Paralegal/Legal Assistant 2

Who We Are

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) supports Ohioans and their families through the following programs:

• Cash and Food Assistance
• Employment Services and Workforce Development
• Unemployment Insurance
• Adult Protective Services
• Child Support

Public service is an honorable way to serve the community in a hands-on dedicated way. You can make a difference in someone’s world!

Guiding Principles

• We will be a leader in customer satisfaction.
• We will have a reputation that attracts and retains talented, diverse, and dedicated employees.
• We get better at what we do every day.

Office of Legal & Acquisition Services

The Office of Contracts and Acquisitions (OCA) is housed within the Office of Legal and Acquisition Services (OLAS) and has the expertise and authority for creating agreements and contracts and overseeing the acquisition of goods and services for ODJFS. The mission of OCA is to meet and maintain the highest level of compliance with Federal and State laws, rules, policies, and procedures for acquisitions and contracting for ODJFS and to establish and maintain public trust and confidence in the stewardship of taxpayer funds.  This position primarily will support OCA but also will provide general legal support for OLAS. 

What You Will Do

• Under general supervision, conduct legal assistance interviews with internal and external clients requesting specialized services in the development of acquisition or procurement documents related to goods and services.
• Prioritize workload queue, review and verify budgets and other agreement documentation, create and maintain files, work with ODJFS staff to develop deliverables and grant activities.
• Research federal and state statutes, agency directives, policies, and procedures relevant to the specific request. 
• Determine the best legal format, template, and structure necessary to meet the client’s goals and objectives.
• Incorporate required technical legal content into contracts (e.g., fixed-priced, time-and-materials, cost reimbursement) and agreements (e.g., grants, interagency, interbranch). 
• Draft amendments and modifications to contracts and agreements to address changing requirements or correct existing legal terms.
• Assist with managing litigation and other legal matters for the agency.

Challenges

• OCA is a fast-paced environment due to the hundreds of agreements processed each year.  Strong organization skills, ability to work on several projects concurrently, and the ability to turn work around quickly is necessary. 

Key Strengths

• Excellent customer service and communication skills are essential for this position, which includes regular communication with internal OCA staff, and program and support offices within ODJFS.

• Attention to detail is critical for accurately drafting and formatting agreements.

• Ability to use proper research methods to gather data.

• Ability to manage multiple variables and recommend a specific course of action.

Schedule:  Full Time

Hours: Standard workdays are Monday through Friday. Hours are between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Location:  James A. Rhodes State Office Tower 30 East Broad St., Floor 31, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Travel: Occasional travel within the state of Ohio.

PN(s): 20036684

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

The ideal candidate, at minimum, must have the following: 

Option 1:

• Successful completion of certification program for paralegal or legal assistant.

AND

• 2 yrs. exp. in Legal Research & Writing.

Or Option 2:

• 24 mos. Law School Training.

Or Option 3:

• 36 mos. exp. as Paralegal/Legal Assistant 1, 63810.

Or

• Equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications for Employment noted above.

Tips For Your Application

When completing the different sections of this application, be sure to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications outlined in this job posting. We cannot give you credit for your Work Experience and Education & Certifications if you do not provide that information in your online application. Information in attached resumes or cover letters must be entered into your application in the appropriate Work Experience or Education & Certification sections to be considered.

Pay Information

This position is in the State of Ohio’s OCSEA Pay Schedule, Pay Range 29. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $24.16 per hour). These ranges provide a standardized pathway for pay increases. With continued employment, new hires move to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Cost of Living Adjustments increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year. The current step progression wages are in the table below.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6 

Step 7 

$24.16

$24.86

$25.77

$26.76

$27.92

$29.22

$30.55

$50,253

$51,709

$53,602

$55,661

$58,074

$60,778

 $63,544

At Hire

6 Months

18 Months

30 Months

42 Months

54 Months 

66 Months 

ADA Notice

If you require an accommodation based on a disability for any step of the selection process, please contact ada_public@jfs.ohio.gov

Selection Priority Notice  OCSEA 

Current employees of ODJFS in the OCSEA union have selection rights before all other applicants. Applications from all other candidates will only be considered if an internal OCSEA applicant is not selected for this position.

Background check information

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Some positions may require drug testing and/or fingerprinting. Criminal convictions do not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.