Paralegal II

Position Summary

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Legal Services Division is seeking a Paralegal II to work under direct supervision and help prepare legal matters accurately and on time. This position supports the Legal Department within the Executive Bureau and requires close attention to departmental procedures and instructions.

Work Location and Schedule

This role is based at 1200 Baker Street, Houston, TX 77002. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., although hours may change depending on departmental needs.

Key Duties

• Prepare responses to open records requests and subpoenas.
• Support employee discipline cases by drafting correspondence and tracking administrative appeals.
• Assist the County Attorney’s Office with litigation discovery requests.
• Draft correspondence for grand jury matters.
• Perform legal research as needed.
• Maintain and update multiple Legal Services databases.
• Collect and review legal files and records from different HCSO bureaus and divisions.
• Provide assistance with additional legal assignments as directed by the supervisor.

Role Notes

This description is intended as a general overview and does not include every possible duty. Management may add, change, or reassign responsibilities at any time.

Education and Application Requirement

A copy of a paralegal certificate or paralegal degree must be submitted for the application to be considered.

Minimum Qualifications

• An associate degree in paralegal studies, or
• A completed paralegal certification program, and
• Three years of paralegal experience.

Preferred Background

Candidates with five years of paralegal experience, especially in subpoena processing, discovery, and open records work, are preferred.

Knowledge and Technical Familiarity

• Ability to learn or prior exposure to systems such as JIMS, the HCSO mugshot database, Excel, Access, GovQA, IAPro, Superion, SIRS, CAD, and research tools like LexisNexis or Westlaw.
• Understanding of HCSO policies, Harris County personnel rules, and the full range of Legal Services functions.
• Working knowledge of Texas civil and criminal procedure rules, the Texas Public Information Act, and the Texas Government Code.

Skills and Work Style

• Strong command of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Comfort using standard office equipment such as computers, copiers, calculators, printers, and fax machines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to understand and clearly communicate information across verbal, written, and electronic formats.
• Highly organized, self-driven, and detail-oriented.

Capabilities Needed

• Willingness to cross-train across Legal Services and provide backup support when needed.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong prioritization and time-management skills.
• Professional and effective interaction with coworkers, the public, and inmates.
• Ability to interpret legal forms accurately.
• Skill in preparing polished and effective correspondence.
• Capacity to manage confidential information appropriately.
• Readiness to work overtime or adjusted hours when required, with dependable attendance.

Work Environment

This is a formal office-based role using standard office tools and equipment, including computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Physical Requirements

The job is largely sedentary, though it may require lifting and moving files, boxes, paperwork, or similar materials weighing up to 10 pounds.

Equal Opportunity

Harris County provides equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, or other protected characteristics under applicable law.

Additional Hiring Information

Because application volume may be high, the posting may close before the listed deadline if enough qualified applications are received.