PART-TIME PARALEGAL

SUMMARY

This position provides paralegal assistance, and secretarial support to the Department of Development Services in the areas of research and correspondence and serves as a liaison between the municipal departments and citizens. Work involves public contact as it relates to giving of information, receiving phone calls, scheduling meetings, etc. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Director of Development Services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Organize, maintain and update detailed hard-copy and electronic filing system.
• Provide clerical support and scheduling as requested
• Route and handle legal correspondence related to the Development Services Division.
• Locate and assemble information for reports as requested by the Director.
• Perform Legal Research
• Examine and dissect Title Work Information
• Attend work-sessions, and meetings as requested
• Assist with preparing compliance and procedure manuals, charts and forms
• Type and assist with the following:
• • Ordinance information
  • Agenda items
  • Service Agreements
  • Hold Harmless Agreements
  • Development Agreements
  • Reports
• Blight Committee
• • Handle correspondence and scheduling
  • Prepare Powerpoint presentation
  • Prepare information to be presented for committee approval
• Demolition and lot mowing
• • Prepare lot mowing reports
  • Assist with title and property research
  • Prepare and mail notifications
  • Prepare publishing notices
  • Prepare lis pendens
  • Prepare information to be presented for council approval
  • Prepare liens for council presentation
  • Prepare invoices
  • File lien and prepare necessary correspondence
  • Process payment information
  • Prepare releases

• Handle property owner updates
• Legal Research
• Compile annual report for transfers to the Lee County Tax Collector
• Assist with updates to MUNIS as requested
• Handle open record requests
• Perform other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• At least sixty (60) hours of college-level paralegal studies or equivalent studies preferred.
• Certified completion of paralegal or related legal studies preferred
• Experience in government office work and administration.
• Experience of skill in transcribing notes, preparing written reports, word processing, electronic record keeping, scheduling and customer/client/citizen/peer interaction.
• A combination of both experience and education may be considered.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Thorough knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation and modern office practices;
• Ability to express ideas effectively orally and in writing;
• Ability to perform assignments on the basis of general outlines or directions

OTHER SKILLS REQUIRED:

• High skills in word processing;
• Ability to type material of any degree of difficulty at a high rate of speed and take notes;
• Ability to manage schedules and budgets and prepare basic reports
• Ability to establish paper and electronic record keeping systems;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with the general public, elected officials and other employees;
• Ability to perform legal research and prepare detailed reports and analyses;
• Knowledge of the legal principles concerning the organization and function of municipal government under the mayor-council form of government.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to make mathematical calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

COMPUTER SKILLS

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Chrome.
• A familiarity with legal research databases
• A familiarity with public record databases such as MUNIS, CRMS, TSCMAPS

REASONING SKILLS

• Ability to carry out detailed instructions;
• Ability to do work in a timely fashion or manner without supervision.

PHYSCIAL DEMANDS

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 accommodation, which does not create undue hardship on the employer, will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the work may involve lifting, pulling, pushing, positioning or through the use of tools exerting up to 35 pounds of force occasionally (6-33% of the work day); and lifting, pulling, pushing, positioning or through the use of tools exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently (34-66% 0f the work day).
• The work may involve overhead work occasionally.
• The work may involve standing, walking and bending at the waist frequently; and sitting, squatting, kneeling, crawling and climbing ladders, stairs or other means of equipment and building ingress and egress, and driving a standard motor vehicle.
• The work may involve use of the hands for simple grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation of objects, tools (including power tools), controls and equipment frequently, and repetitively occasionally.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee is regularly required to talk and hear.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation, which does not create undue hardship on the employer, will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee works in an office environment receiving phone inquiries, emails and a constant influx of traffic.
• This person must be high-functioning in a fast-paced and energetic environment.
• This person must possess the ability to act as a liaison between high-level appointed officials and city personnel and members of the general public. This includes but is not limited to, the ability to: screen phone calls and drop-in visits, schedule meetings based on importance and urgency, and preserve a structured and professional office environment.

DISCLAIMER:

Must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation efficiently and accurately without causing a significant safety threat to self or others; the above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skill required of all personnel so classified. The job description is not an employment agreement and/or expressed or implied employment contract.

Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. The term of this employment is at-will, and may be terminated by either party at any time, with or without cause.

To comply with the Americans Disability Act (ADA), the city may make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential job functions.