Legal Assistant, Constitutional and Complex Litigation / Torts Section | Civil Division

Position Description

With More Than 200 Attorneys And Professional Staff, The Seattle City Attorney’s Office Is One Of The Largest Law Offices In Seattle And Is The Third Largest Public Law Office In The State. Our Office Is Committed To Making Seattle a Safe, Healthy, Empowered, And Thriving Community For Everyone. The City Attorney’s Office Has Vacancies For Skilled Legal Assistants In Two Sections

The Constitutional and Complex Litigation Section (“CCL”) of the Seattle City Attorney's Office (CAO) and the Torts Section are looking for experienced legal assistants to join their teams. The CCL position will provide administrative support to litigation attorneys who represent the City in both State and Federal courts and advise City departments in matters relating to federal response, police action, affirmative litigation, public records, and a variety of other subjects. The Torts position will provide administrative support to litigation attorneys who represent the City in State and Federal court and advise City departments on matters related to personal injury, property damage, nuisance, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a variety of other subjects.

Legal assistants are part of a dynamic team of problem solvers. The pace of work is generally deadline driven. The groups take a collaborative, team-oriented approach and seek to build effective and lasting relationships with City departments and their leadership. Legal assistants are critical of this professional philosophy and are valued members of our enthusiastic and experienced team. Legal assistants in the section are asked to think creatively and strategically.

Legal assistants apply their knowledge of legal terminology, legal and regulatory procedures, proper document formatting, electronic filing systems, and general office practices in their daily work. That work requires them to be highly skilled with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook, and Excel. The City Attorney’s Office heavily relies on electronic storage and filing. Legal assistants serve a critical role in these processes.

The CAO offers a generous benefits program that includes health benefits, life insurance, paid leave, paid parental and family leave, and the opportunity to participate in a defined-benefit retirement program.

Job Responsibilities

Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Preparation of court documents for service and filing
• Tracking and updating the status of court cases nationwide related to various issues of material interest to the section (CCL only)
• Word processing, including proofreading and editing
• Managing litigation and client advice files, including electronic files
• Using a variety of applications for litigation support
• Assisting with attorney calendars
• Coordinating and arranging meetings
• Learning and using new databases and software as needed
• Tracking case assignments and deadlines

The City Attorney's Office's use of electronic storage and filing is increasing. Legal assistants serve a crucial role in enabling this process and supporting attorneys and paralegals. The City Attorney's Office is committed to integrating the City of Seattle's Race and Social Justice Initiative into both the work provided to clients as well as within the organization. The person hired to fill this role will need to be an active participant in these efforts.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Requires two years of post-secondary coursework in legal secretarial or business skills and one year of litigation support work demonstrating familiarity with legal forms, terminology, and documents (or a combination of education, training, and/or experience which provides evidence of the ability to perform the work of the class).

Desired Qualifications

The successful candidate will have demonstrated the ability to perform litigation support, including: effectively

• Working on multiple projects simultaneously
• Providing timely products with great attention to detail
• Working collaboratively with other team members
• Representing CAO professionally and ethically at all times
• Professionally interacting with both employees and outside contacts
• Working independently, with excellent judgment and initiative
• Using a variety of software packages for litigation support, calendaring, and email-archiving
• Maintaining a records database

The successful candidate will also have comprehensive knowledge of legal terminology, legal procedure, court calendaring practices, court e-filing programs, and court rules, as well as expertise in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and other applications.

Additional Information

Application Process – For your application to be accepted, you must:

• Complete the online City of Seattle Application
• https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle
• Include the following required attachments (.pdf, .doc, or .docx format):
• Cover Letter describing your interest in the position.
• Resume detailing your relevant…