Paralegal

GENERAL DEFINITION OF WORK 

The Paralegal is supervised by and reports to the County Attorney, who is the appointed chief legal officer of New Kent County. The Paralegal supports and assists the County Attorney in the provision of legal services to the Board of Supervisors, County Administration, and the departments and constitutional officers of New Kent County, Virginia.

To apply, please visit: https://newkentva.munisselfservice.com//EmploymentOpportunities/JobDetail.aspx?req=20190279&sreq=1&form=C001&desc=PARALEGAL

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

• Serves as first point of contact for office in-person, over the telephone, and through electronic communication; screens visitors, callers, mail, and e-mail, independently answers inquiries of citizens and staff when possible, or directs them to the County Attorney or to a County department when necessary, and coordinates County Attorney responses.
• Provides administrative support to the County Attorney; conducts initial document review, gathers documents, correspondence, and researches and inputs all data into the electronic filing system; manages electronic and hard copy filing systems.
• Conducts legal research as necessary; locates precedent cases, identifies relevant points of law; researches and summarizes findings in writing.
• Maintains the County code books; reviews and processes County ordinances; is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the Office’s budget.
• Prepares and assists with cases for litigation, real estate closings, documents for recordation, and documents for legislative approval; prepares and processes documents for filing and recording in all courts; prepares exhibits to be included in pleadings and/or presented in court.
• Drafts and/or reviews contracts/agreements, correspondence, leases, legal memoranda, motions, pleadings, notices, discovery tools, ordinances, deeds, and orders.
• Facilitates workflow; prioritizes work and ensures that work is completed in a timely manner.
• Identifies, researches, collects, and analyzes data to create reports and documents for special projects for the County Attorney or on behalf of the County Attorney’s Office.
• Maintains the County Attorney’s Office calendar including court hearings, Board of Supervisors and other public body meetings, and other meetings and events to be attended by the County Attorney.
• Serve as Recording Secretary for Farms of New Kent Community Development Committee
• Maintains County Contracts List for each fiscal year
• Manages County Attorney Department Budget
• Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Proficient in Microsoft Office suite; familiar and comfortable working in a professional office setting; capable of maintaining the security of highly sensitive confidential information; detail oriented; capable of multi-tasking; strong organizational and problem-solving skills; able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials and the general public; able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; sound professional judgment; positive attitude and a team player; some familiarity with local government preferred.

 EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

 Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a high school diploma; Bachelor’s degree or degree/certificate in paralegal studies preferred.

PYSICAL CONDITIONS AND NATURE OF WORK CONTACTS:

The work is typically performed in a seated position in an office setting where no hazardous conditions are prevalent. Frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, and some lifting of light objects is required. Frequent sustained operation of office equipment is required. The candidate must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines, which includes a computer, printer, calculator, etc.

EMPLOYEE UTILIZATION IN ADVERSE WEATHER AND EMERGENCY CONDITIONS:

 All New Kent County employees are subject to being assigned to specific positions and tasks during a “Declared Emergency” as support personnel, by the County Administrator, the Emergency Management Director, or the Emergency Operations Plan. Once assigned, this would be the same as a regular work assignment and all policies and procedures for duty assignments apply.

EVALUATION:

Performance will be evaluated on the ability and effectiveness with which the incumbent accomplishes the above responsibilities.