PARALEGAL SPECIALIST - SES - 64085978

Requisition No: 863621 

Agency: Department of Health

Working Title: PARALEGAL SPECIALIST - SES - 64085978

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 64085978 

Salary:  $42,000 - $45,000 

Posting Closing Date: 10/31/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Open Competitive Job Opportunity

Your Specific Responsibilities:

Come Join DOH-Team Duval!  If you are looking to establish an exciting and successful career in Public Health, you have come to the right place.  Many of our innovative and successful health programs are recognized throughout Florida. 

This position operates under the limited supervision of the Chief Legal Counsel for the Florida Department of Health in Duval County and is responsible for a full range of legal assignments, including highly sensitive and confidential matters. The role requires a strong working knowledge of departmental structure, legal processes, and agency systems and procedures. The incumbent must communicate professionally and courteously at all times by phone, electronically, and in person. This position is designated as confidential and is required to maintain and protect confidential and public information in accordance with DOH and CHD Information Security Policies, Protocols, and Procedures. Confidential information includes, but is not limited to: Social Security Data, Human & Employee Resources Data, Clinical Data, Vital Statistics, School Health Records, WIC Records, Administrative Records, Environmental Data, Level II Background Records, and Outreach Records. The incumbent may be required to work before, during, and/or beyond regular business hours in emergency situations. Emergency duties may include working in special needs shelters, Red Cross shelters, or responding to disasters or threats of disaster, whether natural or man-made.

Receives, reviews, and responds to subpoenas, public records requests, and medical records requests.

• Determines appropriate action based on policy and service of process requirements.
• Conducts research using systems, gathers documents, and drafts responsive communications and releases.
• Prepares redacted records when required and verifies payment prior to retrieval.
• Tracks and maintains all requests in Legal Files or equivalent case management system.

Maintains organized legal files, records, calendars, and case lists, ensuring accurate indexing, tracking, and destruction per retention policies.

• Retrieves, updates, and audits files upon authorized request.
• Investigates and resolves discrepancies to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Drafts legal documents under attorney supervision, including petitions, motions, notices, orders, stipulations, judgments, memorandums of agreement, and related pleadings for circuit, county, appellate, federal, or administrative proceedings.

• Drafts attorney correspondence and prepares case summaries.

Assists with case preparation and hearings, including document compilation, witness coordination, affidavit preparation, and hearing support.

• Attends hearings as records custodian when required.

Conducts legal and policy research using computer-based systems to ensure compliance with federal and state laws.

• Research Department of Health and CHD policies and provides guidance to staff.

Serves as Information Security Custodian for the Legal Office, ensuring protection, authorized access, and integrity of assigned data in accordance with DOHP 50-10 policy. Provides client assistance by routing requests, answering basic legal process inquiries, and ensuring timely service delivery. Generates invoices, compiles periodic reports, and tracks activity for accountability and compliance purposes.

Provides administrative support to the Legal Office as needed, including phones, document processing, e-filing, scanning, scheduling, travel documentation, and general office assistance.

Serves as back-up for Administrator’s Office and Administrative Leadership meetings (door access, guest coordination, meeting preparation, and minutes recording) as assigned.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of Florida public records laws, subpoenas, legal process requirements, and confidentiality standards (HIPAA, DOH, CHD policies).
• Knowledge of legal terminology, court procedures, and formats for pleadings, motions, and official correspondence.
• Knowledge of records management practices, including retention, indexing, redaction, and secure information handling.
• Knowledge of Department of Health and County Health Department organizational structure, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of legal research methods, including use of electronic research tools and databases (e.g., Westlaw, Legal Files).
• Knowledge of information security practices and privacy compliance standards (e.g., DOHP 50-10).

Skills:

• Skilled in reviewing and analyzing legal requests to determine appropriate action under law and agency policy.
• Skilled in drafting professional legal documents, official responses, summaries, and formal correspondence.
• Skilled in legal and policy research, investigative fact-finding, and preparing supporting documentation.
• Skilled in record redaction, document classification, indexing, and secure digital/physical file maintenance.
• Skilled in using case/document management systems (e.g., Legal Files), portable document formatting software (i.e. Adobe Acrobat), and office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint).
• Skilled in managing multiple cases/deadlines simultaneously with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Skilled in professional communication with attorneys, courts, staff, and the public — verbally and in writing.

Abilities:

• Ability to independently interpret and apply laws, rules, and department policies to legal requests.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality while handling sensitive, restricted, and legally protected information.
• Ability to think critically and resolve discrepancies or procedural issues efficiently.
• Ability to assist attorneys during hearings, prepare evidence/witness documentation, and serve as records custodian.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced legal environment and adapt to urgent or emergency assignments.
• Ability to operate as a dependable backup in administrative and leadership capacities when needed

Physical Demands:

• Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
• Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards, lift/carry objects of up to 50 pounds occasionally, and travel short distances.

Qualifications:

Minimum:

• 5 years’ experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.) and experience using records management systems
• Willing and able to provide testimony in legal proceedings as the designated custodian of records for the Florida Department of Health in the counties of Baker, Clay, Duval, and Nassau
• 1 year of experience in accurately recording and summarizing group meeting minutes
• Emergency Duty requirement
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Valid Driver’s License

Preferred:

• Bi-lingual
• Understand basic legal terminology
• Familiar with subpoena and discovery processes
• Notary in the State of Florida

Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values: 

Mission:

To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts.

Vision:

To be the Healthiest State in the Nation.

Values:

I nnovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely.

C ollaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems.

A ccountability: We perform with integrity & respect.

R esponsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners.

E xcellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.

Where You Will Work:

Florida Department of Health in Duval County

921 N. Davis Street, Bldg. B

Jacksonville, FL 32209

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits;
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year;
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options;
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com);

• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Tuition waivers;
• And more!

For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

Please be advised:

Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.  

This position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov 

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. 

The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system.  E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility.   

Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days.

All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered.  

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. 

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-877-562-7287). 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. 

Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women.  The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise.  Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country.    

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

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.