Paralegal - Temporary

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: WWW.ROANOKEVA.GOV/JOBS

The City of Roanoke is seeking an Administrative Assistant IV (Legal Secretary) to handle paralegal, administrative, and secretarial duties. Job responsibilities include but are not limited to drafting legal instruments and documents such as deeds, easements, releases, closing statements, affidavits, liens, contracts, leases, interrogatories, requests for admissions, requests for production of document, and answers and responses to the same, subpoenas, pleadings to initiate and terminate civil litigation, and documents needed during the course of a trial, and ordinances and resolutions for approval by supervising attorney. The successful candidate must be able to verbally and electronically communicate effectively with other City Departments and staff, contact witnesses, conduct initial fact-gathering interviews, summarize documents, depositions, and medical records, and be a good proofreader to ensure accuracy of documents. May serve as HR Contact for the department.  High school diploma or general education diploma (GED), including or supplemented by legal secretarial courses; trial preparation experience is also desired; Associate degree preferred but not required; three to five years related experience and/or training in legal secretarial work; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Skill in transcription of lengthy dictation involving legal terminology and written notes. Other job duties include reading and interpreting documents, preparing reports and correspondence, and speaking effectively. Proficient in Microsoft Office and Word.

Examples of Duties

SUMMARY 
Handles para-legal, administrative, and administrative duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Drafts simple legal instruments and documents such as deeds of conveyance, deeds of easement, deeds of subordination, deeds of release and quitclaim, certificates of title, closing statements, affidavits, liens, contracts, leases, and uncomplicated ordinances and resolutions for approval by supervising attorney.

May assist department attorneys in courtroom trials under the supervision of a licensed attorney upon completion of required coursework as specified in the Code of Virginia.

Maintains office calendars including court appearances, meetings, etc.

Provides relevant information to draft complicated legal instruments, ordinances, resolutions, opinions, etc.

Handles liens against real property necessitated by City demolition or removal of noxious weeds - ascertaining ownership of property through research of deed books in the Clerk of Courts Office, obtaining correct legal descriptions, and recording liens

Takes complicated dictation involving Latin terminology and legal citations and transcribes lengthy matters from noted or dictating equipment

Maintains a complex legal filing system and researches files for attorneys and other city departments upon request

Supplements and maintains an up-to-date version of codes and loose-leaf services.

Finds and obtains legal references, such as court reporters, treatises, legal encyclopedias, and periodicals, for an attorney

Takes and screens all phone calls

Advises all public and media concerning hearings and trials, and other related matters

Advises the public concerning the claims procedure

May serve as HR Contact for a department

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Typical Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 
High school diploma or general education degree (GED)including or supplemented by legal secretarial courses or 2 years of law school; Must have completed 2 years of law school and the required coursework as specified in the Code of Virginia to be able to work under the supervision of a licensed attorney in the courtroom;  three to five years related experience and/or training in legal secretarial work; or equivalent combination of education and experience.  

Supplemental Information

LANGUAGE SKILLS 
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to prepare reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.
REASONING ABILITY 
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS  
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT  
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer.