Legal Assistant



Job Details

Legal Assistant

This listing closes on 6/26/2025 at 10:00 AM Arizona.

Employer

City of Yuma

Salary

$23.33 - $30.33 Hourly

Location

City of Yuma, AZ

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

2025-00117

Department

City Attorney

Division

City Attorney-10

Opening Date

06/13/2025

Closing Date

6/26/2025 at 10:00 AM Arizona

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Summary

**This position is open until filled, with a 1st review date of June 23, 2025**


Are you looking to join a team that values Professionalism, Accountability, Integrity, and Responsiveness?   Do you want to be a part of a strong team dedicated to serving our community, building relationships, and creating opportunities?  Then this might be the opportunity for you!


We are looking for someone to join Team Yuma as a Legal Assistant, working with the City Attorney Department.  The ideal candidate will have knowledge in legal administration, financial recordkeeping experience and the ability to problem solve, multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively, while providing excellent customer service.   


Under basic supervision, this job classification provides technical and administrative assistance to support the activities of attorneys and Risk Management in the City Attorney's Office; uses independent judgment based on technical knowledge to conduct research, prepare legal documents, and manage case files.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: -- Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required.  The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Serves as Legal Assistant to attorneys and Risk Management; works independently and makes appropriate decisions based on knowledge of City policies and legal standards; performs duties within scope of authority; duties may vary according to job assignment.
  • Performs financial recordkeeping functions; processes special billings; maintains and reconciles accountings for claims and litigation costs, financial account records, and journal entries; works with insurance carriers and maintains insurance claims audit reports and accounting audit reports.
  • Applies independent judgment based on knowledge of City and City Attorney's Office policies and procedures, gained through work experience and technical training; may provide case management functions for prosecution, litigation and/or Risk Management; prepares, tracks, and follows up on legal documents; maintains and updates case files.
  • Prepares and processes legal and technical documents; prepares legal papers for court filings, and processes legal documents according to court procedures and attorney instructions.
  • Creates and manages case files; composes and creates memoranda and legal documents; researches files and computer databases; updates files, computer records and tracking systems; checks on-line databases, and collects and distributes related information.
  • Evaluates case files and researches missing and incomplete information and documents; reviews case files and status with attorneys and/or Risk Management, and prepares activity and status reports.
  • Prepares and processes legal and technical documents for City Council actions, including contracts, leases, resolutions and ordinances; may assist with legislative tracking and lobbying functions.
  • Provides standard administrative and secretarial support, including transcription and scheduling.
  • Supports the relationship between the City and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, visitors, and City staff; promotes the City goals and priorities, vision, values and the “Yuma Way”, and complies with all City policies and procedures.
  • Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues and City information; performs other duties as required or assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines

High School Diploma or GED equivalent; AND three years of experience in a legal practice; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Must be able to type 50 wpm proficiently.

Knowledge of:

  • City organization, operations, policies and procedures.
  • Applicable state and Federal rules and regulations, including rules of evidence.
  • Principles and protocols for the management of official documents and court records.
  • Legal system and law enforcement agency procedures and terminology.
  • Legal research methods, techniques, sources, and databases.
  • Legal case management procedures, ethics and techniques.
  • Principles of record keeping, case files and records management.

Skill in:

  • Coordinating and performing a variety of skilled legal administrative functions.
  • Providing legal administrative support to public sector attorneys.
  • Drafting, preparing, filing, and distributing various types of legal documents.
  • Working independently, and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands.
  • Dealing tactfully and courteously with the general public and others seeking information about department functions and activities.
  • Operating a personal computer utilizing specialized software, and entering information into a computer system with speed and accuracy.
  • Verbal and written communication, and exercising judgment and discretion in decision making.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

A valid Arizona State Driver's License is required. Certification as a Legal Assistant or Paralegal from an organization approved by the American Bar Association and the State of Arizona is preferred.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a standard office environment. May occasionally be required to bend, reach, stoop, and lift objects.

The City of Yuma offers the following benefits to Full-time City employees:

*ARIZONA STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM (ASRS) - City employees are automatically enrolled in the Arizona State Retirement System. Employees contribute 11.86%  (pre-tax) and the City contributes 11.86%  of employee gross wages through automatic deduction. Should an employee terminate City employment, the ASRS funds may be withdrawn or remain until retirement.  Contributions to the ASRS are in addition to FICA (Social Security taxes).

*LONG TERM DISABILITY (LTD) - Included through the Arizona State Retirement System. Employees contribute .14% and the City contributes .14% of employee gross wages. LTD contributions are in addition to FICA (Social Security taxes).

*SHORT TERM DISABILITY- The City provides short-term disability coverage at no cost to the employee. Short-term disability replaces part of your income if you can’t work for a short time due to a covered disability.

*SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE - Employees pay a contribution into the Social Security & Medicare System.

*WORKER'S COMP. - Insurance coverage for medical expenses and loss of income due to an on-the-job injury is provided by the City of Yuma for all employees.
 
*UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - Employees are covered by Unemployment Insurance.

*MEDICAL, DENTAL, and VISION INSURANCE - The City of Yuma is proud to provide medical, dental and vision insurance for its employees which is administered by the Yuma Area Benefit Consortium.  Employees may choose from two traditional PPO plans or a High-Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account. Dependent premiums are paid one month in advance and are pre-taxed (unless waived).  Additional information regarding medical, dental and vision benefits may be requested from the City's Human Resources Department.
 
*LIFE INSURANCE - The City provides a life insurance policy for employees in an amount that is equal to your annual salary. An Accidental Death and Dismemberment rider is also included for an equal amount. Employees may elect, at their cost, additional life insurance for up to 5X their annual salary. Various voluntary insurance policies are available at your cost and may be set up as an automatic payroll deduction. Information is available from the City's Human Resources Department.

*FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT - The plan establishes a reimbursement account, which is designed to provide you with a means of paying for certain medical, dental, vision, and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. The amount you designate is subtracted from your earnings before taxes and is deposited in your flexible spending account. As a new employee you have 30 days from your hire date to enroll.

*EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - Provides free counseling sessions for employees and family members, as well as a 24-hour crisis line for emergencies.

*COMPENSATORY LEAVE (COMP. TIME) - Paid leave that an employee has elected to accrue in lieu of overtime payment.

*GENERAL LEAVE - This leave is available for all regular full-time and regular part-time employees and is paid leave for an employee's personal time off. General Leave can be used 90 days after your hire date. General Leave accrual varies by the employee's years of service, with increases at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of service. New employees accrue 6.14 hours per pay day or 153.5 hours annually.

*SICK LEAVE -  Employees are eligible to utilize paid sick leave immediately following 90 calendar days from their date of hire. July 1 of each year, employees will have 40 hours of sick leave added to their sick leave bank. New employees will have 40 hours of sick leave added to their sick leave bank on their date of hire.

*PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
The City provides up to 4 weeks of paid parental leave to employees following the birth of an employee’s child or the placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption or foster care.

*HOLIDAYS - The City recognizes 12 holidays per year. Holiday pay is at eight hours per holiday.

  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
  • President's Day (third Monday in February)
  • Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
  • Juneteenth
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day (First Monday in September)
  • Veterans Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Day After Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day
  • Additional Day in conjunction with Christmas

*DEFERRED COMPENSATION - Employees may participate in a tax-sheltered Annuity Plan (457 Plan) through payroll deduction to provide additional retirement income.
 
*TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
The City provides eligible employees tuition reimbursement for undergraduate and graduate level courses. Eligible full-time employees may receive up to a maximum of $2,500 per calendar year.

*SMOKE-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT - The City prohibits smoking in, and within a reasonable distance of, all buildings used by the City for the conduct of City business or buildings or facilities used or occupied as workspace by City employees. This includes City owned and operated vehicles. This policy applies to all City employees, volunteers, citizens, and other persons entering or using City owned or operated facilities and/or vehicles.

01
By marking "Yes", I understand that my answers to the supplemental questions must be verifiable in the education and/or work experience section of my job application.
  • Yes
  • No
02
What is your highest level of education?
  • Master's Degree or higher
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Associate's Degree
  • High school diploma or GED
  • None of the above
03
Do you have three (3) years of experience in a legal practice? (Must be verifiable in the work experience section of the application)
  • I have over 5 or more years experience.
  • I have 3 to 5 years experience.
  • I have some but less than 3 years experience.
  • I do not possess the required experience.
04
What type of legal practice experience do you possess? (Please mark all that apply)
  • Insurance Company
  • Private Law Firm
  • Public Sector
  • Other
  • None of the above
05
Give a brief explanation of your legal practice experience as marked in Question # 5. if you marked "None of the above", please enter N/A.
06
Do you have financial recordkeeping experience? (This experience is not required, but preferred)
  • I have 5 or more years experience.
  • I have 3 to 5 years experience
  • I have 1 to 3 years experience
  • I have less than one year of experience
  • I do not posses the preferred financial recordkeeping experience.
07
Do you possess a certification as a Legal Assistant or Paralegal from an organization approved by the American Bar Association and the State of Arizona? (State of Arizona certification is not required, but preferred)
  • Yes
  • No
08
A valid Driver's License is required at the time of application. Do you possess a valid Driver's License? An Arizona Driver's License will be required, if hired.
  • Yes, I possess a valid Arizona State Driver's License.
  • Yes, I possess a valid Driver's License from a state other than Arizona AND I agree to obtain a valid Arizona Driver's License as required.
  • No, I do not have a valid Driver's License.
09
This position requires a minimum typing speed of 50 words per minute (wpm). Are you able to meet or exceed this requirement?
  • Yes
  • No

* Required Question

Employer
City of Yuma
Address
One City Plaza

Yuma, Arizona, 85364-1436
Phone
(928) 373-5125

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