Paralegal - City Attorney's Office

• For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visithttps://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.
• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description.  The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Assists attorneys with drafting, preparing, and filing of various legal documents including but not limited to City loans; City easement deeds documents related to land use, contracts, acquisitions, bonds, sales, and public hearing notices; Social Services fillings; court pleadings; ordinances; memoranda; etc.
• Receives contracts, pre-reviews required pages, and assigns to appropriate attorney. 
• Prepares confidential legal documents and general legal administrative support tasks including but not limited to preparing, compiling, proofreading, editing, formatting, and submitting of documents, exhibits, and correspondence; notarizing legal documents; creating and managing accurate records and files; preparing legal notices, preparing petitions, proposed orders, and other documents required in connection with court proceedings.
• Prepares and maintains case files; research court files and records to determine the status of litigation. Responsible for monitoring case statuses for attorneys.
• Receives subpoena duces tecum requests, ensures attorney reviews, and delivers records to requesting party.
• Researches and analyzes statutes, judicial decisions, legal articles, treatises, real estate titles, and similar issues to prepare legal documents such as briefs, pleadings, or appeals, etc. for review and use by the City Attorney’s Office.
• Determines scheduling timelines, gathers required documents and requests placement on City Council agenda and/or other public board/commission agendas. 
• Drafts and submits public hearing notices to newspaper.
• Tracks and drafts annual audit letter, determines cases and descriptions for inclusion.
• Communicates and responds to citizens, city staff, attorneys, and others regarding questions, problems, complaints, and general matters related to the City Attorney’s Office. Screens and responds to inquiries via email, in-person, and/or over the phone; directs to appropriate staff when applicable.
• Performs office administration tasks including but not limited to workflow management, filing, library maintenance, budget maintenance, court calendars, public body meeting calendars.
• Tracks expenditures; maintains inventories and office supplies; and orders, processes, and documents a variety of accounting documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and work orders.
• Prepares training materials, when necessary.
• May coordinate and/or assist with the hiring and onboarding of new department employees.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools, and other resources, including work time.
• Regular and reliable attendance.

• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Education and Experience:  Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.
 

• Associate degree or Paralegal Certification AND at least 4 years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant within a legal office or legal/court setting.

• High school diploma or GED AND at least 6 years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant within a legal office or legal/court setting.

• At least 8 years of experience as a paralegal or legal assistant within a legal office or legal/court setting.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

• Must become a Virginia Notary Public within 90 days of employment.
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

• Previous experience in a local government setting.
• Bachelors’ degree in an applicable field.

• Working knowledge of legal terminology, court procedures, federal, state, and local judicial system, local court procedures, law office management.
• Thorough knowledge of general office practices and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of database, spreadsheet and word processing applications such as Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of real estate transactions and social services administrative related work.

• Advanced: ability to read and understand complex written materials such as books, reviews, legal briefs, court findings, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents.  

• Intermediate: ability to write reports, prepare business letters, explanations, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech.

• Intermediate: ability to deal with number systems; simple formulas, practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement.  Demonstrates ability to apply intermediate level techniques for statistical research, assessment and analysis and evaluation.

• Intermediate: Examples include contacts that may involve stressful, negative interactions requiring high levels of tact and the ability to respond to aggressive interpersonal interactions. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers and customers.

• Requires Limited Direction: normally completes work according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally. Special projects are managed with little oversight and assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance reviewed periodically.

• Skilled: comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities.  Proficient in more advanced software applications, complex databases and design packages. Demonstrates skill in specialized software applications beyond basic software packages.

• Prepares accounting, budget, employment actions, and purchasing documents; and does research to justify language used in documents for a unit or division of a department. May recommend budget allocations.

• May monitor administrative work completed by others. No formal responsibility for direction or supervision of others.

• Time pressures.
• Works closely with others as part of a team.
• Performs multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Interruptions and requests for service.
• Must work effectively with sensitive and confidential materials and issues.
• May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.

Physical Demands:

• Light Work: Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. occasionally and/or up to 10 lbs. frequently and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Must be able to frequently remain in a stationary position.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.  Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Ability to observe at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Must occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. and position self to maintain files in file cabinet.

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

Work Environment:

• Work is performed in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity at all levels of the organization. The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City is dedicated to this with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.

Requests for reasonable accommodation by individuals with disabilities may be requested by contacting Human Resources at (434) 970-3490 or hr@charlottesville.gov.

The City of Charlottesville conducts job related background checks, reference checks, and pre-employment drug tests, in accordance with federal, state, and local law, of applicants who reach the final stages of the employment selection process. The City’s policy has not changed because of the decriminalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law, and it continues to be a violation of the US Department of Transportation regulations and the City’s policy prohibiting employees from testing positive for marijuana.