Paralegal - County Attorney

The County of Volusia is seeking an experienced Paralegal for the County Attorney's Office. Under the direction of an assistant county attorney, this position provides administrative support compiling records, preparing legal documents, and providing trial assistance. The candidate must be familiar with legal terminology, pleadings, and documents. Additional duties include drafting correspondence, ordinances, and resolutions. The candidate must be able to perform a variety of complex clerical tasks that require independent judgment due to the time sensitive nature of the work. Candidate should be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

*This position is posted on a continuous basis and may close without notice.*

• Research and analyze law sources (i.e. ordinances, statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles) to prepare legal documents (i.e. pleadings, memoranda, contracts, agreements) for review, approval and use by an attorney. 
• Investigates facts and case law to determine causes of action and to prepare cases accordingly.
• Drafts contracts, agreements, satisfactions, legal notices, complaints, releases, orders, affidavits, summons, subpoenas, settlement agreements, and other legal pleadings as directed.
• Compiles and tracks pending legislation that may affect county policy.
• Schedules hearings, trials, and meetings, and notify all parties involved.
• Prepares and assists attorney at hearing or trial.
• Compiles corporate records and reports to determine relevant information relating to corporate entities.
• Drafts clear and concise correspondence using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Receives, screens, processes, and routes incoming mail and telephone calls in order of priority.
• Monitors calendar deadlines and tasks in pending matters.
• Drafts ordinances and resolutions.
• Prepares agenda items and schedule legal ads for public hearings.
• Coordinates work for county council meetings with legal staff if appropriate.
• Communicates and interacts with the public and county staff in an effective and courteous manner.
• May be temporarily assigned to other county locations based upon operational needs.
• Attends work on a regular and consistent basis.
• Must adhere to Federal, State, County and Local ordinances.
• Respond professionally to emergency situations.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

High School Diploma or GED and four (4) years of experience as a professional paralegal. 

OR

Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies and two (2) years of experience as a professional paralegal. 

A comparable amount of education, training, or experience may be substituted for the minimum requirements.

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License at time of hire.

• Must have the cognitive ability and professional skills to effectively and professionally perform paralegal tasks, including knowledge of the principles and practices of paralegal profession, judicial procedures, legal format and terminology, court deadlines, formats used by different legal venues, and knowledge of court proceedings.
• Knowledge of labor, human resources, and employment law.
• Knowledge of legal research methods, docketing systems, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, e-filing, internet applications, records management systems, and Westlaw.
• Ability to comprehend written legal documents, actively listen to ascertain legal issues, and orally explain legal issues.
• Ability to understand a legal problem or situation and decide whether to involve the attorney or move forward independently.
• Ability to interpret complex policy, legal, contractual or regulatory procurement requirements and draft effective contracts as directed.
• Ability to sort, classify, index, categorize, order, manipulate, and organize information, and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
• Ability to multitask and change priorities to solve problems.
• Ability to calendar deadlines and appointments, such as meetings, depositions, court reporters, and court dates, and ensure deadlines are met.
• Ability to use investigatory skills to solve problems, digest and apply information, learn new skills, and think critically and creatively to track down information and records from current and historic sources, in both digital and hard copy format.
• Ability to draft clear, concise and persuasive written communications, including correspondence, pleadings, discovery, motions, briefs, legal memorandums, resolutions, agreements, contracts, ordinances and legal bulletins.
• Ability to interview people and gather information on behalf of an attorney.
• Ability to check legal citations, to confirm accuracy and rule compliance, and verify substantive legal authority in pleadings and memos.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Ability to work under stressful conditions.
• Ability to interact effectively with others.
• Must be able to relocate to other county locations based upon operational needs.
  
  

ADA REQUIREMENTS: 

Physical Demands: Sedentary work. Finger dexterity. Visual acuity (depth perception, peripheral vision) necessary to operate motorized vehicles.

Environmental Demands: Inside work.   

Mental Demands: Ability to read and comprehend legal documents, manuals, abstracts, professional journals, memos, reports. Ability to perform basic mathematical functions. Ability to speak clearly and concisely relaying information, data and details to layman and professionals. Ability to write reports, opinions, recommendations, legal documents and business letters.

Volusia County is a drug free workplace and an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse workforce.  Veterans' preference is provided to qualified applicants pursuant to State law.