GovernmentJobs.com
Legal Assistant | Paralegal
GovernmentJobs.com, Port Charlotte, Florida, United States, 33948
Legal Assistant And Paralegal Positions
The Legal Assistant and Paralegal positions provide critical support to the professional staff of the County Attorney's Office. Both roles require a high degree of confidentiality, independent judgment, and initiative in assisting attorneys with their work. Legal Assistant:
This role focuses on specialized secretarial and administrative work of a confidential nature. The Legal Assistant provides direct support to the attorneys, handling routine matters and exercising independent judgment to relieve attorneys of clerical and administrative tasks. Paralegal:
This role is paraprofessional in nature, emphasizing substantive legal support. The Paralegal assists attorneys through legal research, fact investigation, and document preparation. Considerable discretion and independent judgment are required in conducting legal research and drafting materials such as memoranda, pleadings, contracts, briefs, and legislative documents. Essential responsibilities include: Conducting extensive legal research relating to complex problems and projects, and preparing memoranda and/or opinions containing recommended courses of actions and/or solutions. Conducting investigations and interviews with County employees and others in order to gather information relating to particular legal issues and/or litigation and verifying facts through independent investigation. Providing assistance to various County departments relating to responses to legal problems and/or preparation of legal documents. Preparing drafts of resolutions, ordinances, responding to legislative requests, leases, and contracts. Assisting the County Attorney and/or Assistant County Attorneys in preparing responses to requests for legal opinions. Preparing drafts of initial pleading, discovery documents, motions, briefs, and other legal pleadings and papers relating to litigations. Performing analysis of pleadings and motions, etc., filed by opposing parties. Preparing graphic aids, tables, slides, and other audio/visual devices. Assisting attorney staff with trial preparation, the formulation of legal strategy and other matters within the County Attorney's purview. Establishing and maintaining a document management system, i.e., fully indexed and cross-referenced bank of briefs, memoranda, and other research documents previously produced by the office. Assisting in the preparation and filing of lawsuits, appeals, and condemnation suits. Preparing case files and maintaining docket sheets on pending litigation; maintaining a daily calendar for assigned legal staff. Preparing and completing legal notices, acknowledgments, basic legal forms and documents using personal computers. May receive, screen and route incoming mail and telephone calls. Minimum education and experience for Legal Assistant: High school diploma supplemented by course work in legal studies or similar legal office practices Four (4) years of relevant legal secretarial or legal office work experience Minimum education and experience for Paralegal: Florida Certified Paralegal (FCP) or Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) Two (2) years of experience as a Paralegal Knowledge, skills and abilities include: Knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research. Knowledge of federal, state and local statutes and ordinances, the common law, and administrative rules and regulations, basic legal forms and documents. Considerable knowledge of Florida Court System as well as local government law. Knowledge of legal publications and ability to keep such publications organized and up to date. Extensive writing skills, including the ability to prepare legal memoranda, opinions, documents, briefs, resolutions, ordinances, and other legal correspondence. Enhanced communication skills, including the ability to follow instructions, interview witnesses, coordinate with other agencies and law offices, and discuss complete legal issues with attorney staff. Must be sensitive to meeting court or attorney timeframes and attention to detail. Ability to grasp factual issues and apply legal theories. Ability to use the computer to perform legal research and title searches. Considerable knowledge of legal terminology, business English and business Math. Knowledge of organizational structure of county and state government. Knowledge of personal computers and word processing. Ability to type 60 CWPM. Ability to make minor administrative decisions in accordance with office procedure, ordinances and department rules. Ability to organize and prioritize legal data received from professional legal staff and other departments. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, co-workers, elected and appointed officials and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds regardless of race, religion, age, sex, handicap or political affiliation. Working conditions are primarily performed in an indoor, climate-controlled environment and are nearly absent from disagreeable elements. There is little or no risk related to physical and/or mental health and safety associated with this position. Physical activities include hearing, seeing up close, talking, finger movement, and repetitive motions. Charlotte County is an equal employment opportunity employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The Legal Assistant and Paralegal positions provide critical support to the professional staff of the County Attorney's Office. Both roles require a high degree of confidentiality, independent judgment, and initiative in assisting attorneys with their work. Legal Assistant:
