pay for hours actually worked.

How To Apply

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information

For further information about this vacancy, contact

Melissa Willard

Administrative Program Specialist – Legal

225-242-4667

***email_hidden***

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is an equal employment opportunity employer and serves as a model employer for individuals with disabilities. DOTD does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, disability, age, or pregnancy, and prohibits harassment of any type.

Information on the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available: https://www.laworks.net/workforcedev/lrs/lrs_rehabilitation.asp

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

Insurance Coverage

More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
Mardi Gras,
Good Friday,
Memorial Day,
Independence Day,
Labor Day,
Veteran's Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement – State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others

Are you a permanent LA-DOTD employee?

Are you a probational LA-DOTD employee?

Are you a current or former employee of the State of Louisiana?

If so, for which state agency(ies) do you/did you work and during what time period(s)? If not, indicate "NA"

To ensure compliance with PPM #9, DOTD Nepotism Policy, please list the name and relationship with any immediate family members that are currently employed by the LaDOTD. Please type "N/A" if there are no immediate family members?

Have you completed an approved Paralegal or Legal Assistant program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), or at an accredited college or university?

Do you possess a Certified Paralegal (CP) certification issued by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.?

If you answered YES to the previous question, please give the original issue date of your certification and certificate number below. If you answered NO, enter N/A.

Required Question