Legal Staff Paralegal in Midland, TX

Government

Midland, TX

Legal Staff Paralegal in Midland, TX

Legal Staff

Min 1 yrs required

No

Job Title: Early Assistance Advocate for Injured Employees (Ombudsman I)

Job Responsibilities:

An Early Assistance Advocate (Ombudsman I) is responsible for working alongside senior Ombudsmen to advocate, assist, and educate injured employees in Texas. The role involves using early intervention strategies to help injured employees before hearings. Key responsibilities include:

- Assisting injured employees one-on-one and answering their questions.
- Reviewing claims for medical and income benefits.
- Studying and analyzing the case background of each claim.
- Gathering and evaluating information, including medical records and letters from doctors.
- Preparing and responding to requests for Designated Doctor examinations.
- Evaluating and implementing strategies to resolve claims early.
- Reporting and referring complaints.
- Tracking and providing information on claim status.
- Educating injured employees about the workers’ compensation dispute process and related laws/rules.
- Advocating for the expedient resolution of claims by assembling necessary evidence for insurance carrier determinations or benefit proceedings.
- Contacting insurance carriers and medical providers to identify and resolve disputes.
- Assisting with referrals to social services provided by other state agencies.
- Providing assistance in filing claims and obtaining supporting documentation from doctors.
- Routinely contacting injured employees to provide status updates and discuss upcoming events.
- Documenting customer contact in the computer system.
- Answering general customer service questions.
- Performing other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Information:

- A graduation from an accredited four-year college or university is required.
- One year of experience in claims management, insurance, casework, healthcare, social work, law office (paralegal/legal assistant), or workers’ compensation is required. Education and relevant experience may be substituted for one another on a year-for-year basis.

The position requires knowledge of:

- Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

The position requires demonstrated skills in:

- Assisting the public.
- Conflict resolution.
- Handling and solving problems.
- Report writing and records maintenance principles and practices.
- Interpreting and explaining laws and regulations.
- Data entry and retrieval.
- Customer service.
- Use of correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

The position requires the demonstrated ability to:

- Manage multiple, competing priorities.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, including injured employees and fellow staff members.
- Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with all levels of employees and the public.

Salary Information:

- Salary (Pay Basis): $3, monthly.
- Salary Admin Plan: B.
- Grade: 17.

Additional Information:

- The position is full-time with a standard workweek of 40 hours.
- Travel is required 25% of the time.
- The position is exempt from overtime.

The **Members Only** emphasizes the importance of regular attendance as an essential function for all positions. The organization provides various benefits, including accrued vacation and sick leave, holidays, career advancement opportunities, free parking, and comprehensive medical insurance for full-time employees.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The organization does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in employment or in the provision of services. Reasonable accommodation requests during the application process should be directed to the appropriate department.

Employment Preferences:

- Former Foster Youth Preference: Individuals under permanent managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services before their 18th birthday have a preference in employment with state agencies over other applicants for the same position who do not have greater qualifications.
- Military Employment Preference: State agencies are required to give military employment preference in employment and retention. Documentation such as DD Form 214, marriage certificates, birth certificates, and VA Benefits Summary Letters are required to be submitted for military preference.

Applicable Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes include, but are not limited to: 27A, 250X, LGL10, 4421, 4402, 4430, 51JX, 92J0.