Legal Assistant

About the Department

Work Location

• Manatee County Administration Building: 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, Florida 34205
• Provides administrative support for one or more Assistant County Attorneys. Performs complex clerical work primarily legal in nature in the administration and operation of the County Attorney's Office.

Working Conditions

Position Duties

• Essential Functions: These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position. Provides administrative support to one or more Assistant County Attorneys. Maintains calendars for attorneys, coordinates and schedules meetings, depositions, hearings, witness preparation. Drafts general correspondence and emails. Maintains case files. Prepares and assembles hearing notebooks. Prepares drafts of documents, including, but not limited to, notices of appearance, notices of hearings, notices of taking depositions, and subpoenas. Proofs documents. Prepares forms and compiles back up material to process requests for approval of education, training, and travel, and payment of vendors. Maintains various legal databases. Performs such other duties or related work (including weather or extreme emergency tasks) as the County Attorney may assign or require.

Essential Functions

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent. Three (3) or more recent and consecutive years of law office experience performing high quality legal duties. Valid driver's license required with valid Florida driver's license required within 30 days of hire. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three (3) or more recent and consecutive years of law office experience performing high quality legal duties.
• Valid driver's license required with valid Florida driver's license required within 30 days of hire.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Other Qualifications

• Associate’s degree with legal course work is highly desired. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Able to prioritize tasks, deal effectively with competing and changing priorities, and meet deadlines. Accurate, detail-oriented, and organized. Able to analyze and resolve problems and situations. Good working knowledge and understanding of current state and federal court procedures and policies including virtual hearings and mediations. Good working knowledge and understanding of business English, spelling, and proper grammar. Strong verbal and written communication and general math skills required. Proficient in effectively using modern business and legal software including current Windows operating system, e-mail systems, electronic calendaring and scheduling, word processing programs, metadata screening software, and filing pleadings in either state or federal courts utilizing e-filing and other applications required to perform job duties. Good interpersonal skills in order to interact professionally and effectively with staff, management, the general public, and other stakeholders. Able to explain facts, policies, and practices. This position has been designated by the Board of County Commissioners as serving at the will and pleasure of the County Attorney. Employees so designated may be terminated at any time with or without cause.
• Associate’s degree with legal course work is highly desired.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Able to prioritize tasks, deal effectively with competing and changing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Accurate, detail-oriented, and organized.
• Able to analyze and resolve problems and situations.
• Good working knowledge and understanding of current state and federal court procedures and policies including virtual hearings and mediations.
• Good working knowledge and understanding of business English, spelling, and proper grammar.
• Strong verbal and written communication and general math skills required.
• Proficient in effectively using modern business and legal software including current Windows operating system, e-mail systems, electronic calendaring and scheduling, word processing programs, metadata screening software, and filing pleadings in either state or federal courts utilizing e-filing and other applications required to perform job duties.
• Good interpersonal skills in order to interact professionally and effectively with staff, management, the general public, and other stakeholders.
• Able to explain facts, policies, and practices.
• This position has been designated by the Board of County Commissioners as serving at the will and pleasure of the County Attorney. Employees so designated may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Benefits

