Administrative Assistant - Police ( Legal Advisor)

City of Detroit; Michigan; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Detroit seeks an Assistant to the Legal Advisor to handle general administrative duties and support staff. Responsibilities include obtaining information for FOIA requests and litigation discovery, assisting with indemnification and representation for the Detroit Police Department, and supporting scheduling, filing, and research functions.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in public/business administration or paralegal studies, and substantial experience in municipal administration

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public or business administration or paralegal studies or related field; substitutable experience may apply.
• Experience: 5 years coordinating general business activities and administrative duties; legal admin or research skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Obtain information, documents, records for FOIA requests and litigation discovery for Detroit Police Department.
• Assist with Indemnification and Representation process for the Detroit Police Department.
• Assist with third party subpoenaed depositions.
• Review and analyze departmental processes, operations, and data to identify problems.
• Review documents for correct formatting; conduct research and writing.

Skills

Legal research

Administrative support

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration or paralegal studies

Job description

Description

Under general supervision, as an assistant to the Legal Advisor and other staff, to be responsible for general administrative activities, including but not limited to clerical and related work.

Examples of Duties

1. Obtain information, documents, records, and other tangible items from the Detroit Police Department for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and litigation discovery requests.
2. Assist with the Detroit Police Department Indemnification and Representation process.
3. Assist with third party subpoenaed depositions.
4. Review and analyze departmental processes, operations, and data to identify existing problems.
5. Reviews documents to ensure adherence to appropriate format.
6. Studies and analyzes assigned problems and makes reports and recommendations.
7. Research and writing.
8. Represents the Department in contacts with professional organizations, citizen’s concerns, and governmental agencies, regarding departmental activities.
9. Maintains confidential information.
10. Assist the Legal Advisor, and other staff with scheduling, filing and research.
11. Performs all other administrative duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Training: Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, degree in paralegal studies, some law school, a degree in a closely related area of study, or other combination of education and training to warrant equivalent recognition. (Significant work experience in municipal business and office activities which has included administrative or procedural responsibility’s, fiscal responsibilities, along with college-level training less than an undergraduate degree, may be substituted for the college requirement. The weight given such experience toward meeting the education and training requirement will be based on an evaluation of the nature of work performed and training requirement.)

NOTE: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for education on a year to year basis up to a maximum of two (2) years.

Experience: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible work experience coordinating general business activities and performing administrative duties. Experience with legal administrative or research skills preferred.

Supplemental Information

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Work methods and procedures of business activities, such as personnel, and recordkeeping.
• Organizational principals, management techniques, and labor relations practices.
• Operating practices and procedures in the department indicated by the class title.
• Board governance
• Research methods

SKILL IN:

• Effectively interacting with departmental personnel and professional contacts.
• Preparing legal documents and review of the same.
• Research, analysis and writing.

ABILITY TO:

• Plan operations, secure and supply information, and to carry out departmental activities.
• Solve operational and administrative problems.
• Effectively communicate, both verbally and written.
• Manage multiple priorities in fast paced environment.
• Research, analysis and writing.

SPECIAL NOTE: This is an at-will appointment, and the candidate selected serves at the pleasure of the Legal Advisor.