Paralegal Specialist

Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. CT on the day before the listed closing date.

Weekly Work Hours

40

Compensation Range

Staff Range N08

Salary Minimum

$90,038.00 Annually

FLSA

• United States of America (Exempt)
• Work Location

• •All positions are considered on-site roles.
• •After six months of employment, some positions may be eligible to apply for a hybrid work arrangement based on job responsibilities, operational needs, supervisor approval, and Dallas College policy.
• •Academic (Faculty) positions require an on-campus presence, even when teaching online courses, in accordance with state law.

Position Type

Staff Position / Job Summary

The Paralegal Specialist is responsible for assisting with case planning, development, and management, including but not limited to conducting legal research and drafting and analyzing legal documents; with a heavy emphasis on supporting the legal team in the management and administration of contracts, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contract terms, and ensuring compliance with Dallas College policies and applicable laws and regulations. Under the direction of the legal team, this position will also assist and coordinate with the Senior Paralegal Specialist in responding to Texas Public Information Act requests and supporting the administration of the Dallas College Elections.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Conducts thorough legal research and analysis to support attorneys in preparing legal opinions, briefs, and other documentation.

Drafts, reviews, and finalizes legal documents, including forms, memoranda, policies, compliance reports, and other legal documents.

Tracking, processing, and responding to formal legal requests for documents, data, or testimony

Coordinates the scheduling of witnesses and assist attorneys with witness-related issues, exhibits and note-taking.

Manages and tracks relevant deadlines, ensuring all deadlines are met and attorneys are kept adequately informed of upcoming deadlines.

May analyze records and disciplinary files and make recommendations to the attorney as to the disposition of files.

May prepare summaries of cases, depositions, court transcripts, and witness testimony.

Assists with other duties of the Office of General Counsel, as requested or assigned by attorneys, including monitoring and responding to emails and other communications on behalf of the legal team.

Prepares and revises standard contract templates, reviews incoming contracts from clients or vendors for standard legal terms and potential issues, and suggests revisions, as necessary, to protect the interests of Dallas College.

In coordination with the General Counsel and Associate General Counsel, and Contract Specialist create, update, organize, and maintain contract templates, forms, libraries, webpages, processes, workflows, and user guides to promote consistency and efficiency system wide.

Maintains comprehensive and organized records of contracts and related correspondence and documents.

Assists in analyzing and responding to Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) requests, including, but not limited to, communicating with requestors, reviewing and redacting documents, preparing relevant letters and requests to the Attorney General’s Office, keeping accurate and comprehensive records of requests, and tracking and ensuring deadlines are met.

Coordinates the gathering of the requested information within all divisions of Dallas College and disseminates requests to appropriate departments.

Collaborates with all levels of Dallas College staff, including Executive-level administrators regarding time-sensitive TPIA matters to ensure that responses on behalf of Dallas College are timely, legally sound, and factually accurate.

Assists in the development of resources and training relating to TPIA to ensure consistent practices concerning the handling of TPIA requests college wide.

Under the direction of the Senior Paralegal Specialist and the legal team, assists in planning and overseeing the administration of Dallas College elections, including the Dallas College Board of Trustees election (held in November of odd-numbered years), ensuring the integrity of the process and the accuracy of operational tasks based on applicable federal and state laws, Secretary of State (SOS) rules and Dallas College policies and procedures and Dallas County Elections Department procedures.

Processes election, candidate, and officer filings.

Responds to, meets in-person and maintains effective relationships with the public, candidates, and other state and county departments, including the Dallas County Elections Department for which this position serves as the primary contact.

Assists in the management of election-related marketing and outreach to include website, written materials and other notice activities.

Assists in the coordination of polling locations on Dallas College campuses.

May review, analyze, determine, and report to the legal team on the effects of proposed election related legislation.

May perform a number of other similar or related duties which may not be specifically included within this position description, but which are consistent with the general level of the role and the responsibilities described.

Required Dallas College Professional Development Hours per Academic Year.

All employees are required to complete a minimum of 19 hours.

People leaders are required an additional 16 hours of leadership development.

Perform other duties not listed as assigned. (MUST BE INCLUDED)

The following duties are required for People Leader roles specifically:

Exercises full discretion and decision-making authority in the recruitment, selection, hiring, mentoring, coaching, development & termination of staff, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, budgetary constraints, and workforce planning strategies.

Drive high performance by administering the performance management process timely, setting clear expectations, conducting performance evaluations, and implementing initiatives that enhance employee engagement, motivation, and retention.

Minimum and Preferred – Education, Experience, and/or Certifications

Required Qualifications for Role (necessary or mandatory)

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business Administration or Legal Studies); OR Associate degree in paralegal studies or certificate of completion from an ABA-approved paralegal certification program of education and training OR at least 60 semester hours of college credit toward a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Official transcripts are required.

Three (3) years of experience as a paralegal, including at least one year of specialized experience, education or training related to handling open records requests under the Texas Public Information Act and/or election administration.

Must possess experience, education or training that demonstrates the ability to perform a portion of or all of the responsibilities outlined above, function in a deadline driven environment, and to apply the techniques and skills necessary to analyze both issues of fact and issues of law.

Must currently possess and maintain certification as a Notary in the State of Texas. Candidates who do not currently possess said certification must demonstrate the ability and commitment to promptly obtain and maintain Texas Notary certification.

Reliable and available to be on-site to support attorneys during standard business hours and as needed based on demands of the legal department. During an election cycle, on-site physical presence is required.

Proficient with Microsoft Office, specifically Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Other Preferred Qualifications for Role (not mandatory, but advantageous)

Experience in higher education or working with a city, county, state, or other public en