Senior Legal Secretary

Performs varied and responsible confidential secretarial and legal administrative work of a complex and responsible nature. 

Specific Duties:
Reports to the Corporation Counsel or a staff attorney and is responsible for the following:

• Receiving general oral or written directions from staff attorneys.
• Working independently to prepare legal documents, including City contracts, deeds, easements, and licenses/permits for review and action by a staff attorney. 
• Planning and organizing work according to office and standard procedures.
• Performing initial research on matters and questions referred to office.
• Coordinating compilation of documents, papers and materials for use by staff attorneys
• Independently composing routine correspondence.
• Operating and maintaining word, data processing, file management and case management programs.
• Maintaining contact with other legal offices, court personnel, other City departments, elected officials and the public.  
• Preparing returns of record in appeals from various land use agencies.  
• Typing appearances, briefs, motions, agreements, stipulations, leases, affidavits, judgment files, releases, pretrial memorandums, opinions, contracts, deeds and correspondence.  
• In pending municipal lawsuits: preparing pleadings and other filings, standard discovery requests and compliance with discovery requests, as well as managing calendaring for court events and deadlines. 
• Developing and maintaining confidential cross-indexed files and records.  
• Independently performing special assignments, studies and reports as assigned. 

Note:  The above is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities.  It is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task or responsibility.

• Thorough knowledge of law office practices and procedures.  
• Knowledge of local and state governmental agencies and their functions. 
• Ability to relate to City employees, attorneys and members of the public in a positive manner.
• Experience operating data, word processing, file management, and data management programs.
• Working knowledge of policies and procedures, including legal forms, time limits, etc…, of Connecticut State and Federal Courts.
• Litigation experience with preparation of pleadings and other filings, standard discovery requests and compliance with discovery requests, as well as management of calendaring for court events and deadlines. 

An Associate’s degree in Secretarial Science with coursework in the legal field or a paralegal certificate from an accredited college or university, and three years of experience performing both paralegal and legal secretarial work in a law office or other municipal law department or state agency legal department such as the Attorney General’s Office.  Relevant work experience may be substituted for college training on a year-for-year basis.  License or Certificate: Not applicable.

This position is a Grade 15.