Job Description

Do you have a passion to provide meaningful contributions to your community? Would you like to be part of an organization whose central mission is helping to protect, stabilize and strengthen the lives of South Carolina\'s children, families, and vulnerable adults? If so, the SC Department of Social Services has the right job opportunity for you!

Job Duties:

• The Paralegal under limited supervision and direction from attorneys, performs paraprofessional legal work as part of the legal team providing legal services and representation in Family Court litigation on issues related to child protection, foster care, adoption, child day care, vulnerable adult protection, and other social services matters.

• Prepares litigation pleadings, motions, and proposed orders for attorney\'s review; files pleadings, motions, notices, and other legal documents with the Clerk of Court; circulates, files, tracks and serves orders.

• Prepares cases and files for Family Court litigation, hearings, and trials, including contacting, preparing and serving subpoenas and preparing witnesses, file organization, initiation and verification of service of process, and ensures all parties are properly served, distribution of treatment plans, preparation and distribution of dockets to appropriate parties, draft proposed orders for attorney review, process continuance requests, and re-docket subsequent hearings.

• Organizes and tracks case files. Maintains accurate and timely electronic file information in the DSS Legal Case Management System (LCMS), including draft and filed documents, and information including names of parties, addresses, and hearing outcomes. Utilizes LCMS to prepare legal documents including pleadings, orders, and notices. Transfers case information from LCMS to the Child and Adult Protective Services information system (CAPSS).

• Participates in hearings and trials, assists with the orderly flow of witnesses and cases into the courtroom, assists with evidentiary materials, and maintains accurate notes reflecting parties, witnesses, testimony, evidence, and the Court\'s ruling.

• Collects, assembles and verifies witness statements, reports, documents and exhibits in preparation of court cases. Researches legal issues, prepares briefs, discovery requests, discovery responses and motions.

• Acts as liaison to communicate on behalf of attorney with DSS staff members, representatives of law enforcement and Family Court.

• Performs Red Cross shelter duty or other emergency shelter duty/services as directed.

Agency Requirements
If you are interested in this job and have a High School diploma (or GED) and experience as a legal assistant, paralegal, or other related administrative/clerical experience; or if you completed paralegal coursework or have a certification, apply today. We are looking for resourceful professionals, with skills and knowledge of legal terminology, MS Office applications, and business writing. DSS Paralegals are required to have and maintain a valid driver\'s license throughout employment. This application for employment with the SC Department of Social Services must be completed in its entirety. A resume may be included; but shall not be substituted in lieu of the completion of this application in part or in whole. "See Resume" is not acceptable information for the completion of any part of the requirements of this application. If such is submitted, this employment application will be considered incomplete and may not be forwarded as eligible for consideration to hiring managers.

Must have a valid drivers\' license and access to motor vehicle; ability to access 4/ 5 drawer file cabinets and/or various filing systems; ability to enter information into computer; ability to lift files and file boxes.

If you certify, by completion and submission of this application, that you possess educational credentials that qualify you for the available DSS positions, you will be required to provide a certified official transcript, if you are selected for job offer.

Division: Legal / Lexington County

State of South Carolina