Paralegal - County Attorney

Major Functions

The County of Volusia is seeking an experienced paralegal for the county attorney's office. Under the direction of an assistant county attorney, the purpose of this position is to provide administrative support in the compiling and preparation of legal documents, and to provide general and trial assistance to professional legal staff. The candidate must be able to analyze and redact records to protect information defined as exempt or confidential from public inspection or copying under the Florida Public Records Act or other state or federal statute. The candidate must be familiar with bankruptcy, foreclosures, collections, labor, human resources, and employment law. The candidate must be familiar with legal terminology and have an extensive understanding of pleadings and legal documents. The candidate must have the ability to draft routine correspondence, research and analyze law sources, draft ordinances and resolutions, draft contracts and agreements, and perform a variety of complex clerical tasks that require independent judgment and action due to the time sensitive nature of the work involved. Candidate should be proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Illustrative Duties

• Research and analyze law sources (i.e. ordinances, statutes, recorded judicial decisions, legal articles) to prepare legal documents (i.e. pleadings, memoranda, contracts, agreements) for review, approval and use by an attorney. Investigates facts and case law to determine causes of action and to prepare cases accordingly.
• Draft contracts, agreements, satisfactions, legal notices, complaints, releases, orders, affidavits, summons, subpoenas, settlement agreements, and other legal pleadings as directed.
• Compile and track pending legislation that may affect county policy.
• Schedule hearings, trials, and meetings, and notify all parties involved.
• Prepare and assist attorney at hearing or trial.
• Compile corporate records and reports to determine relevant information relating to corporate entities.
• Draft clear and concise correspondence using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Receive, screen, process, and route incoming mail and telephone calls in order of priority.
• Monitor and calendar deadlines and tasks in pending matters.
• Draft ordinances and resolutions.
• Prepare agenda items and schedule legal ads for public hearings.
• Coordinate work for county council meetings with legal staff if appropriate.
• Communicate and interact with the public and county staff in an effective and courteous manner.
• May be temporarily assigned to other county locations based upon operational needs.
• Attend work on a regular and consistent basis.
• Must adhere to Federal, State, County and Local ordinances.
• Respond professionally to emergency situations.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Associate's degree in Paralegal studies, and have at least two (2) years of experience as a professional paralegal or legal assistant. A comparable amount of education, training, or experience may be substituted for the minimum requirements to include: a Bachelor's Degree in legal or paralegal studies, and have experience as a professional paralegal or legal assistant.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Must have the cognitive ability and professional skills to effectively and professionally perform paralegal tasks, including knowledge of the principles and practices of paralegal profession, judicial procedures, legal format and terminology, court deadlines, formats used by different legal venues, and knowledge of court proceedings.
• Able to comprehend written legal documents, actively listen to ascertain legal issues, and orally explain legal issues.
• Able to understand a legal problem or situation and decide whether to involve the attorney or move forward independently.
• Able to interpret complex policy, legal, contractual or regulatory procurement requirements and draft effective contracts as directed.
• Knowledge of labor, human resources, and employment law.
• Able to sort, classify, index, categorize, order, manipulate, and organize information, and maintain documents in paper or electronic filing system.
• Able to multitask and change priorities to solve problems.
• Able to calendar deadlines and appointments, such as meetings, depositions, court reporters, and court dates, and ensure deadlines are met.
• Able to use investigatory skills to solve problems, digest and apply information, learn new skills, and think critically and creatively to track down information and records from current and historic sources, in both digital and hard copy format.
• Able to draft clear, concise and persuasive written communications, including correspondence, pleadings, discovery, motions, briefs, legal memorandums, resolutions, agreements, contracts, ordinances and legal bulletins.
• Able to interview people and gather information on behalf of an attorney.
• Able to check legal citations, to confirm accuracy and rule compliance, and verify substantive legal authority in pleadings and memos.
• Knowledge of legal research methods, docketing systems, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, e-filing, internet applications, records management systems, and Westlaw.
• Able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Able to work under stressful conditions.
• Able to interact effectively with others.
• Must be able to relocate to other county locations based upon operational needs.

Physical Demands: Sedentary work. Finger dexterity.

Environmental Demands: Inside work.

Mental Demands: Ability to read and comprehend legal documents, manuals, abstracts, professional journals, memos, reports. Ability to perform basic mathematical functions. Ability to speak clearly and concisely relaying information, data and details to layman and professionals. Ability to write reports, opinions, recommendations, legal documents and business letters.