Senior Legal Assistant (0345)

Clearly Rewarded. 

 Work for Our Water Resources.

Explore your potential and commit to a cause that matters for today and generations to come. Be part of a customer service focused team that is committed to preserve one of our most vital resources. Build a career that can become your life’s work with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District).

Join our Office of General Counsel

Here is your opportunity to support our General Counsel Office as a Senior Legal Assistant. The Legal Assistant is expected to support up to 6 attorneys who work primarily in the areas of administrative law, civil litigation, and contracts. The Legal Assistant may also be expected to provide support to the General Counsel in all areas within the OGC’s practice, including general administrative tasks, preparation of legal materials, calendaring, and coordinating important activities while assuring noticing of those events.

Due to the nature of the work, the Legal Assistant must have experience working with multiple people with multiple priorities. The successful candidate will have an intense focus towards organization and detail. Legal experience is preferred. Candidate should have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Samples of written material may be requested for any interview. A professional and polite attitude will also be required as the OGC works internally within the District as well as many outside organizations.

If you are confident in your skills, appreciate the feeling that comes from doing a good job, and wish to work in an environment that promotes professional development, this may be the opportunity for you.

The District supports a flexible work environment and remote work schedules so that employees can enjoy their time outside of the District.

For helping to maintain our valuable water resources, we offer:

Florida retirement system/retirement benefitsDeferred compensationWork-life balance9 paid holidaysGenerous vacation and sick leaveMedical, dental and vision insuranceBasic and voluntary life and AD&D insuranceLong-term disabilitySupplemental insuranceHealth savings & flexible spending accounts

Prescription drug coverage & mail order programEmployee assistance program Legal and identity theft protectionWellness programPublic service loan forgiveness qualified employerTuition reimbursementState adoption benefit program qualified employerTraining and development resourcesInnovative projectsAdvanced technologies

Compensation:
Legal Assistant 4: $33,675.20 – $37,632.40
Legal Assistant 5: $38,188.80 – $42,681.60
Legal Assistant 6: $40,705.60 – $45,470.20

The starting salary ranges are included for the Administrative Support Specialist profile which reflects the minimum to 25% of the respective pay grades. The starting salary will be based on the education and experience of the successful candidate. The District conducts annual performance evaluations that may award applicable pay increases based on positive employee performance.

Essential Functions

• Answer phones, transferring calls, and taking messages for appropriate staff.
• Process financial and procurement documents (e.g., receivers, purchase requisitions, contracts, purchase orders, receivers and payment requests).
• Schedule meetings, training, etc. using Outlook calendar.
• Review court orders, administrative orders, and other legal documents for deadlines.
• Notice through the proper protocol all necessary events and meetings.
• Book local and overnight travel for staff.
• Data entry and record keeping including scanning, copying, compiling hard copies, and electronic files.
• Prepare and compile files for responses to request for information.
• Compilation of material for notebooks for legal proceedings.
• Scan and shred documents; prepare final files for records retention.
• Coordinate printing requests, as needed.
• Order office supplies; handle all mailing, including mail distribution.
• Other administrative task and duties, as assigned.
• Complete initial drafts or templates of legal documents, including some discovery requests, basic motions, notices, letters, and other documents as needed.
• Communicate with court personnel regarding pending litigation.
• Conduct basic legal research for rules of civil procedure, court procedures and other basic legal research.
• Develop contract templates from attorney provided source documents.
• Formatting documents in Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
• Proofread attorney drafted documents.

Working Conditions

Work activity is primarily sedentary with ability to perform continuous repetitive tasks (to include keyboarding) with one or both hands. This position requires the ability to continuously lift and carry objects up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and carry up to 20 pounds, and occasionally lift and carry up to 70 pounds. Must be able to frequently bend and reach above shoulder level; with the occasional need to squat, crawl or climb. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Employee may be subject to call-in outside of regularly scheduled work hours, or required to be on call, including on nights, weekends or holidays, to respond to emergency management activities or other incidents requiring rapid response in support of District operations.

Required Credentials for Legal Assistant Opportunities

Legal Assistant 4

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Four (4) years administrative or legal assistant related work experience 
• Detail oriented with the ability to work under pressure of deadlines
• Filing experience including hard copy & electronic files
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Word, & Outlook
• Valid driver’s license

Legal Assistant 5

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Seven (7) years administrative or legal assistant related work experience 
• Detail oriented with the ability to work under pressure of deadlines
• Filing experience including hard copy & electronic files
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Word, & Outlook
• Valid driver’s license

Legal Assistant 6

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Eight (8) years administrative or legal assistant related work experience 
• Detail oriented with the ability to work under pressure of deadlines
• Filing experience including hard copy & electronic files
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Word, & Outlook
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Credentials for Legal Assistant Opportunities

• Experience using Advantage Financial Software
• Previous work experience as a legal assistant in a legal office
• Experience with Adobe Pro
• Experience in a law firm or legal office
• Experience with SharePoint and OneDrive

Application Process

The District will determine eligibility for employment solely from the information provided on a District employment application. All applicants are required to complete, in full, a District employment application. Any application that is not complete will not receive consideration for the position. A resume will not be considered as a substitute for the information requested on the application for purposes of qualification.

Additional Details

This position is typically scheduled to work 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, out of the Tampa, FL office, however some remote work may be available. This position is eligible for overtime for hours worked over 40 hours, in a week. 

Travel Required

Yes. Limited travel, using District pool vehicle, within District’s coverage area

            Accepting applications until January 21, 2022 at 4:00 PM

 About Us

Managing the water resources for west-central Florida, our district includes approximately 10,000 square miles of territory spanning 16 counties and serving more than 5 million residents. Established in 1961 as a flood-protection agency, our objective is to meet the needs of current and future water users, protect and preserve our water resources, manage the water supply, protect water quality, and preserve water-related functions. 

Apply Now

The District prides itself on providing a positive work flexible environment that engages and supports our employees. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime. Click on the link to apply and put yourself to work for our water resources.

#WorkForOurWater

Equal Employment Opportunity/Veterans Preference/Drug-Free Workplace/Tobacco Free Campuses.

All applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment in employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, marital status, familial status, or medical condition. All recruitment, hiring, placements, transfers and promotions will be on the basis of individual skills, knowledge and abilities, and the feasibility of any necessary job accommodation(s).

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in regard to job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the District to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476 (FL only), ext. 4747; or email [email protected]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice). In the event of a complaint, please follow the grievance procedure located at WaterMatters.org/ADA.

The District participates in E-Verify employment eligibility verification. We will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

The District will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

For details and to apply visit: https://recruiting.ultipro.com/SOU1043SWF/JobBoard/cd4cc6be-5e48-4f5e-b258-70fc16d0d484/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=8f496eb9-d95e-4f16-b649-ce1cbc68ee3e