Requisition No: 884966
Agency: Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle
Working Title: SENIOR LEGAL ASSISTANT (WT: SENIOR PARALEGAL SPECIALIST) - 76002840
Pay Plan: Career Service
Position Number: 76002840
Salary: $50,000.04 - $55,000.08 Annually
Posting Closing Date: 10/24/2026
Total Compensation Estimator Tool
OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LEGAL
*Career Service (CS) Opportunity*
*Open Competitive Advertisement*
To be considered for this position, applicant responses to qualifying questions must be clearly stated within the employment history. Software systems, actual work experience, and years of employment must be clearly defined, or the application may not be considered for the position.
Note: Salary will be commensurate with the candidate’s skills and experience.
Contact Person: Bonnie Buchanan, (850) 617-3101 bonniebuchanan@flhsmv.gov
The Organization
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education, and enforcement. With a workforce of approximately 4,500 employees throughout the state, the Department is leading the way to A Safer Florida through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles, and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Our Benefits include
• Paid Parental Leave
• Annual and Sick Leave Package
• Nine Paid Holidays
• State Health and Life Insurance
• Educational Benefits
• Contributory Retirement Plan
To learn more about FLHSMV and why it’s a great place to work, visit our website at: flhsmv.gov/careers.
If you're seeking employment with a meaningful mission, opportunities for skill growth and career advancement, competitive medical and life insurance, retirement benefits, ample vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, and educational assistance, consider building your career at FLHSMV!
Duties and Responsibilities
This Senior Paralegal Specialist position provides paralegal support to the Executive Director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the General Counsel, and two other Chief Counsels within the Office of General Counsel. As an experienced paralegal, you will be responsible for independently performing the following duties and responsibilities:
• Performing legal research and data collection.
• Preparing drafts of legal documents to include pleadings, orders, motions, memoranda of law and other legal correspondence.
• Managing calendars and tracking deadlines.
• Maintaining litigation files in the electronic case management system.
• Filing litigation documents with clerks of court and/or judges.
• Requesting and scheduling hearings with courts.
• Managing insurance case assignments.
• Serving as liaison for the General Counsel relative to internal and external Office of General Counsel functions
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge of court filing requirements.
• Knowledge of proper preparation of court pleadings and legal correspondence.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, computer skills, and the aptitude to learn new software.
• Skills in organization and the ability to work independent of close supervision.
• Ability to conduct legal and general research.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment, where attention to detail is crucial.
• Ability to effectively interact with all customers with courtesy and professionalism.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of information.
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates with the following:
• Four years of experience working in a legal office setting as a paralegal and/or legal assistant.
• Experience as a lead paralegal.
• Experience drafting legal documents.
• Experience in civil, appellate, or administrative litigation.
• Court filing requirements.
• Experience with electronic case management programs.
Additional preference will be given for experience with:
• Online legal research tools
• MyFloridaMarketPlace/AribaOnDemand
• State travel rules and regulations
• Computer/technology troubleshooting
• Personnel-related duties
Job Related Requirements
• The position you are applying for is subject to a Level 2 background check, along with Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) clearance, to include a fingerprint-based check of the criminal records of the FBI, as a condition of employment pursuant to Chapter 110.1127, 435 and 943, Florida Statutes. Please note that, since this position requires CJIS clearance, the Department will have access to all an applicant’s criminal and juvenile delinquency records, even those that have been sealed or expunged.
• This position requires the incumbent to have and maintain a valid driver’s license in good standing. This means there can be no cancellations, suspensions, or revocations for a minimum of three years prior to employment and for the duration of employment. There can be no more than three chargeable crashes or any violation of Chapter 316, Florida Statutes, during any consecutive three-year period prior to and throughout employment.
• The selected applicant must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
General Information
• The state of Florida hires only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. All selected applicants are required to provide identification and either proof of U.S. citizenship or proof of authorization to work in the U.S. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) does not participate in employment sponsorship for work visa status (e.g., H-1B) or for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT, STEM OPT).
• Applicants being considered for employment will be required to submit to a fingerprint-based background investigation, which will include a check of the criminal history records of the FBI. Fingerprints and associated information/biometrics will be retained in the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system and fingerprints may continue to be compared against fingerprints submitted to or retained by NGI.
• In accordance with Section 110.1128, Florida Statutes, male applicants who were required to register with the Selective Service System must provide proof of registration or documentation verifying exemption status during the hiring process.
• The elements of the selection process may include a skill assessment and/or oral interview.
• FLHSMV employees are paid once a month on the last workday of each month. All state employees are required to participate in the direct deposit program pursuant to s. 110.113 Florida Statutes.
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.