Paralegal

COUNTY ATTORNEY OFFICE - PARALEGAL

PG 17 NON-EXEMPT 

SALARY RANGE: $26.66 HR/$55,452.80 ANNUALLY

Employee Benefits

• Direct Deposit, Bi-Weekly Pay Checks
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life Insurance
• FRS Retirement
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Education Incentives
• Deferred Compensation Plan
• Wellness Incentives
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Free Employee Gym
• Free Employee Health Clinic

Must have the physical, developmental and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below:
 

MAJOR FUNCTION: 
Performs paraprofessional legal support services for attorneys in the County Attorney’s Office. This position provides specialized, confidential assistance including preparation of case files and legal documents, filing documents with the courts on behalf of the attorneys, computerized and traditional legal research, case management, and administrative support to ensure efficient and effective legal operations.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES:

Legal Research & Documentation
• Conducts computerized and traditional legal research and summarizes findings for attorney review.
• Researches and prepares drafts of legal documents including pleadings, discovery, and responses.
• Reviews legal documents such as abstracts, deeds, leases, and contracts for accuracy and compliance with established policies and standards.
• Files court documents with the courts on behalf of attorneys and performs related litigation support tasks.
 

Case Management & Investigations
• Handles administrative processing of cases including factual investigation, document collection and preparation, routing of correspondence, and scheduling of deadlines, depositions, hearings, and court dates.
• Investigates claims and legal complaints against the County by interviewing employees, collecting documentation, analyzing cases, and reporting findings to attorneys.
• Coordinates with outside counsel and insurance adjusters regarding disposition of cases.

Administrative & Legal Support
• Assists in the preparation of proclamations, resolutions, ordinances, agenda requests, public notices, and press releases.
• Coordinates and monitors progress of ordinances, special assessments, and public hearings to ensure all notice and hearing requirements are met.
• Provides additional legal support services as assigned by the County Attorney.
 

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS:

Knowledge of:
• Legal secretarial practices and procedures, legal terminology, business English, and commercial arithmetic.
• Applicable laws, ordinances, and general regulatory codes.
• Basic legal forms and documents.
• Florida court system and Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.
• Organizational structure of county government.
• Legal research procedures, filing systems, and records management.
Skills in:
• Operation of personal computers, including formatting and word processing.
Ability to:
• Research, analyze, and condense large amounts of information into clear, concise form for attorney review.
• Conduct traditional and online legal research.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting organizational rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Perform routine to complex administrative support activities.
• Prepare correspondence and reports.
 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Associate Degree from an accredited college or university in Paralegal Studies and at least two (2) years of experience as a law clerk or a paralegal; or Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in English or a related field, and one (1) year of experience as a law clerk or a paralegal; or an equivalent of 2 years of full - time law school experience. 

or an equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience including a minimum of five (5) years of experience as a law clerk, paralegal, or legal secretary with an emphasis on civil litigation.
 

Must be able to utilize all features afforded by word processing software or other computer software and equipment used by the work unit.
 

A comparable amount of related training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.
Valid Driver’s license required; must obtain a Florida license upon employment. Must maintain a clean driving record to operate an assigned county vehicle.
 

SPECIAL PREFERENCE:
Preference will be given to applicants with experience in, and a working knowledge of, Florida local government law and related litigation, including filing legal documents.
 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.