Legal Secretary - Litigation

This is a complex and fast-paced legal assistant position.  An employee in this position is responsible for performing a variety of administrative duties in assisting three litigation attorneys with case preparation.  Duties involve the performance of administrative and clerical tasks related to civil court proceedings in state and federal courts; setting up and maintaining the attorneys’ calendars; screening calls and mail; scanning; data input; and preparing appropriate legal briefs (including appellate briefs), discovery, documents, and correspondence.  

• Assists attorney(s) with routine and detailed tasks related to civil litigation matters in state and federal courts.

• Schedules hearings, depositions, phone conferences, etc.

• Compiles and assembles various legal materials for attorney's use.

• Receives and screens telephone calls and greets visitors; provides information and assistance; takes messages; makes appointments; refers to appropriate personnel.

• Continually maintains and updates litigation case files to reflect all current case activity.  

• Types, edits, revises, formats, and assists in the preparation and review of a variety of legal papers and correspondence, including pleadings, discovery, memoranda, legal opinions, subpoenas, briefs (including appellate briefs), and affidavits from rough draft of notes.

• Formats, issues, and proactively follows up on discovery requests and subpoenas related to litigation matters.

• Provides back-up support to other Legal Assistants throughout the department.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.

• Three (3) years experience relevant to the major duties/essential function of the position. 

• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.

Preference:

• Three (3) years experience as civil litigation legal assistant and a college degree

• The work is typically performed in an office, while sitting at a desk or table while intermittently sitting, standing, or stooping. The employee occasionally lifts light objects.

• Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through the use of the telephone and personal contact.

• Physical capability to effectively use and operate various items of office related equipment, such as, but not limited to, personal computer, calculator, copier, and fax machine.

Benefits:

The City of Miami Beach offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 12 vacation, 12 sick days, 14 paid holidays (10 holidays, 3 floating holidays, and employee's birthday); partially sponsored by the City group medical (including visual) and dental insurance, life insurance. Excellent retirement plan: pre-tax employee contribution added to the City's contribution; 5 year "cliff vesting."

Voluntary Benefits (fully paid by the employee, but payroll deductible): flexible spending account; 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, and Roth IRA; universal and critical life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care, and lump sum cancer policy. Also, U.S. Legal Services, tuition assistance, pre-tax payroll contributions, continuation of medical and dental coverage up to 18 months upon termination (COBRA).

For a more detailed overview of the benefit package, please visit Benefits section at http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/hr.

For all positions:

For all technical, professional, supervisory and managerial positions:

Applicants must detail any related work experience on the application or risk disqualification.  It is the applicant's responsibility to update their NEOGOV profile with work experience, education, certifications and personal contact information when submitting each application, failure to do so will result in ineligibility.  City of Miami Beach employees must reflect their current position and detail their work experience on the application to avoid being disqualified.
 
 Veterans Preference: Veterans Preference is awarded in accordance with Florida State Statute 295.07. If veteran's preference is being claimed, it must be indicated on the application form and proper documentation, including all forms DD-214 (either Member 2 or Member 4), as well as the final Department of Defense Disability Letter (dated within one year) must be submitted with the application.