Legal Assistant

Manatee County Government; Bradenton (FL); On-site; USD 38,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Manatee County Government is seeking an administrative support professional to assist one or more Assistant County Attorneys in a busy county office setting.

The role emphasizes calendar management, drafting correspondence, case filing, and preparation of hearings and subpoenas, in a generally indoor office environment. A Florida driver’s license is required and paralegal coursework is preferred.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three (3) or more years of law office experience performing legal duties.
• Valid driver’s license with Florida license within 30 days of hire.
• Associate’s degree with legal coursework is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Provides administrative support to one or more Assistant County Attorneys.
• Maintains calendars for attorneys, coordinates and schedules meetings, depositions, hearings, and witness preparation.
• Drafts general correspondence and emails.
• Maintains case files.
• Prepares and assembles hearing notebooks.
• Prepares drafts of documents including notices of appearance, hearings, depositions, and subpoenas.
• Proofs documents.
• Prepares forms and backup material to process requests for education, training, travel, and payment of vendors.
• Maintains various legal databases.

Skills

Prioritization

Detail oriented

Communication skills

Legal software

EFiling

Windows OS

Email systems

Electronic calendaring

Word processing

Education

High school diploma

Associate’s degree with legal coursework

Tools

Windows OS

Email systems

Electronic calendaring

Word processing

Job description

Work Location:

Manatee County Administration Building: 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, Florida 34205

Work Hours:

Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm

Provides administrative support for one or more Assistant County Attorneys. Performs complex clerical work primarily legal in nature in the administration and operation of the County Attorney’s Office.

Working Conditions

Indoor office environment. High noise environment while performing certainresponsibilities. Sitting for long periods of time and working on a computer. Lifting boxes orsupplies weighing up to 10 pounds.

Job Description

Essential Functions:

• These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.
• Provides administrative support to one or more Assistant County Attorneys.
• Maintains calendars for attorneys, coordinates and schedules meetings, depositions, hearings, and witness preparation.
• Drafts general correspondence and emails.
• Maintains case files.
• Prepares and assembles hearing notebooks.
• Prepares drafts of documents, including, but not limited to, notices of appearance, notices of hearings, notices of taking depositions, and subpoenas.
• Proofs documents.
• Prepares forms and compiles backup material to process requests for approval of education, training, and travel, and payment of vendors.
• Maintains various legal databases.
• Performs such other duties or related work (including weather or extreme emergency tasks) as the County Attorney may assign or require.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three (3) or more recent and consecutive years of law office experience performing high-quality legal duties.
• Valid driver’s license required with valid Florida driver’s license required within 30 days of hire.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• Associate’s degree with legal coursework is highly desired.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Able to prioritize tasks, deal effectively with competing and changing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Accurate, detail-oriented, and organized.
• Able to analyze and resolve problems and situations.
• Good working knowledge and understanding of current state and federal court procedures and policies, including virtual hearings and mediations.
• Good working knowledge and understanding of business English, spelling, and proper grammar.
• Strong verbal and written communication and general math skills required.
• Proficient in effectively using modern business and legal software including current Windows operating system, e-mail systems, electronic calendaring and scheduling, word processing programs, metadata screening software, and filing pleadings in either state or federal courts utilizing e-filing and other applications required to perform job duties.
• Good interpersonal skills in order to interact professionally and effectively with staff, management, the general public, and other stakeholders.
• Able to explain facts, policies, and practices.

This position has been designated by the Board of County Commissioners as serving at the will and pleasure of the County Attorney. Employees so designated may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Veterans Preference

In accordance with Florida Statute 295.07, F.S., Chapter 55A-7, priority consideration in employment will be given to eligible veterans and spouses of disabled veterans. Applicants claiming preference must provide a DD Form 214 or other acceptable documentation with their application. We are committed to honoring the service and sacrifices of our veterans and their families.

EEO/ADA Statement

Manatee County Government is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at 941-748-4501 x 3865.

Drug-Free Workplace

Manatee County Government is a drug-free workplace in accordance with Federal and Florida Law.

Emergency Response/Recovery Activities

All employees may 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.