Paralegal I, II, III D.O.Q.- City Attorneys Office

Paralegal I 
Performs higher-level, paraprofessional legal work, including but not limited to, researching, fact-checking, and preparing a variety of legal documents and forms. May perform some clerical duties. Exercises considerable independent judgment. Work is assigned and reviewed under the guidance of a Deputy City Attorney, Chief Assistant City Attorney or City Attorney.

Paralegal II 
Performs higher-level, paraprofessional legal work, including but not limited to, researching, fact-checking, and preparing a variety of legal documents and forms. May perform some clerical duties. Exercises considerable independent judgment. Work is assigned and reviewed under the guidance of a Deputy City Attorney, Chief Assistant City Attorney or City Attorney.

Paralegal III
 Performs extremely high-level, paraprofessional legal work, including but not limited to, researching, fact-checking, and preparing a variety of legal documents and forms, and comprehensive litigation support. May perform some clerical duties. Exercises considerable independent judgment. Work is assigned and reviewed under the guidance of a Deputy City Attorney, Senior Deputy City Attorney or City Attorney. Facilitates the development of public trust and confidence in the City.The following duties are illustrative for this position.  The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.  Other duties may be required and assigned.  

Paralegal I 

• Keeps the mission, vision and values of the City of Port St. Lucie at the forefront of decision making and action; builds strategic and collaborative relationships and interacts with others in a way that builds confidence and trust; provides excellent customer service by taking action to accomplish objectives, maintains high levels of work and productivity by generating innovative solutions to work situations.
• Assists in the preparation of lawsuits and appeals. Prepares pleadings and exhibit and trial folders.
• Under close supervision, reviews complex legal documents including, but not limited to, deeds, leases, contracts, ordinances and resolutions for accuracy and conformance with proper legal standards and City policies.
• May assist in the discovery phase of litigation including document preparation, answering interrogatories and scheduling witnesses for depositions.
• Performs simple legal research.
• Performs clerical office functions, including but not limited to, data entry, answering phones, filing, drafting correspondence, typing, processing and distributing mail, scheduling appointments, maintaining records, photocopying, and other clerical duties as assigned.
• Assists in preparing materials as directed by supervising attorney for meetings and public speaking engagements.
• Assists in the creation of a variety of reports.
• Maintains a variety of personnel records including payroll, attendance records, requisition forms, evaluation forms, accident reports, incident reports, personnel files, etc.
• Assists with archiving all office files, including case files.
• Performs other related tasks as required.

Paralegal II 

• Keeps the mission, vision and values of the City of Port St. Lucie at the forefront of decision making and action; builds strategic and collaborative relationships and interacts with others in a way that builds confidence and trust; provides excellent customer service by taking action to accomplish objectives, maintains high levels of work and productivity by generating innovative solutions to work situations.
• Assists in the preparation of lawsuits and appeals. Prepares pleadings and exhibit and trial folders.
• Under limited supervision, reviews complex legal documents including, but not limited to, deeds, leases, contracts, ordinances and resolutions for accuracy and conformance with proper legal standards and City policies.
• Shall assist in the discovery phase of litigation including document preparation, answering interrogatories and scheduling witnesses for depositions. 
• Performs complex legal research.
• Facilitates legal training to city and employees, city council members, and city boards.
• Review requests for reasonable accommodations and public records. 
• Draft legal documents for attorney review and approval. This includes, but is not limited to, contracts, ordinances, resolutions, pleadings, motions, notices, subpoenas, lease and license agreements, unities of title, terminations of restrictive covenant, memoranda, city council agenda items and presentations, legal opinions, and correspondence.
• Review and draft initial answer/response to employee wage garnishment orders, child support orders, education garnishment orders, and IRS (tax) levies.
• Performs clerical office functions, including but not limited to, data entry, answering phones, filing, drafting correspondence, typing, processing and distributing mail, scheduling appointments, maintaining records, photocopying, and other clerical duties as assigned.
•  Assists in preparing materials as directed by supervising attorney for meetings and public speaking engagements.
• Assists in the creation of a variety of reports. 
• Maintains a variety of personnel records including payroll, attendance records, requisition forms, evaluation forms, accident reports, incident reports, personnel files, etc.
• Assists with archiving all office files, including case files. 
• Performs other related tasks as required.

