Legal Office Administrator/Senior Paralegal

The District is currently seeking candidates for the position of Legal Office Administrator/Senior Paralegal. Under general direction, this position, performs highly specialized, complex, sensitive, and confidential substantive paralegal work in support of the General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer (General Counsel/CLO), including legal research and analysis, case and litigation support, fact-finding, discovery, and preparation and review of legal documents including, but not limited to, contracts and contract documents, and supporting materials. Provides direct, confidential administrative support to the General Counsel/CLO; provides direct supervision to assigned legal support staff; and coordinates the day-to-day administrative support operations of the Office of the General Counsel, including workflow, attorney support assignments, calendaring, records and document management, administrative support systems, and related office functions.

This is a working supervisory classification primarily responsible for performing substantive paralegal work while also providing direct administrative support to the General Counsel/CLO and direct supervision and coordination of legal administrative support functions. Incumbents provide legal support across a broad range of matters, including contracts, labor and employment, regulatory compliance, litigation, real estate, and risk management, and regularly provide confidential support involving labor relations, collective bargaining, grievances, disciplinary actions, personnel matters, litigation strategy, and other matters affecting the District's legal and employer-employee relations interests. This is an unrepresented, at-will classification.

This is an excellent opportunity to work for the largest bus agency in California, make a difference in our local community, and promote AC Transit as a great employer of the East Bay. In addition to working with some of the best in the business, AC Transit also has an excellent benefits package that includes pension, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending, and 457 savings plan.

Paralegal Functions

• Provides substantive legal support for contracts, labor and employment, regulatory compliance, litigation, real estate, risk management, and other legal matters, including reviewing, organizing, analyzing, and preparing legal documents and supporting materials for attorney review.
• Conducts complex legal research and gathers evidence, records, reports, and other information from a variety of sources; researches statutes, regulations, case law, court decisions, and other legal authorities relevant to assigned matters.
• Assists the General Counsel/CLO with highly sensitive and complex legal matters through all phases of case preparation, litigation, hearings, trials, administrative proceedings, and other legal matters.
• Prepares complex correspondence, reports, memoranda, pleadings, discovery, agreements, contracts, and other legal documents; coordinates filings with courts and administrative bodies and ensures compliance with applicable requirements and deadlines.
• Reviews and analyzes records, evidence, claims, discovery, case facts, contracts, and other documentation to identify relevant legal issues, inconsistencies, compliance concerns, and questions for attorney review.
• Provides litigation and case support, including drafting and managing pleadings and discovery; organizing and analyzing evidence and case materials; coordinating witnesses, exhibits, court reporters, court clerks, and outside counsel; and maintaining case-related documentation.
• Conducts and reviews client and witness interviews for fact-finding and litigation purposes; evaluates information for sufficiency and accuracy and identifies additional information or follow-up required.
• Coordinates the preparation and issuance of subpoenas; monitors witness compliance and assists with discovery and evidentiary processes.
• Attends court proceedings, hearings, and other legal proceedings as required and assists attorneys with the preparation and coordination of case materials, exhibits, court orders, and other proceeding-related documentation.
• Performs highly specialized and complex legal assignments requiring substantial independence and judgment; analyzes and synthesizes complex legal and factual information and prepares memoranda, summaries, reports, and other materials for attorney review.

Legal Administrative Support and Supervisory Functions

• Provides direct, confidential administrative support to the General Counsel/CLO, including managing the General Counsel/CLO’s calendar; coordinating and scheduling meetings, appointments, and related logistics; serving as a key point of contact for internal and external parties; facilitating and prioritizing requests, communications, and information requiring the General Counsel/CLO’s attention; preparing and coordinating meeting materials, correspondence, and documents; maintaining confidential files and records; and ensuring appropriate follow-up on pending matters.
• Provides direct supervision of assigned legal support staff, including selection, training, professional development, performance evaluation, and discipline; provides policy and procedural guidance and ensures adequate administrative support for attorneys.
• Plans, assigns, directs, and reviews the work of assigned staff; establishes priorities, reallocates assignments as necessary, and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures.
• Coordinates the day-to-day administrative support operations of the Office of the General Counsel, including assigning legal support staff to attorneys, monitoring workload and workflow, and overseeing calendaring, case tracking, legal records and document management, and administrative support systems.
• Assists in developing, reviewing, and implementing office procedures and administrative practices; identifies and recommends improvements to workflow, processes, and support systems.
• Oversees calendars and tracking systems for critical legal deadlines, including court appearances, filings, discovery responses, hearings, and other case-related dates.
• Oversees the maintenance of legal records, files, and document-tracking systems and ensures compliance with applicable confidentiality and records retention requirements.
• Assists in the development, administration, and monitoring of the Office of the General Counsel budget; tracks and analyzes expenditures, monitors budget activity and variances, and prepares budgetary reports and supporting documentation.
• Monitors changes in applicable laws, court rules, filing requirements, procedures, and other requirements affecting legal and administrative support activities and communicates relevant changes to assigned staff.
• Uses legal research databases, case management systems, document management systems, office productivity applications, and other technology in the performance of assigned responsibilities. 
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Education: An associate degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in paralegal studies, legal studies, or a related field; or a paralegal certificate from a recognized paralegal program.

Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible paralegal or legal support experience involving substantive legal research, analysis, case preparation, litigation support, contract review and/or drafting, or related technical legal work, including at least one (1) year of lead or supervisory experience. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

License & Certification(s): Possession of a recognized professional paralegal certification may substitute for one (1) year of the required experience.

Special Requirements: (1) Must be available to work outside regular business hours, as required by the demands of the job.

Physical Requirements: (1) Must maintain the physical condition necessary to perform tasks in an office setting, operating a personal computer, keyboards, and other peripheral equipment.  (2) Must possess the mobility necessary to transport oneself to other locations within the District, as required by the needs of the position.


The Selection Process: The Human Resources department must receive a completed online application by the filling date. If this recruitment is "Continuous," it may be closed at any time without notice. Applications will be screened for job related qualifications, and those candidates who best meeting the qualifications listed on this Job Announcement will be invited to participate in an examination process that may include written, oral and/or performance segments. Current District employees must have satisfactory attendance and performance records. Finalists will be placed on an Eligibility List. When filling vacancies, the Human Resources Department will refer the top candidates to the hiring department for final screening and recommendation.

Benefits: The transit professionals who call AC Transit home represent the rich cultural diversity of the Bay Area. For more than 60 years, we have been an equal opportunity employer honoring religion, ethnic background, national origin, gender, gender expression, genetic information, disabilities, age, and veteran status.  We are not only an inclusive employer but also offer a comprehensive benefits package rooted in choice, flexibility, and affordability. Most Benefits are effective the first of the month following your hire date. Employees and eligible dependents have access to the following benefits*:

• Medical - Choice of two Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs):  Kaiser Permanente and Health Net. $10.00 office visit co-pays; $5.00 - $35.00 prescription co-pays.
• Dental – MetLife Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) $50 annual deductible per person/$150 per family; $3,000 per person annual maximum; preventative care covered at 100%; basic and major care covered at 90%; $4,000 lifetime maximum orthodontia covered at 50%. 
• Vision - Vision Service Plan - $10.00 copay; eligible for an exam, lenses, frames or contact lenses every 12 months – based on the last date of service. $200 frame allowance or $120 allowance for contact lenses. 
• Employer paid Basic Life Insurance 
• Employee paid Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health Care, Dependent Care, Parking, Transit
• AC Transit contributes up to $50.00/month towards an employee’s FSA Transit costs
• Free AC Transit Bus Pass
• Federal Credit Union
• Vacation and Sick Leave or Personal Time Off
• Ten (10) paid holidays; 2 paid floating holidays; 1 paid birthday holiday
• Tuition Reimbursement – up to $2500 per fiscal year on approved courses
• Wellness Program

*AC Transit benefits are negotiated and subject to change based on collective bargaining agreements.

Pension: All AC Transit employees participate in a lifetime defined benefit pension. All employees hired on or after January 1, 2016, may be in the District's Tier II pension plan covered by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA).  As such, he/she may be required to contribute a small portion of annual income towards the cost of his/hers District pension.

ADA Compliant and Drug Free Workplace: The Human Resources Department will make reasonable efforts in the recruitment/examination process to accommodate applicants with disabilities. If you have a need for an accommodation, please call Human Resources at (510) 891-4783.

The Alameda Contra Costa Transit District has established the goal of a 100 percent drug and alcohol-free workplace. Applicants will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to employment and those in safety sensitive positions will be subject to further drug and alcohol testing through their period of employment, including random drug and alcohol testing. In accordance with federal requirements, all job applicants selected for appointments in a safety sensitive position are subject to pre-employment drug and alcohol testing.

A final job applicant will be tested for five prohibited drugs: Cocaine, PCP, Amphetamines, Marijuana and Opiates. During employment, employees holding safety sensitive positions are subject to random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing. Additionally, in the event of an absence of more than 90 days from a safety sensitive position, pre-employment drug testing will be performed.