Legal Assistant

Base pay range

$19.00/yr - $20.00/yr

Job : 65164

Department: TN SBE (State Board of Education)

Position: Legal Assistant

Location: 500 James Robertson Parkway, Davy Crockett Tower, 8th Floor, Nashville, Tennessee

Duration: 4+ Months

Hybrid

The Tennessee State Board of Education (State Board) is seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized part‑time paralegal or legal assistant to support the legal team in carrying out the Board’s statutory and regulatory responsibilities and in advising the State Board on K‑12 education law and policy.

This position will report to the General Counsel (GC) and will work closely with the State Board’s attorneys, paralegals, and legal interns to ensure effective management of the State Board’s legal work.

• Assist attorneys with legal research, drafting, document review, board meeting preparation, rule making, legislative analysis, revising state board rules and policies, and responding to inquiries from the media and public regarding state board matters.
• Communicate with school districts, educators, and other stakeholders on K‑12 matters; provide administrative support as requested by the GC.
• Support GC with preparation of rules and policies for board meetings and other legal proceedings.
• Conduct legal research on K‑12 education matters as requested by GC.
• Track deadlines, rule making hearing schedules, and regulatory timelines to ensure compliance with applicable laws and procedures.

• Schedule meetings for the GC and legal team.
• Process travel and expense reports.

• Respond to public requests to speak at board meetings.
• Ensure board members and staff complete annual compliance forms.
• Procure items required by the legal team.

• Book meeting rooms for team events.
• Assist with scheduling and hosting Webex meetings for the board’s leadership team.
• Compile and organize binders for board meetings and administrative hearings.
• Draft, proofread, and format legal documents, including rules, orders, memoranda, contracts, and correspondence.
• Maintain and organize legal team electronic files in compliance with state retention and confidentiality requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the Office of General Counsel.

• Associate or bachelor’s degree.
• Paralegal certification or at least two years experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, or in a similar role.
• Impeccable editing skills, including extraordinary attention to detail and the ability to review legal team documents for spelling, stylistic, and grammatical errors.
• Outstanding organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• A demonstrated ability to meet and exceed expectations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• A commitment to confidentiality and ethical standards in handling sensitive information.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Ability to conduct legal research.
• Proficiency in legal research tools (e.g., Westlaw, Lexis Nexis).
• Strong understanding of legal terminology, research methods, and administrative procedures.
• Experience working in or with K‑12 schools.
• Experience working for the state of Tennessee.
• Understanding of Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.

The State Board’s mission is to ensure policies and systems are in place so that all Tennessee students are prepared for success after graduation. We work closely with the Tennessee Department of Education, the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, local school districts, and stakeholders across the state to ensure equity, oversight, and transparency in K‑12 education policy.