Paralegal III

• Keeps the mission, vision, and values of the City of Port St. Lucie at the forefront of decision making and action; builds strategic and collaborative relationships and interacts with others in a way that builds confidence and trust; provides excellent customer service by taking action to accomplish objectives, maintains high levels of work and productivity by generating innovative solutions to work situations.
• Utilizing discretion and independent judgment, reviews complex legal documents including, but not limited to, deeds, leases, contracts, ordinances and resolutions for accuracy and conformance with proper legal standards and City policies.
• Provides high-level litigation support, including drafting and responding to discovery requests, communicating, and interacting with judicial assistants and other court personnel, scheduling court reporters, coordinating hearings, mediations, depositions, and other litigation related appearances, communicating with witnesses, and other related litigation support work.
• Performs complex legal research.
• Interact with officials from other cities and government entities, and state officials as necessary, as well as elected officials, management, and department directors of the City.
• Facilitates legal training to city and employees, city council members, and city boards.
• Review requests for reasonable accommodations and public records. 
• Draft legal documents for attorney review and approval. This includes, but is not limited to, contracts, ordinances, resolutions, pleadings, motions, notices, subpoenas, lease and license agreements, unities of title, terminations of restrictive covenant, memoranda, city council agenda items and presentations, legal opinions, and correspondence.
• Prepare real estate documents, land use documents, lien documents, and other related transactional work ready to record in the Official Records.
• Review and draft initial answer/response to employee wage garnishment orders, child support orders, education garnishment orders, and IRS (tax) levies.
• Assists in preparing materials as directed by supervising attorney for meetings and public speaking engagements.
• Assists in the creation of a variety of reports. 
• Assists with archiving all office files, including case files. 
• Other duties as may be assigned 

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.

Paralegal I 
Associate’s Degree required, with the preferred major course of study in paralegal studies, pre-law studies, political science, criminal justice or other related field; Bachelor’s Degree highly desirable.  Three (3) years experience in a progressively responsible clerical and administrative position; local government experience desirable.  Valid Florida Driver’s License with a clean driving history.

• Working knowledge of constitutional and statutory law of the United States and the State of Florida as related to City Government.
• Working knowledge of City operations and administration, judicial procedures and the rules of civil procedure, evidence, principles, methods, materials and practices of legal research. Knowledge of established precedents and sources of legal references applicable to municipal activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, court officials and personnel, the bar, the public, subordinates and other employees. Ability to conduct research on legal problems and to prepare legal opinions.
• Proficient in the use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite for purposes of research and drafting of documents, pleadings and correspondence.

Paralegal II
Associate’s Degree required, with the preferred major course of study in paralegal studies, pre-law studies, political science, criminal justice or other related field; Bachelor’s Degree highly desirable.  Possess and maintain certification as a Florida Registered Paralegal by The Florida Bar or another appropriate certification or licensing authority. Five (5) years’ experience as a paralegal or working in a law office in a capacity more than merely clerical support. Valid Florida Driver's License. 
 

• Working knowledge of constitutional and statutory law of the United States and the State of Florida as related to City Government.
• Working knowledge of City operations and administration, judicial procedures and the rules of civil procedure, evidence, principles, methods, materials and practices of legal research. Knowledge of established precedents and sources of legal references applicable to municipal activities. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, court officials and personnel, the bar, the public, subordinates and other employees. Ability to conduct research on legal problems and to prepare legal opinions.
• Proficient in the use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite for purposes of research and drafting of documents, pleadings and correspondence. 

Paralegal III
Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate’s Degree required. Major course of study in paralegal studies, pre-law studies, political science, criminal justice or other related field preferred; Bachelor’s Degree highly desirable.  Possess and maintain certification as a Florida Registered Paralegal by The Florida Bar or another appropriate certification or licensing authority. Five (5) years’ experience as a paralegal or working in a law office in a capacity more than merely clerical support.  

• Shall be Registered as a Paralegal with The Florida Bar and maintain such Registration throughout employment. 
• Advanced knowledge, predominantly intellectual in character, which includes the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment.
• Working knowledge of constitutional and statutory law of the United States and the State of Florida as related to City Government.
• Working knowledge of City operations and administration, judicial procedures and the rules of civil procedure, evidence, principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research. 
• Knowledge of established precedents and sources of legal references applicable to municipal activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials, court officials and personnel, the bar, the public, subordinates, and other employees. 
• Ability to conduct research on legal problems and to prepare legal opinions.
• Proficient in the use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite for purposes of research and drafting of documents, pleadings, and correspondence.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to focus on the positive in every situation.
• Ability to model respect for individuals, teams, and the organization.
• Ability to stay centered when challenged.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to follow through with assigned tasks.

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, talk, hear and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand and stoop, kneel, and crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and 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. Office environment is fast paced.

Salary : $48,901