Legal Assistant, Office of General Counsel

Illinois Association of School Boards•Lombard, IL

2d•$40,000 - $50,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This position provides a wide range of administrative and office support activities for the Office of General Counsel (OGC) in the performance of its duties. The OGC's mission is to honestly, professionally, and credibly protect and preserve IASB through legal risk management and compliance services for the IASB Board of Directors and staff; promote best practices to IASB members; create educational products and services; and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with the public education community.

Requirements

Demonstrable high-level experience with Microsoft Word and Web-based word processing applications and Excel
Experience assisting lawyers and/or lobbyists, and performing legal research
Strong customer service background
Strong Internet research skills
Ability to use discretion and maintain strict confidentiality
Ability to manage multiple, often competing, projects without direct supervision
Strong interpersonal skills necessary to successfully work with numerous and varied individuals and groups, including IASB members, attorneys, and other staff
Strong communication skills, including excellent grammar - verbal and written
Attention to detail, high degree of accuracy, and excellent proof-reading skills
Professional demeanor
Ability to consistently exercise discretion and independent judgment, be selfdirected, be detail-oriented, master a high degree of accuracy, and have excellent proofreading skills
Computer skills and in-depth knowledge of relevant software:
Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Expert; MOS Master preferred with an emphasis on Microsoft Word and Excel.
For Microsoft Word processing, demonstration of the following skills is required: Understanding of Auto Text and macros in Microsoft Word documents to save time on repetitive tasks; understanding of Auto Text and macros preferred. Ability to review documents for accuracy and consistency in formatting, pagination, link management, and page references. Advanced level of proficiency preferred using Microsoft Word to produce complex legal and policy documents, which must include: Work with advanced styles, formatting, columns, tables, alignment, footers, headers, and other page layout features. Work with documents that require tables of contents, footnotes, endnotes, and cross references. Manage and track document changes with multiple users using highlights and comments. Knowledge of Visual Basic Editor
For Excel, the following skills are required: Filters and Data Manipulation, Flash Fill, Conditional Formatting, Advanced Charting, Macros/VBA, Sparklines, PivotTables
For web-based applications, the following skills are preferred: NetForum; Higher Logic; Zoom Enterprise; Avery; Google Sites; SharePoint Sites; SurveyMonkey; Kentico; CMS, Sage; Intacct; Westlaw/LexisNexis for legal research; and records retrieval
Advanced knowledge of Adobe Acrobat Pro
Strong time-management skills and ability to adapt to constantly changing circumstances
Enthusiasm for learning new skills
Knowledge of and ability to use office equipment, including postal, scanning, copying, and printing

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree and/or paralegal certification preferred
Understanding of Auto Text and macros preferred
Advanced level of proficiency preferred using Microsoft Word to produce complex legal and policy documents
For web-based applications, the following skills are preferred: NetForum; Higher Logic; Zoom Enterprise; Avery; Google Sites; SharePoint Sites; SurveyMonkey; Kentico; CMS, Sage; Intacct; Westlaw/LexisNexis for legal research; and records retrieval

Responsibilities

Provides high-level administrative support
Creates and maintains current, organized, and accurate written procedures and electronic and paper files relating to job tasks, duties, and areas of responsibility
Ensures all phone calls, emails, and other communications are handled in an efficient and courteous manner
Creates and maintains accurate databases and spreadsheets in Excel, as needed
Participates in appropriate professional development offerings as needed
Participates in cross-training with other policy services support staff and OGC administrative assistant(s) to provide backup
Attends periodic meetings both in and out of the office for continuous improvement and alignment of work throughout OGC and the Association
Practices reliable and consistent attendance and punctuality
Attends the Joint Annual Conference in Chicago annually and performs duties as assigned
Attends occasional meetings outside the office that may require overnight travel
Contributes to team effort and OGC mission/vision/goals work
Performs other duties as assigned
Provides high-level administrative and paralegal support
Assists in high-level, direct support of General Counsel
Conducts legal research independently as needed; this includes using Westlaw/LexisNexis to: Retrieve court decisions for the IASB website, recent court and agency decisions, find news articles, and general Internet research related to legal current events; Review and input Legal References and footnote citations in the IASB Policy Reference Manual (PRM) for PRESS Issues
Schedules meeting dates, reserves conference rooms and/or any other meeting places for the OGC, Illinois Council of School Attorneys, or Policy Services for departmental meetings and video conferences, along with arranging for any meals and providing meeting materials electronically
Monitors federal and state legislation and follows the promulgation process for federal and state administrative rules
Contacts state agencies for information and instructions
Maintains school law pages on www.iasb.com
Manages details for 9-12 legal panels for the Joint Annual Conference
Collaborates with other IASB departments to coordinate statewide and online training
Serves as back-up to the primary PS-OGC Legal Assistant.
Manage the operations of the timeline for PRESS Issue editing and creation by ensuring that general business processes for OGC are completed by Editors and Policy Directors for the timely delivery of PRESS to subscribers.
Exercises discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.
Utilizing Microsoft Word processing and web-based word processing applications, proofreads, edits, and performs legal research for PRESS, PRESS Online, and PRESS Plus
Designs, creates, and contributes to forms and exhibits in the IASB Policy Reference Manual (PRM) as assigned by PRESS Editors, requiring invention, imagination, and originality in materials
Maintains the IASB PRM base in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF versions
Prepares Microsoft Word documents for transfer to IASB’s contractor (currently MicroScribe) to upload into PRESS Online
Executes Word processing and updates of Policy Customizations and Administrative Procedures Manuals, as directed by the Asst. Director, Office of General Counsel and/or General Counsel
Assists with creation and maintenance of Policy Services shared files and a list of current tasks, duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Asst. Director, Office of General Counsel
Creates and maintains templates for new documents, memos, and online instructions
Coordinates processes with IASB’s contractor (currently MicroScribe), including updates and changes
Creates, provides, and edits requested reports
Creates job tickets and coordinates with the print shop and IASB’s contractor (currently MicroScribe)
Manages the creation and maintenance of written procedures for PRESS Issues and electronic and paper files
Updates and stocks office supplies for the Lombard office and third-floor space, as necessary
Provides administrative and paralegal support
Responds to questions from school attorneys about ICSA
Maintains active ICSA memberships, including coordination of concurrent memberships with the National School Attorneys Association (NSAA)
Maintains accurate records and prepares and maintains the ICSA directory
Provides extensive support for all stages of ICSA In-House Counsel Networking Meetings and the ICSA Annual Seminar, using creativity and originality in preparing materials and in maintaining the website
Secures ICSA’s status as an accredited Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) provider under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 795 and the Commission on Professionalism; this includes knowledge of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 795 and completing instruction provided by MCLE from time to time as the Supreme Court’s rules related to MCLE change
Assists and supports all ICSA Committees, including in the formatting development, and delivery of ICSA Publications and comments for submission to administrative agencies during rule promulgation.