LEGAL ASSISTANT 21521

1/01/88 E

This class provides paraprofessional legal support to agency and institutional lawyers and others involved in litigation. Performs a variety of analytical, coordinative, and administrative duties in assisting legal staff in investigations, research, and preparation and presentation of material for formal and informal administrative hearings and court cases. This class is distinguished from the office services series by duties and responsibilities related almost exclusively to legal and paralegal services.

Complexity of Work: Performs a variety of paraprofessional legal tasks of considerable difficulty in support of agency heads, administrative hearing officers, institutional counsel and Assistant Attorneys General. Duties require analysis, coordination and organization of a variety of elements. Work typically includes legal research, case tracking, setting dockets, drafting legal briefs, defining specific legal issues, and preparing legal services and related documents. Monitors compliance requirements on a case-by-case basis and reports any deviations. Drafts or performs research related to the development of policies and procedures in an agency or institution. Interviews and prepares witnesses for hearings or trials, manages a law library, assembles active files and checks for completeness for use at hearings or trials. Prepares exhibits or facsimiles of physical evidence. Performs duties in an administrative law agency, office of legal counsel for an agency or institution, or similar setting to pursue effective handling of litigation, administrative hearings, formal complaints and related legal or quasi-legal procedures and processes.

Supervision Given: Supervision is typically not a factor, but positions may supervise clerical personnel as needed. Positions may exercise delegated authority over legal interns with regard to deadlines, schedu1ing, and execution of their assignments.

Supervision Received: General direction is received from an agency head, attorney or chief hearings officer. Positions determine work priorities and carry out assignments with little supervision. Advice or guidance is sought in complex situations.

Scope: Employees in this class are responsible for activities which will positively or negatively affect individual citizens, functions of an agency or institution, or the work of other state employees.

Impact of Actions: Work has moderate impact on presentation and outcome of litigation which could cause a loss of public confidence in the employing agency or institution. Incomplete information and/or ineffective presentation of legal data can result in delays and cost to the agency or institution.

Personal Contacts: Daily contacts with sources outside of agency or institution either by telephone, in writing, or in face-to-face meetings. Contacts include attorneys, grievants, and court and compliance personnel for purposes of requesting, receiving and providing information.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS ANG ABILITIES n

Knowledge: Working knowledge of basic legal principles, processes and research methods, and knowledge of office procedures and practices.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to interview; to analyze and organize complex legal and technical issues, and to handle mu1tiple assignments; communicate effectively orally and in writing; and deal with general public, members of the legal community and agency representatives.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

Licenses or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Graduation from high school or equivalent, and paralegal course work or training preferred.

Level and Type of Experience: Experience in judicial and quasi-judicial systems, and in the application of legal principles.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class was established as Corrections Special Legal Assistant in October 1973, and established as generic class Legal Assistant in August 1979. Class specification was revised in November 1983 and again in January 1988 as a result of the Classification Review/Specification Update Program.