Senior Legal Secretary

City of Norwalk; Norwalk (CT); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Norwalk seeks a Legal Administrative Assistant to perform complex legal administrative work. Requires an Associate’s degree in Secretarial Science or a paralegal certificate with three years of relevant experience. Responsibilities include preparing legal documents, managing records, and assisting attorneys. This is a crucial role supporting legal functions within the city.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience in paralegal and legal secretarial work.
• Experience in municipal law departments or legal state agencies preferred.
• Knowledge of Connecticut State and Federal Courts procedures.

Responsibilities

• Prepares legal documents for review by staff attorneys.
• Coordinates document compilation and maintains legal records.
• Handles calendaring for court events and deadlines.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Word processing

File management

Litigation experience

Data management

Positive communication

Education

Associate’s degree in Secretarial Science

Paralegal certificate

Tools

Word processing software

Case management programs

Job description

Position Definition:Performs varied and responsible confidential secretarial and legal administrative work of a complex and responsible nature.

General Duties:

Reports to the Corporation Counsel or a staff attorney and is responsible for the following:

• Receives general oral or written directions from staff attorneys.
• Plans and organizes work according to office and standard procedures.
• Performs initial research on matters and questions referred to office.
• Coordinates compilation of documents, papers and materials for use by staff attorneys
• Works independently to prepare legal documents, including City contracts, deeds, easements, and licenses/permits for review and action by a staff attorney.
• Types appearances, briefs, motions, agreements, stipulations, leases, affidavits, judgment files, releases, pretrial memorandums, opinions, contracts, deeds and correspondence.
• Prepares returns of record in appeals from various land use agencies.
• In pending municipal lawsuits: prepares pleadings and other filings, standard discovery requests and compliance with discovery requests, as well as manages calendaring for court events and deadlines.
• Develops and maintains confidential cross-indexed files and records.
• Operates word, data processing, file management and case management programs..
• Maintains contact with other legal offices, court personnel, other City departments, elected officials and the public.
• Independently composes routine correspondence.
• Independently performs special assignments, studies and reports as assigned.

Note:The above is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task or responsibility.

• Thorough knowledge of law office practices and procedures.
• Working knowledge of policies and procedures, including legal forms, time limits, etc…, of Connecticut State and Federal Courts.
• Knowledge of local and state governmental agencies and their functions.
• Ability to relate to City employees, attorneys and members of the public in a positive manner.
• Experience operating data, word processing, file management, and data management programs.
• Litigation experience with preparation of pleadings and other filings, standard discovery requests and compliance with discovery requests, as well as management of calendaring for court events and deadlines.

An Associate’s degree in Secretarial Science with coursework in the legal field or a paralegal certificate from an accredited college or university, and three years of experience performing both paralegal and legal secretarial work in a law office or other municipal law department or state agency legal department such as the Attorney General’s Office. Relevant work experience may be substituted for college training on a year-for-year basis.

License or Certificate: Not applicable.

This is a Grade 15 position.


*This position is pending contract renewal. Salary and benefits will be updated once the new terms are signed.