This role focuses on specialized secretarial and administrative work of a confidential nature. The Legal Assistant provides direct support to the attorneys, handling routine matters and exercising independent judgment to relieve attorneys of clerical and administrative tasks. Paralegal:
This role is paraprofessional in nature, emphasizing substantive legal support. The Paralegal assists attorneys through legal research, fact investigation, and document preparation. Considerable discretion and independent judgment are required in conducting legal research and drafting materials such as memoranda, pleadings, contracts, briefs, and legislative documents. Essential responsibilities include: Conducting extensive legal research relating to complex problems and projects, and preparing memoranda and/or opinions containing recommended courses of actions and/or solutions. Conducting investigations and interviews with County employees and others in order to gather information relating to particular legal issues and/or litigation and verifying facts through independent investigation. Providing assistance to various County departments relating to responses to legal problems and/or preparation of legal documents. Preparing drafts of resolutions, ordinances, responding to legislative requests, leases, and contracts. Assisting the County Attorney and/or Assistant County Attorneys in preparing responses to requests for legal opinions. Preparing drafts of initial pleading, discovery documents, motions, briefs, and other legal pleadings and papers relating to litigations. Performing analysis of pleadings and motions, etc., filed by opposing parties. Preparing graphic aids, tables, slides, and other audio/visual devices. Assisting attorney staff with trial preparation, the formulation of legal strategy and other matters within the County Attorney's purview. Establishing and maintaining a document management system, i.e., fully indexed and cross-referenced bank of briefs, memoranda, and other research documents previously produced by the office. Assisting in the preparation and filing of lawsuits, appeals, and condemnation suits. Preparing case files and maintaining docket sheets on pending litigation; maintaining a daily calendar for assigned legal staff. Preparing and completing legal notices, acknowledgments, basic legal forms and documents using personal computers. May receive, screen and route incoming mail and telephone calls. Minimum education and experience for Legal Assistant: High school diploma supplemented by course work in legal studies or similar legal office practices Four (4) years of relevant legal secretarial or legal office work experience Minimum education and experience for Paralegal: Florida Certified Paralegal (FCP) or Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) Two (2) years of experience as a Paralegal Knowledge, skills and abilities include: Knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research. Knowledge of federal, state and local statutes and ordinances, the common law, and administrative rules and regulations, basic legal forms and documents. Considerable knowledge of Florida Court System as well as local government law. Knowledge of legal publications and ability to keep such publications organized and up to date. Extensive writing skills, including the ability to prepare legal memoranda, opinions, documents, briefs, resolutions, ordinances, and other legal correspondence. Enhanced communication skills, including the ability to follow instructions, interview witnesses, coordinate with other agencies and law offices, and discuss complete legal issues with attorney staff. Must be sensitive to meeting court or attorney timeframes and attention to detail. Ability to grasp factual issues and apply legal theories. Ability to use the computer to perform legal research and title searches. Considerable knowledge of legal terminology, business English and business Math. Knowledge of organizational structure of county and state government. Knowledge of personal computers and word processing. Ability to type 60 CWPM. Ability to make minor administrative decisions in accordance with office procedure, ordinances and department rules. Ability to organize and prioritize legal data received from professional legal staff and other departments. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, co-workers, elected and appointed officials and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds regardless of race, religion, age, sex, handicap or political affiliation. Working conditions are primarily performed in an indoor, climate-controlled environment and are nearly absent from disagreeable elements. There is little or no risk related to physical and/or mental health and safety associated with this position. Physical activities include hearing, seeing up close, talking, finger movement, and repetitive motions. Charlotte County is an equal employment opportunity employer. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.