Paralegal - 61093636

Are you an experienced professional looking for new opportunities to further your career?  The South Carolina Office of Resilience is seeking a hardworking and dependable candidate just like you to apply!  This position will offer great benefits with the state, including 15 days of annual and sick leave per year or more depending on applicable state service.

The paralegal position includes researching Federal, state, and local laws. Will investigate facts and conduct interviews with program applicants/witnesses and prepare documents to assist the Office of Resilience Legal Director and Staff Attorney. Assistance includes performing a variety of support duties relating to the relevant and applicable laws with a focus on SCOR subject matter expertise and applicable Federal regulatory authority. SCOR areas of expertise include environmental planning and resilience infrastructure, mitigation planning and projects, engineering designs and builds, disaster recovery related housing rehabilitation and construction, and real estate buyout projects located in floodplains. The job duties of this position include but are not limited to the following:

• Performs clerical duties to include high volume case management, organizational skills, and provides information and assistance to callers. Prepares travel related documentation for the Legal Director and Legal Staff. Obtains necessary signatures, make appropriate copies, submits travel documentation to SCOR finance, tracks and follows up on travel document submissions. Assists Agency Records Management Officer in maintaining legal files.
• Research and analyses law sources such as statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles, treaties, constitutions legal codes, Federal Registers, FEMA and HUD publications. Review/research briefs, pleadings, appeals. homeowner signing contracts, buy-sell agreements, review of dosing papers and binders and deeds, for use by the Office of Resilience Attorneys and/or staff. Prepares affidavits and other necessary program documentation for use by the SCOR-ORD Legal Director and staff. Provides assistance to the Close Out Manager in researching and obtaining MHU title histories.
• Review and research SHPO packets for accuracy and compliance with HUD and Program policies. Coordinates with the Implementation contractor and SCOR staff regarding any omissions, discrepancies, and/or concerns regarding information on SHPO packets. Reports findings to the appropriate SCOR attorney.
• Assists the SCOR-ORD Legal Director, Staff Attorney, and staff in researching and preparing routine/ORD related memos and correspondence of legal documents such as appeals pleadings, briefs and contracts in accordance with State, FEMA and HUD guidance.
• Reviews Special Case Panel packets, consults/coordinates with appropriate staff regarding cases to be presented to Special Case Panel. Prepares the Special Case Panel memorandums of decision for the Legal Director and Disaster Recovery Director's review and signatures. Maintains Special Case Panel files on agency Share Drive, tracks final disposition of Special Case Panel memorandums.
• Reviews Close Out cases for accuracy and final disposition, establishes and maintains Close Out Review report files on the Shared Drive, prepares Close Out Review report and submits the final Close Out Review report to the Closeout Reporting Manager and the ORD Reporting Manager.
• Responsible for the compiling, updating, and maintaining legal section documents and files such as but not limited to the Continuity Book and Special Case Panel template book.
• Performs other duties as assigned/needed.

• A bachelor's degree is required.

• Knowledge of basic computer programs for Adobe and Microsoft required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledge or willingness to learn principles, policies, and practices of office management applicable in a governmental setting.
• Delivering and receiving information clearly and concisely with strong organizational skills necessary.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn appropriate office and program management processes. Computer and organization skills needed. Knowledge of or willingness to learn relevant federal and state laws, regulations, policies, for organizational functions and delivery of services. Self-motivated and desire to learn and acquire new skills. Ability to deal courteously and effectively with the public, and colleagues.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license. 

Applicants indicating college credit or degree(s) on the application will be required to bring a copy of college transcript to the interview.  A copy of the transcript may also be uploaded as an attachment to the application, if required by the hiring department or if desired by the applicant.  Please note that some areas of the Agency may require an official, certified copy of the transcript prior to hiring or within a specific timeframe required by that area, after hiring.  Failure to produce an official, certified transcript may result in not being hired or termination.

• Preferred qualifications include a paralegal certification, or three (3) years relevant experience in a government, legal, or other professional setting, or an approved equivalence by the Division of State Human Resources (DSHR).

• Highly desirable skillset includes experience in federal and/or state contractual procurement procedures, processes, and contract preparation. Also, or in the alternative, desirable skillset includes real estate or construction experience as a paralegal, environmental coursework, paralegal certification, or other legal coursework are preferred but not required.

• Experience in the areas of government and infrastructure resilience programs, mitigation of natural hazards, disaster recovery delivery programs, and/or environmental planning is also highly desirable.

The Office of Resilience is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions, including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

The South Carolina Office of Resilience offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees: 

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available(S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan(SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.