• Full Time Positions Employee Assistance Program (EAP): ComPsych – offers all employees and their family members with emotional, financial, legal, and work/life balance support. LAMP counselors available for personal support including emotional, substance abuse, marital, and financial issues. Five (5) free visits annually for employees and covered family members. Wellbeing Benefits: Wellness/Health Coaches (5 Free per year) On-site Fitness Centers for you and your dependents with 24/7 access Personal Training (5 Free per year) Pharmacy Technician Group Fitness Classes Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Management Diabetes Care Program Registered Dietician (5 Free per year) Massages with licensed therapist (small copay) Miscellaneous Benefits: Workers’ Compensation Training/Seminars Premium Pay Differentials/Career Ladders Government employee discounts at many retailers and attractions Access to Manatee County Library Services (books, digital services, tools, museum passes). Paid Time Off: 12 Paid Holidays including New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Three (3) Personal Holidays Personal Sick Leave Family Sick Leave Sick Leave Bank (Donated Hours) Professional Medical Appointment Leave Bereavement Leave Military Leave Military Training Leave FMLA Vacation Award: Applies to employees regularly scheduled to work 8 hours per day/40 hours per week. Years of Service Vacation Days 0-5 16.25 days 6-10 19.50 days 11+ 22.75 days Eligible employees may earn an additional 2 days of vacation through participation in the Manatee Thrives program Insurance: Award-winning Health Plan with deductibles as low as $0. Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Prescription Insurance Life Insurance (6 times salary at low cost) Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance Retirement: Florida Retirement System (FRS) with Pension Plan and Investment Plan options. 457b Tax Deferred and ROTH account options through Voya. FRS Webinars Free financial guidance with licensed, non-commissioned financial planner Career Wellness: Professional Leadership Programs Instructor-Led and eLearning Training Premium Pay Differentials/Career Ladders Career Counseling Toastmasters Networking Membership (Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance) Employee Recognition Programs with monetary and time-off awards Education Benefits: Tuition Reimbursement eligible after six (6) months of Public Service, including GED reimbursement. Continuing Education support through Training/Seminars and Premium Pay Differentials/Career Ladder. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Flexible Spending Account: Options for Health Care and Dependent Care Spending Accounts providing pre-tax savings. Permanent Part Time - Benefits Employee Assistance Program (EAP): • ComPsych – offers all employees and their family members with emotional, financial, legal, and work/life balance support. • LAMP counselors available for personal support including emotional, substance abuse, marital, and financial issues. Miscellaneous Benefits: • Workers’ Compensation • Training/Seminars • Fitness Center Access for employee only • FRS options • Premium Pay Differentials/Career Ladders • Government employee discounts at many retailers and attractions • Access to Manatee County Library Services (books, digital services, tools, museum passes). Paid Time Off: • 12 Paid Holidays including New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. • Three (3) Personal Holidays • Paid Time Off and Leaves of Absence are based on an 8 hrs./day 80/hrs. per pay-period basis, any work schedule less that this will be earned on a pro-rated basis
• ComPsych – offers all employees and their family members with emotional, financial, legal, and work/life balance support.
• LAMP counselors available for personal support including emotional, substance abuse, marital, and financial issues.
• Five (5) free visits annually for employees and covered family members.
• Wellness/Health Coaches (5 Free per year)
• On-site Fitness Centers for you and your dependents with 24/7 access
• Personal Training (5 Free per year)
• Pharmacy Technician
• Group Fitness Classes
• Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy Management
• Diabetes Care Program
• Registered Dietician (5 Free per year)
• Massages with licensed therapist (small copay)
• Workers’ Compensation
• Training/Seminars
• Premium Pay Differentials/Career Ladders
• Government employee discounts at many retailers and attractions
• Access to Manatee County Library Services (books, digital services, tools, museum passes).
• 12 Paid Holidays including New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Three (3) Personal Holidays
• Personal Sick Leave
• Family Sick Leave
• Sick Leave Bank (Donated Hours)
• Professional Medical Appointment Leave
• Bereavement Leave
• Military Leave
• Military Training Leave
• FMLA
• Eligible employees may earn an additional 2 days of vacation through participation in the Manatee Thrives program
• Award-winning Health Plan with deductibles as low as $0.
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Prescription Insurance
• Life Insurance (6 times salary at low cost)
• Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
• Florida Retirement System (FRS) with Pension Plan and Investment Plan options.
• 457b Tax Deferred and ROTH account options through Voya.
• FRS Webinars
• Free financial guidance with licensed, non-commissioned financial planner
• Professional Leadership Programs
• Instructor-Led and eLearning Training
• Career Counseling
• Toastmasters
• Networking Membership (Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance)
• Employee Recognition Programs with monetary and time-off awards
• Tuition Reimbursement eligible after six (6) months of Public Service, including GED reimbursement.
• Continuing Education support through Training/Seminars and Premium Pay Differentials/Career Ladder.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Options for Health Care and Dependent Care Spending Accounts providing pre-tax savings.

Supplemental Questions