Legal Assistant

GENERAL PURPOSE:  Under general supervision, provides technical and administrative assistance to support the activities of attorneys in the City Attorney’s Office, uses independent judgement based on technical knowledge to conduct research, prepare legal documents, and manage case files.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.
 

• Serves as Legal Assistant to attorneys; works independently and makes appropriate decisions based on knowledge of City policies and legal standards; performs duties within the scope of authority.   May provide case management functions for prosecution; prepares, tracks and follows up on legal documents; maintains and updates case files.
• Prepares and processes legal and technical documents; prepares legal papers for court fillings, and processes legal documents according to court procedures and attorney instructions.
• Requests, obtains, redacts, and processes reports and orders from a variety of agencies to assist attorneys in the charging and handling of cases and uses the information from the reports as required, including to process disclosure statements and subpoenas. 
• Provides standard administrative and secretarial support, including transcription and scheduling.
• Answers the telephone, interviews and screens callers; responds to inquiries and explains policies and procedures and provides information, technical assistance and advises internal and external customers on applicable policies, procedures, or standards; arranges appointments; maintains office files.
• Creates and manages case files; researches files and databases; updates files, records and tracking systems.
• Collects and compiles statistical and financial data and other information for inclusion into special and periodic reports; maintains office supply inventories and orders/stocks supplies or equipment as needed.
• Enters data into computer systems; processes transactions, compiles documentation, and generates reports utilizing word processing and spreadsheet software.
• Responds to requests for information within scope of authority and processes responses to customers regarding public records request.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required. 

Education and Experience:
High School diploma or GED equivalent, and three (3) year’s administrative experience, preferably in a public-sector legal practice, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. 

Special Requirements: None.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills:
 
Knowledge of:

• City policies and procedures.
• Applicable administrative regulations, policies and procedures, including rules of evidence.
• Legal system and law enforcement agency procedures and terminology.
• Legal case management procedures, ethics and techniques.
• Word processing, database, and spreadsheet software applications.
• The principles of record keeping, case files, records retention and records management.

• Coordinating and performing a variety of skilled legal administrative functions.
• Providing legal administrative support to public sector attorneys.
• Drafting, preparing, filing and distributing various types of legal documents.
• Reading, understanding and applying Department policies and procedures.
• Data entry and mathematical calculations.
• Operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of business software.
• Assisting customers within area of focus.
• Effectively communicating, both orally and in writing.