PARALEGAL SPECIALIST-LITIGATION - 55009279

Requisition No: 886229

Agency: Department of Transportation

Working Title: PARALEGAL SPECIALIST-LITIGATION - 55009279

Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 55009279

Salary: $48,000.00 - $53,000.00

Posting Closing Date: 11/08/2026

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STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

JOB POSTING DESCRIPTION

350 / District 3 Chief Counsel

OPEN COMPETITIVE

CAREER SERVICE

FULL-TIME

CONTACT PERSON: Cary Hawkins, District 3 Chief Counsel

CONTACT PHONE NUMBER: (850) 330-1387

CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS: 1074 Highway 90 East, Chipley, Florida 32428-2162

Join FDOT and be part of the team that works as one to improve safety, enhance mobility and inspire innovation in the Florida transportation system.

To ensure honesty and transparency, all applicants must provide their own work. Unless explicitly requested, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist with qualifying questions, work samples, or interviews is strictly prohibited, and any breach of this requirement will lead to the applicant being removed from consideration.

Candidates must be United States (U.S.) citizens or lawfully authorized alien workers. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Our Mission

The mission of the Florida Department of Transportation is to provide a safe statewide transportation system that promotes the efficient movement of people and goods, supports the state’s economic competitiveness, prioritizes Florida’s environment and natural resources, and preserves the quality of life and connectedness of the state’s communities.

Our Vision

As a OneFDOT team, we serve the people of Florida by providing a transportation network that is well planned, supports economic growth, and has the goal of being congestion and fatality free.

The Work You Will Do

This is a Paralegal Specialist-Litigation position in our District 3 Chief Counsel’s office

Responsible for preparing and filing legal pleadings and related documents in their correct format with minimum instruction from a Department attorney. Reviewing, investigating, collecting data; including electronic filing and scheduling, gathering background information necessary to respond to discovery and unique inquiries and requests; coordinating and preparing expert witnesses; coordinating deposition, hearing, and trial preparation. Preparing and ensuring compliance with pre-trial orders and case management orders. Performing basic legal research and reviewing legal documents for proper legal citation. Proofreading documents for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.

The Difference You Will Make

Through cooperation, coordination and collaboration among the OneFDOT team, you will be contributing to a strong and empowering culture of TRREC: Trust, Relationships, Respect, Empowerment, and Communication.

How You Will Grow

FDOT encourages our team members to grow through engagement, empowerment, training, and professional development. Through our agency’s learning management system, you have access to hundreds of computer-based training and instructor-led courses.

Where You Will Work

You are a part of the Office of the General Counsel statewide team and will work in our District 3 Chief Counsel’s office located at 1074 Highway 90 East, Chipley, FL 32428-2162

Annual Salary Range

$48,000.00 - $53,000.00

Your Specific Responsibilities

Paralegal to Department's Office of the General Counsel. The person filling this position must exercise sound, mature judgment, and perform a variety of duties with little supervision, as summarized below. While the employee's responsibilities will include routine matters, a substantial portion of the employee's time will involve the exercise of independent judgment and initiative in the completion of a variety of tasks and preparation and finalization of litigation documents under the oversight of legal counsel. As new assignments and emergencies arise, the employee must be able to prioritize the duties of this position. Those duties and responsibilities include:

Responsible for preparing and filing legal pleadings and related documents in their correct format with minimum instruction from a Department attorney. Reviewing, investigating, collecting data; including electronic filing and scheduling, gathering background information necessary to respond to discovery and unique inquiries and requests; coordinating and preparing expert witnesses; coordinating deposition, hearing, and trial preparation. Preparing and ensuring compliance with pre-trial orders and case management orders. Performing basic legal research and reviewing legal documents for proper legal citation. Proofreading documents for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.

Responsible for organizing case files for expert witnesses, depositions, hearings, and trials; organizing and categorizing documents and hearing exhibits; assisting in preparation of, and responses to, discovery matters. Traveling to and providing litigation support during depositions, hearings, and trials.

Responsible for scheduling and updating appointment calendars for attorneys, arranging meetings and depositions, and locating and procuring court reporters for depositions, hearings, and trials in a timely manner. Preparing and maintaining up-to-date caseload lists and attend case review meetings. Accurately inputting case records into the OGC Sharepointe, and checking reports for accuracy.

Responsible for arranging travel, preparing itineraries, travel authorizations, and travel reimbursements for attorneys. Processing purchasing card payments according to Department policies and procedures.

Responsible for conducting special projects as assigned including reports, documents, and technical aspects of various types of presentations.

Responsible for receiving and routing telephone calls and properly delivering messages. Serving as back-up to receptionist on a rotating schedule with other support staff.

The Successful Candidate will have the following required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of

• of legal pleadings;
• of litigation process;
• administrative procedure and litigation process
• electronic mail
• word processing software

Skill in

• typing correspondence, memorandums, reports, legal pleadings and various legal documents with established format and with no supervision
• preparing for hearings
• scheduling depositions and hearings, and preparing related documents
• meeting deadlines

Ability to

• support attorneys during hearings
• perform legal research and write legal memorandum
• travel when required
• organize and maintain file system for cases
• perform basic legal secretarial duties including maintaining attorney’s calendar, copying, mailing and filing documents with the courts
• coordinate work assignments
• handle multiple tasks
• organize and maintain files
• prioritize work assignments
• access, input, and retrieve information from a computer database
• use electronic mail
• use word processing software
• communicate effectively orally and in writing
• read and comprehend written material
• use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with others
• work effectively as a team member
• work with internal and external customers in a tactful and courteous manner

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of experience in legal secretarial work or paralegal work; OR Completion of a training program to become a legal assistant, a paralegal, a legal paraprofessional or a lawyer’s or attorney’s assistant; OR Post-secondary education in legal technology, legal administration, legal studies or allied legal services can substitute for the required years of experience on a year-for-year basis.

The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

Health insurance (over 90% employer paid) $25,000 life insurance policy (100% employer paid) Dental, vision and supplemental insurances State of Florida retirement package 10 paid holidays a year · Generous vacation and sick leave Career advancement opportunities Tuition waiver for public college courses A variety of training opportunities Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

For additional benefit information available to State of Florida employees, visit: https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS), unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, provide a letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS, or provide other documentation as proof of an exemption.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VALUES THE SERVICE VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE GIVEN TO OUR COUNTRY AND SUPPORTS THE HIRING OF RETURNING SERVICE MEMBERS AND MILITARY SPOUSES. If you are a preference-eligible applicant who receives notice of a hiring decision and believe that you were not afforded employment preference in accordance with applicable Florida law and regulation, you may file a written complaint within 60 calendar days from the date you receive the notice, requesting an investigation to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Division of Benefits and Assistance, 9500 Bay Pines Boulevard, Room 214, St. Petersburg, Florida 33708.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VALUES AND SUPPORTS EMPLOYMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. In accordance with Section 110.112, Florida Statutes, and the Florida Department of Transportation’s Individuals with Disabilities Affirmative Action Plan, the agency is committed to ensuring affirmative action and equal employment opportunity for qualified individuals with disabilities. Upon request and as appropriate, reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities may be provided. Please contact the Florida Department of Transportation’s Human Resources Office at (850) 414-5300 for assistance.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.