Legal Assistant II - City Solicitor

LEGAL ASSISTANT II - 1090

GRADE - 107

PAY RANGE - $23.20 - $33.07/hr - plus a comprehensive benefits package

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

Performs a variety of general office clerical and confidential administrative legal support duties for City Attorneys, the Risk Manager and the Employee Labor Relations Manager; performs directly related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The principal function of an employee in this class is to provide clerical support to City Attorneys in addition to customer service to the public. The work is performed under the supervision and direction of the Legal Assistant III and City Attorneys but considerable leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgement and initiative. This class is distinguished from the class of Legal Assistant I by a larger programmatic responsibility relating to legal functions. The nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City employees, business and community organizations and the public. The principal duties of this class are performed in a general office environment.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL WORK:

• Performs confidential secretarial duties for City Attorneys, including distributing directives and monitoring programmatic activities;
• Provides staff support to the Employee Labor Relations Manager and Risk Manager;
• Updates City Code changes;
• Maintains a running list of bankruptcies for each year;
• Manages the daily docket by preparing, researching and requesting needed information;
• Completes clerical duties on all cases received from the police department to be heard by the courts;
• Researches attorney appearances for each case and enters the appropriate information into the system; Requests pertinent requirements for cases such as body worn camera footage, evidence, etc.;
• Prepares pleadings and related materials, including subpoenas;
• Maintains inventory of legal library;
• Prepares court schedules, coordinates witnesses, and monitors legal deadlines for City Attorneys;
• Organizes and integrates Civil and Criminal schedules for trials;
• Monitors all court decisions, monthly caseload and outcomes in regular reports;
• Files pleadings and coordinates proceedings with court officials;
• Provides copies of all relevant court cases to appropriate Attorneys, including other departments within the City and outside legal groups;
• Prepares correspondences, legal documents, opinions, briefs, official publications, transcriptions, reports, lists and other documents as instructed and requested by designated office personnel;
• Interprets and applies departmental or office rules, policies and regulations in accordance with prescribed procedures and guidelines;
• Takes verbatim dictation and transcribes or prepares letters, minutes, reports, statements, grant applications, specifications, contracts, memoranda, notices, resolutions, budgets, financial and statistical tables, requisitions and other related materials, including confidential correspondences and reports;
• Copies, packages and distributes a variety of written materials as requested by other designated office personnel;
• Answers Department telephone calls, receives and greets visitors to the Department and provides information to or refers callers and visitors to other appropriate Departments or City personnel;
• Gathers, assembles, updates, distributes and/or files a variety of information, forms, records and data as requested using traditional filing systems or databases as necessary;
• Screens visitors, telephone calls, faxes, mail and messages directed to office personnel;
• Provides guidance and demonstrations to new employees in similar positions;
• Keeps supervisors informed of work progress, issues, and potential solutions;
• Attends meetings and training to stay current on relevant practices and developments;
• Responds to citizen inquiries courteously and promptly;
• Coordinates regularly with others to enhance interdepartmental efficiency; and
• Performs additional duties as required by the classification.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Thorough knowledge of modern office procedures, practices and equipment;
• Thorough knowledge of modern office filing systems and procedures;
• Thorough knowledge of modern standard bookkeeping principles, practices and procedures;
• Some knowledge of all legal and court procedures;
• Ability to prepare legal documents for cases as requested;
• Ability to deal with a wide range of persons, including situations in which individuals may be upset over some issue involving City activities or policies;
• Ability to serve in a confidential work relationship;
• Ability to handle confidential legal material with tact and discretion;
• Ability in writing to prepare correspondences according to standard business practices;
• Ability to accurately type correspondences, reports and memorandum;
• Ability to complete financial processing procedures;
• Ability to learn City policies and Departmental rules, procedures, practices and objectives;
• Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language;
• Ability to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedures and instructions;
• Ability to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations;
• Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks;
• Ability to use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and/or oral instructions;
• Ability to perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines;
• Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology;
• Integrity, ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

• Graduation from High School or possession of a GED, preferably supplemented by additional training in office procedures; and
• Three to five years of experience in legal office operations; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work.

REQUIRED SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• None.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing or other communication capabilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to communicate effectively;
• Sufficient vision or other powers of observation, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to review a wide variety of materials in electronic or hard copy form;
• Sufficient manual dexterity with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to operate a personal computer, telephone and related equipment;
• Sufficient strength and endurance, with or without reasonable accommodation to lift and carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, through a full range of motion, up to 10 pounds occasionally, 5 pounds frequently and 2 pounds consistently;
• Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to function within the general office environment.