Legal Assistant

Metropolitan Council•390 Robert St. N St. Paul, MN

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Assistant provides advanced administrative support with limited supervision to the attorneys in the Office of General Counsel and to the Data Practices Office to ensure administrative and statutory compliance. The Metropolitan Council is the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area, planning 30 years ahead and providing regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. The Office of General Counsel provides legal representation, guidance, analysis, and services to the Council, its Chair, members and committees, the Regional Administrator and staff; protects the legal rights of the Council and assists in achieving its objectives; helps develop and implement Council policies; and helps the Council fulfill its responsibilities within applicable legal, auditing, and jurisdictional authorities.

Requirements

High school diploma/GED with four years of experience
Associate degree or higher with two years of experience
Knowledge of Office of General Counsel and Data Practices Office programs, procedures, and operations.
Ability to perform under limited supervision recognizing when assistance or guidance is required to set priorities or redirect workload.
Ability to display independent judgment, initiative and organization in solving a variety of problems.
Ability to work independently with sensitive and confidential matters.
Ability to manage multiple files and projects with different schedules and priorities.
Strong attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Experience drafting and filing pleadings and working with court staff.
Experience with complex calendaring and scheduling meetings for large groups.
Notary Public Commission.
Experience working in a government organization.
Experience balancing work responsibilities and case files of multiple attorneys.
Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

Draft, file, and serve pleadings in compliance with applicable Minnesota Statutes, Minnesota Rules of Civil Procedure, Minnesota Rules of Practice, and Minnesota Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, or comparable federal rules, as appropriate.
Assist with administrative proceedings, such as unemployment hearings before DEED and matters before the Court of Administrative hearings, including preparing of exhibits, filing and serving documents, coordinating witnesses, and scheduling hearings.
Provide general administrative support to attorneys within the Office of General Counsel.
Maintain extensive knowledge of departmental procedures.
Create and organize legal files in the Council's computer systems.
Institute legal holds.
Review and answer correspondence.
Assist in preparation of budget needs and annual reports of the Office of General Counsel.
Schedule meetings involving numerous attendees, both internal and external, including working with other support staff to coordinate schedules.
Open and distribute mail, prepare check and purchase requisitions and maintain division files.
Order and maintain necessary office supplies.
Set up non-local travel arrangements for division staff and ensure that necessary documentation is completed for travel.
Communicate with internal personnel across divisions, outside counsel, opposing counsel, commissioners, opposing parties, mediators, court, and county personnel, and others in a professional and effective manner.
Manage DPO general communications as primary phone contact and by handling general communications in shared email boxes.
Communicate with data practices requesters for responses.
Coordinate the Council's nonpublic data inventory.
Facilitate updates to internal and external webpages.
Organize, coordinate, and update DPO shared folders and processes.
Provide general administrative support to staff within the DPO.
Other duties as assigned.