Legal Assistant 2

Full Job Description

The Department of Transportation is actively looking to hire a Legal Assistant 2 for a position based in Dauphin County, which promises a dynamic and fulfilling work environment through close collaboration with both attorney and non-attorney team members. This role entails performing advanced legal clerical tasks that are crucial for the litigation process concerning appeals related to driver's license and motor vehicle registration suspensions. Daily responsibilities include the thorough review, analysis, and processing of various legal documents and issues, as well as providing high-level legal secretarial and administrative support to the attorneys and staff within PennDOT's Office of Chief Counsel. If you are interested in contributing to this vital work, we encourage you to apply now!

Requirements

The individual occupying this role will take on the responsibility of independently reviewing appeals and court orders directed at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), ensuring they are processed in accordance with established protocols.

This position necessitates a solid understanding of legal terminology, relevant case law, the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, and the regulations governing PennDOT.

Additionally, the role requires ongoing engagement with emerging laws and regulations that may influence appeals and PennDOT's oversight of drivers and motor vehicles.

Specifically, the responsibilities include the preliminary assessment and processing of appeals lodged against the Driver and Vehicle Services division of PennDOT.

This entails identifying the relevant PennDOT entities involved, verifying the completeness and timeliness of the appeal, and determining the necessary records and witnesses for effective litigation.

Furthermore, the position involves making critical decisions regarding whether to suspend the enforcement of the appealed sanction while the appeal is pending.

This review and decision-making process is essential for guiding both the litigation strategy and PennDOT's subsequent actions concerning driver licenses and vehicle registrations.

The tools utilized in this role will encompass Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, Access, IMS, and MMS, all while managing sensitive and confidential information in compliance with confidentiality laws and attorney-client privilege.

The skills acquired in this position will be instrumental in conducting legal research and interpreting laws to respond to inquiries related to driver licensing and motor vehicle matters.

The individual in this role will operate with a significant degree of autonomy, under the guidance of a Legal Assistant Supervisor or an attorney.Interested in learning more?

Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with 30-minute lunch.

Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time up to 2 days per week.

In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania.

If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time.

Additional details may be provided during the interview.

• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as a Legal Assistant 1 (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Four years of responsible clerical, investigative or enforcement work including one year of legal clerical support experience; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

Additional Requirements:

• You must have Good interpersonal skills: including active listening, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Commonwealth employees who wish to use their seniority rights must apply to the internal posting for their seniority rights to be considered.

How to Apply:

Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position.

Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).

If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.

Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.