Law Library Assistant

Josephine County; Grants Pass (OR); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Josephine County operates the County Law Library and provides legal research support to patrons, attorneys, and judges. The role includes routine secretarial duties, managing mail, calendars, and correspondence, and maintaining confidential case files with accuracy and discretion.

The position requires familiarity with legal terminology, good organizational skills, and the ability to work under deadlines. Background investigations are conducted for employment, and no supervisory responsibilities

Qualifications

• High school graduation or equivalency, and two years secretarial experience preferably in a legal or judicial environment; or any satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and ability to perform the above-described duties.
• Legal studies and law library experience is highly preferred

Responsibilities

• Staffs the County Law Library, assisting patrons with basic legal research and reference services.
• Maintains the Law Library’s print collection and updates materials as needed.
• Maintains professional relationships with information service vendors and other library professionals.
• Answers phones, routes calls, takes messages, and schedules appointments, maintaining calendars and coordinating with other departments.
• Drafts letters and memos, and composes basic legal documents as instructed.
• Maintains computerized file tracking and reviews case information for accuracy and completeness.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Skills

Secretarial skills

Legal terminology

Research assistance

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Legal studies or law library coursework (preferred)

Job description

Operates the County Law Library; performs all library functions, including collection development; does related work as required. This position also performs secretarial duties requiring knowledge of legal terminology and procedures; does related work as required. An employee in this classification is distinguished from the department secretary in that in addition to general secretarial duties, incumbents routinely perform tasks requiring knowledge of legal terminology and judicial processes and work with highly sensitive and confidential information. Receives direction and training from assigned supervisory staff. Supervision is not normally a responsibility of positions in this classification.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
(Illustrative Only. Any single position in this classification will not necessarily involve all the listed duties below, and other positions will involve duties which are not listed. These duties represent the essential functions needed of persons in this classification.)

1. Staffs the County Law Library. This requires assisting patrons, whether legal professionals or laypersons, with basic legal research; maintaining current knowledge of print and electronic resources; performing basic legal reference service for attorneys, judges, and lay persons; and tracking library usage for planning and budgetary purposes.

1. Maintains the Law Library’s print collection. Maintains manuals and updates resource materials as needed.
2. Maintains professional relationships with information service vendors and other library professionals.
3. Answers phones, routes calls, takes messages and makes appointments; provides information following standard office procedures and policies. Maintains calendars and assists with scheduling; coordinates activities with other county departments, public and outside agencies.
4. Receives, sorts, reads, and distributes mail.
5. Drafts a variety of letters and memos from verbal and written instructions; independently composes correspondence and memoranda related to responsibilities assigned, including basic legal documents.
6. Assists with maintaining computerized file tracking system; Initiates, maintains and reviews legal files for accuracy to ensure files are complete and that case information is properly documented.
7. Performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position has no supervisory duties. However, the incumbent may be required to train others to perform basic legal reference functions in the law library.QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Familiarity with all of the print resources available to law libraries, and with those resources maintained by Josephine County's Law Library; knowledge of the content, purpose, and coverage of each treatise, reporter, series, and text maintained by the law library; knowledge of electronic databases available for legal and non-legal research; knowledge of court procedures, in both trial and appellate courts at both state and federal levels; knowledge of process for locating court documents in federal district and circuit courts and state trial and appellate courts. Familiarity with sources of non-legal research information for businesses, individuals and government entities. Considerable knowledge of legal office and judicial procedures and terminology; legal forms and documents; English usage and grammar; general office methods and procedures. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, elected officials and administrative directors, attorneys and the public; exercise initiative and judgment in completing tasks and responsibilities; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; organize files and retrieve materials and documents; deal courteously and tactfully with the public; work accurately under pressure and deadlines; maintain confidentiality; read and interpret legal information.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
High school graduation or equivalency, and two years secretarial experience preferably in a legal or judicial environment; or any satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and ability to perform the above-described duties. Legal studies and law library experience is highly preferredBACKGROUND INVESTIGATION
Those employed in this position are subject to a background investigation including criminal background investigation. Conviction of a crime will not necessarily disqualify an individual for this classification.