Legal Assistant (Code Administration)

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from high school or equivalent, and two years of general office/clerical and/or customer service experience, or any equivalent combination of related training and experience. College course work will substitute for experience on a year for year basis. Applicants within six months of meeting the minimum education/experience requirement may be considered for trainee status. 
Must possess a valid notary public commission or be willing to obtain within 30 days of employment in this position. 
Successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.

Position Summary

This is responsible administrative support work involving the performance of a wide variety of legal and secretarial duties in the Code Administration Office.

An employee assigned to this classification is responsible for assisting the Code Administration Office in scheduling and preparing documents, correspondence and agendas for Special Magistrate hearings.

Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports and observation of results obtained.

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.
Exudes a positive customer service focus.
Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with core values including: integrity, honesty, respect, diversity, innovation, accountability and communication. 
Communicates with County attorneys, other County employees, outside agencies, and the public in general through electronic, in person and telephonic means regarding code cases and other matters.
Files office correspondence and records, utilizing established filing system; coordinates the proper distribution and disposition of notices, memoranda, directives, and related material.
Reviews and schedules Code Cases for Special Magistrate Hearings, prepares orders, documents, and agendas and maintains detailed files of the cases.
Serves as Clerk for the Special Magistrate hearings.

Maintains lien files and receives and processes payments for fines and liens.

Researches Florida Statutes, case law and county codes.

Coordinates with other County departments when appropriate to accomplish assigned tasks.
Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.
NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 
Considerable knowledge of general office procedures.
Considerable knowledge of vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Knowledge of business and legal terminology and the process for conducting a hearing.
Strong organizational skills.
Skill in the use of microcomputers, word processing and database programs and other software applications necessary for successful job performance.
Skill in dealing with the general public and County staff/employees.
Ability to learn, understand, and follow County and departmental policies and procedures.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and sensitive information.
Ability to understand and carry out moderately complex oral and written instructions.
Ability to make routine decisions in accordance with procedures, laws, and regulations and to apply these to work situations.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to provide excellent customer service.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with outside agencies and the public as well as supervisors and co-workers.
Ability to become a Notary Public.
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 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to be mobile.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.
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 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Supplemental Information

Desired but not required: Experience in a Code Enforcement Office and/or knowledge of the Code Enforcement process in Florida.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future.BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Computer Purchase Program

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of FirefightersPay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.

$43,180.80 Annually