* Contract to Hire Position

Primary Function

Under the direction of the General Counsel, performs a variety of paraprofessional duties; assists in reviewing, researching, investigating, and handling legal and administrative matters; and provides direction to other office personnel. Performs other duties as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The incumbent performs legal support duties which do not require a license to practice law.  However, incumbent requires general knowledge of civil and governmental law, and extensive work in records and data management. The incumbent requires ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.

The incumbent will be required to coordinate and participate in meetings including Board members, management staff, other District employees, outside professionals, and members of the public.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The examples of essential functions listed below are representative but not necessarily exhaustive or descriptive and incumbent may be assigned other related functions not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment for the position.

• Prepares documents and other forms of media including pleadings, letters, memorandum, summaries, correspondence, charts, spreadsheets, and presentations. 
• Performs data organization and production, including identifying, redacting, copying, and indexing of documents and data, setting up and maintaining files.
• Searches and extracts legal materials and performs basic legal research using standard paper sources, and computer legal research methods and by culling relevant information from internal, external, public and private resources.
• Reviews and analyzes records for production and presentation; categorizes data by subject; prepares reports, chronologies, and charts; performs calculations and statistical analyses.   
• Arranges, prepares, and attends meetings; gathers data relevant to the meetings, organizes related materials; prepares notes and minutes.
• Assists with the preparation of legal and governmental records; collects relevant data, proofreads and edits materials, assembles exhibits, prepares indexes and tables.
• Prepares materials and binders and retrieve data.
• Acts as liaison for the general counsel to internal district departments, outside attorneys and consultants, outside agencies, and the public; oversees the progress of projects through internal departments, obtains records from other entities, and fulfills requests from outside counsel and others.
• Monitors activities of district outside counsel and consultants, including the review and analysis of communications, billings, and work product; monitors financial data and prepares budget materials and ensures expenses stay within budget.
• Monitors and coordinates general counsel’s office personnel activities; and ensures completion of legal tasks for general counsel’s office.

MARGINAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications (*Important)

To perform the 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 qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education Associate’s degree in paralegal or related degree.
• Four years of progressively responsible experience conducting legal research, preparing legal drafts an related documents in a law office setting, under the direction of an attorney.
• Progressively responsible directly related experience may be substituted for the required education at the ratio of two years of experience for one year of education in progressively responsible experience conducting legal research, preparing legal drafts and related documents in a law office setting, under the direction of an attorney.
• A valid driver’s license issued by the State of California, Department of Motor Vehicles is required.
• Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or Registered Paralegal (RP) desired. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge Legal terminology, forms and procedures; laws, rules and regulations related to water and power utility.
• Court systems and legal proceedings; financial and statistical record keeping techniques; oral and written communication skills
• Telephone techniques and etiquette; correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
• Personal computer operation and appropriate software and programs including Westlaw, Microsoft Word or Word Perfect, Excel, Outlook, Power Point. 
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy; and safe work practices.

Skills/Abilities

• Perform legal research duties in support of professional legal staff; prepare reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations; compose and prepare effective communication on routine matters independently.
• Establish priorities and work within legally mandated time frames; process and prepare legal documents and instruments; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Train and provide work direction to others; conduct research and compile information.
• Maintain financial and statistical records and prepare case files and reports.
• Transcribe notes and recordings; apply concepts of basic mathematics; work accurately and effectively with formulas using computerized spreadsheets and databases.
• Apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form; deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situation.
• Requires maintenance of a high degree of confidentiality concerning legal matters and legal documents; understand safety rules and regulations and work safely.
• Be prompt and regular in attendance; and work courteously and cooperatively with district and outside persons.
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from department managers, General Manager, District staff, Board of Directors, consultants, manufacturer’s representatives, public and/or private agency representatives, and the general public.

 Tools and Equipment Used            

General office equipment, computer, copy machine, fax, scanner, recorder, dicta-phone, telephone, calculator,  manual of operations, reference books and vehicle.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• The Legal Assistant oversees the activities of administrative support staff.

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 qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in a well-lighted office with climatic controlled temperatures; the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions, fumes and airborne particles.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk, hear and listen; sit; use hands and arms; use hands to finger, handle, grip or feel objects, tools, or controls; bend at the waist, kneel and stoop; the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk; reach forward, downward and upward with hands and arms.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

Degree of Physical Effort

• 2 An employee in this category will be exposed to physical demands requiring strength, coordinating and dexterity only on occasion.