Tennessee State Board of Education: Part‑Time Paralegal or Legal Assistant
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.
The paralegal/legal assistant will assist attorneys in legal research, drafting, document review, Board meeting preparation, rulemaking, legislative analysis, revising State Board rules and policies, and responding to inquiries from the media and the public regarding State Board matters. With support from the GC, the paralegal/legal assistant is also responsible for communicating with school districts, educators, and other stakeholders regarding K‑12 matters and for providing administrative support to the legal team as requested by the GC.
This position is an important opportunity to ensure Tennessee continues to adopt policies and standards that are in the best interest of students through advancement of the goals articulated in the Board’s Master Plan.
About the Tennessee State Board of Education
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.
Job Responsibilities:
Responding to K‑12 legal questions from a variety of stakeholders, including school district representatives, governmental agencies, teachers, legislators, and advocates.
Assisting with the preparation and coordination of rule‑making activities, including compiling public comments, drafting rule‑making notices and agendas, editing and filing rules, and preparing materials for the Joint Committee for Government Operations in the TN legislature.
Supporting the GC in preparing rules and policies for Board meetings and other legal proceedings.
Conducting legal research on K‑12 education matters as requested by the GC.
Tracking deadlines, rule‑making hearing schedules, and regulatory timelines to ensure compliance with applicable laws and procedures.
Providing administrative assistance:
Scheduling meetings for the GC and legal team.
Processing travel and expense reports.
Filing legal documents.
Responding to public requests to speak at Board meetings.
Ensuring Board members and staff complete annual compliance forms.
Procuring items required by the legal team.
Printing and mailing SBE documents.
Booking meeting rooms for team events.
Assisting with scheduling and hosting Webex meetings for the Board’s leadership team.
Compiling and organizing binders for Board meetings and administrative hearings.
Drafting, proofreading, and formatting legal documents, including rules, orders, memoranda, contracts, and correspondence.
Maintaining and organizing legal team electronic files in accordance with state retention and confidentiality requirements.
Performing other duties as assigned to support the work of the Office of General Counsel.
Required Qualifications: Associate or bachelor’s degree.
Paralegal certification or at least two years of 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.
Preferred Qualifications: Ability to conduct legal research.
Proficiency in legal research tools (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis).
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 the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act.
Contract
This is a contract position and does not include benefits.
Hours and Location
This is a part‑time position with anticipated work hours of 10–15 hours per week, to be completed anytime between Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The applicant selected can choose their preferred workdays. Hours can be completed over the course of two days or spread out incrementally throughout the work week. The State Board’s office is located in Nashville, TN and operates under a hybrid working arrangement that includes both in‑office presence and remote work. Applicants must be located in or willing to relocate to the middle Tennessee/Nashville area. Occasional travel may be required.
EEO & Non-Discrimination Statement
Pursuant to the State of Tennessee’s Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The State’s policy is to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person’s race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.
