Job Description

LEGAL ASSISTANT

JOB CODE 10030

Effective Date:	05/93A

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The fundamental reason this classification exists is to assist the legal staff in technical assignments requiring interpretation and decision-making. Incumbents make judgments requiring familiarity with the Rules of Evidence, the rights of citizens, and the Code of Professional Responsibility. Duties are performed under the general direction of a Lead Legal Assistant or attorney. Some positions research applicable precedents, legal opinions, statutes, and orders, draft written briefs and opinions; prepare and review records, legal documents, and correspondence; interview witnesses, investigate evidentiary problems, and assist in case preparation and monitoring. Incumbents are expected to perform assignments with considerable independence once familiar with office policies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Performs case preparation duties including reviewing case records, assembling necessary information, and updating case progress in case jackets;
• Gives oral presentations and produces written reports;
• Researches a variety of legal problems by locating applicable precedents, legal opinions, statutes, and orders by computerized information or hard copy;
• Analyzes and organizes facts and evidence and presents material in written form;
• Interviews persons in person and over the telephone regarding complaints, depositions, and statements;
• Analyzes and investigates corpus problems and other evidentiary problems and summarizes information in detailed written form;
• Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Legal terminology, principles, precedents, procedures, and research methods.
• Rules of Court, Evidence, and Discovery, Federal Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, and City ordinances.
• Investigative and interviewing techniques and procedures.

Ability to:

• Understand and follow written and oral directions.
• Work cooperatively with other employees, customers, clients, and the public.
• Produce documents written in the English language using proper sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
• Communicate orally in the English language with customers, clients, and the public using a telephone and in a face-to-face, one-to-one setting.

Additional Requirements:

• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license, and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• Some positions will require the performance of other essential and marginal functions depending upon work location, assignment, or shift.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
An associate of arts and sciences degree in a legal assistant program or related field or a combination of experience and training equal to completion of a two year legal assistant educational program, supplemented by courses and/or practical experience in criminal law, the criminal justice system, and legal research and writing. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.