Location
Kirkland, WA | United States
Job description
Salary
$77,841.09 - $101,564.94 Annually
Location
Kirkland, WA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
202100388
Location
City Attorney's Office
Opening Date
02/08/2024
Closing Date
Continuous
FLSA
Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit
MAC
Job Summary
Note: This role is classified as Temporary, however the position could possibly convert to Ongoing (permanent.) This will be dependent upon departmental funding/budget and organizational needs.
Why Work for Kirkland?
Ranked as one of the most livable cities in America, Kirkland is an attractive and inviting place to live, work, and visit. We have big city vision while maintaining a small-town, community feel. If you are a candidate with the desire to join an organization looking to innovate into the future, the City of Kirkland is the place for you!
If you ask our employees why they love where they work, they'll tell you about the great people, work environment, supportive management and City Council, and fearless innovation.
We also invest in you!
Competitive Wages:
We strive to maintain competitive compensation packages and work to provide wages that meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities of our employees.
Awesome Benefits:
The City offers benefits that are unmatched by most other employers. Please click on the benefits tab above to view more details.
Childcare Programs:
To help address the challenge of finding reliable childcare, the City of Kirkland has reserved spots for City employees at local and regional service providers, available at a discount. New employees gain access to Kirkland's reserved spots as soon as they start employment. !
Training and Career Development: The City of Kirkland believes in developing its employees. You will have access to training opportunities designed for career development and advancement based on your position, skills, and interests.
Job Summary
The role of the Paralegal is to provide, coordinate, and manage a wide variety of confidential paralegal, administrative, and office systems support activities for the City Attorney's Office. Under the direction of attorneys, the Paralegal performs legal research to interpret, apply, and explain laws and policies and provides other legal services as assigned, including investigating facts and preparing legal documents.
Essential Functions
: Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: - Performs legal, legislative, policy, factual, and records research and analysis as assigned by the City Attorney.
- Reviews and/or drafts contracts as assigned, either substantive review and or initial reviews for legal adequacy (e.g. standard forms, certificates of insurance, performance bonds, and prevailing wage attestations) and routing to attorneys for final reviews.
- Supports the City's real property acquisitions or sales, including obtaining and reviewing title reports and coordinating title and escrow for real property closings. Reviews documents for recording for accuracy.
- Composes, prepares, and/or formats letters, memos, opinions, and other correspondence as required by the City Attorney and staff.
- Drafts, prepares, and/or formats pleadings, agreements, legal notices, resolutions, ordinances, publication summaries, municipal code provisions, and other legal documents. Prepares draft annotated agendas for all City Council meetings.
- Coordinates with staff for the timely completion of document processing needs of the City Attorney's Office, ensuring that all correspondence and legal documents are accurate, properly formatted, completed, and filed within strict deadlines. Work closely with staff to facilitate teamwork and assure CAO work is completed on time and with the highest quality.
- Provides liaison between the office and other City departments, courts, hearing bodies, and the public. Liaises with Human Resources and the City's insurance pool related to claims against the City. Represents the CAO at meetings, as directed. Supports the City's public records processes.
- Maintains case files, attorney calendars, tracks civil cases, and applicable deadlines. Maintains up-to-date Litigation Summaries for City Attorney.
- Performs administrative and office functions, including supporting CAO's technology systems use, maintaining legal resources, and preparing graphic aids, tables, slides, and other audio/visual devices for the CAO.
- Performs the reception function for the City Attorney's Office for email, telephone, and in-person inquiries, including complaints and concerns from community members, in a courteous, professional, and diplomatic manner. Independently answers routine inquiries, including from the general public and staff regarding the CAO and the City's processes and procedures, and refers other inquiries to appropriate staff.
- Prepares, sorts, distributes, and collects incoming/outgoing mail. Coordinates legal messenger services for the City and manages attorney professional memberships, travel arrangements, and conference and continuing legal education requirements.
- Acts as Department Budget Coordinator, as assigned, including distributing and coordinating annual budget materials and acting as CAO liaison for submittal of all budget materials.
- Serve as department timekeeper as assigned, responsible for maintaining attendance and payroll records on all City Attorney's Office employees, including preparing accurate semi-monthly payroll.
- As assigned, responsible for Department purchases, appropriate recordkeeping, and timely vendor payments assuring proper budgetary coding and approvals.
- Maintains confidentiality about confidential matters handled by the City Attorney's Office.
- Responsible for supervising non-attorney support staff, as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Fosters a positive and supportive work environment; promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, contributing to an environment of respectful living and working in a multicultural society.
Peripheral Duties: - Performs notary services for the City and its departments.
- Performs functions as assigned in the City's emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of the principles, methods, materials, and practices of legal research is required.
- Understanding of federal, state, and local statutes and ordinances, the common law, and administrative rules and regulations.
- Ability to organize and prioritize workload to meet strict deadline requirements.
- Ability to communicate effectively and positively, both verbally and in writing, with staff, third parties, and the general public.
- Ability to exercise a high degree of discretion when dealing with confidential and privileged information.
- Advanced typing skills and advanced proficiency including word processing software.
- Must apply a high degree of detail-orientation when reviewing legal documents for accuracy, tracking civil cases and their respective deadlines, and coordinating attorneys' calendars.
- Ability to supervise and delegate work to non-attorney City staff.
- Working knowledge of law library and online legal research maintenance functions, court system function and operations, and legal terminology.
- General knowledge of bookkeeping theories and principles.
- Ability to operate multiline telephone system and computer equipment.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Education: Associate degree or equivalent years of college-level coursework in paralegal studies or related fields.
- Experience: Three or more years of professional related experience, preferably in a legal office environment.
- In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience that would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to proficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.
Licenses and Other Requirements: - Paralegal certification preferred.
- Notary Public License or ability to obtain within six (6) months of employment.
Other
Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:
Work is performed in a typical office environment but with increasing options and opportunities for remote interactions. Must be able to sit at a desk or work remotely off-site for significant periods of time while performing keyboard operations and supporting other computer and communication tools. Works involves walking, talking, hearing. May be required to work periods of overtime depending upon attorney litigation schedules or other deadlines. The employees must have the ability to occasionally push, pull, lift, and/or carry items weighing up to 35 pounds.
Selection Process Position requires a resume and cover letter (letter of interest) for consideration of application. Please note how you meet minimum qualifications within the cover letter. Applicants who are selected for next steps in the hiring process will be invited by phone or email. Job open until filled with a first review date by 15th day of initial post.
The City of Kirkland is a welcoming community where every person can thrive and grow. We value diversity, inclusion, belonging, and work together to support our community. We do this by solving problems, focusing on the customer, and respecting all people who come into the City whether to visit, live, or work. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to creating a workforce that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. We encourage qualified applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply to our job postings. Persons with a disability who need reasonable accommodations in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 425-587-3210 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf 425-587-3111.
Job tags
Salary
