Paralegal/Legal Assistant

Salary : $54,236.17 - $71,862.92 Annually

Location : County of Culpeper, VA

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 00583

Department: County Attorney

Opening Date: 09/18/2025

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Job Summary

Responsible for performing a variety of clerical, administrative, and other duties to support the County Attorney's Office. To act as and be classified as a paralegal, with experience and skills appropriate to the position.

*Qualified applicants without experience specific to legal matters will be considered Legal Assistant.

Job Functions

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Assists County Attorney in preparing for meetings

Assists County Attorney in preparing and responding to legal actions

Drafts and reviews, legal and litigation documents for review by the county attorney; prepares packets, records notes and results of meetings/actions as necessary

Maintains the County Code, Assists County Attorney with approval of new/revised ordinances, posts changes to website, and coordinates printing of supplements, distributes changes as needed

Prepares and distributes Executive/Closed Session agenda packets for monthly Board of Supervisors and Committee meetings, enters information into appropriate system

Performs and compiles legal documentation and simple land record searches

Assists in the coordination and production of all Virginia Freedom of Information Act requests submitted to various County Departments; oversees timely response

Performs various day-to-day administrative tasks for the department a. Maintains docket and calendar controls

b. Serves as office receptionist, greets visitors, screens calls, and refers calls to appropriate staff

c. Performs accounts payable and procurement functions

d. Maintains departmental budget, submits yearly budget requests to Finance

e. Organizes and catalogs all department files, emails, etc. for easy access and retrieval

f. Schedules meetings, reserves meeting area, coordinates travel arrangements for the County Attorney, etc.

g. Serves as records manager for departmental files

h. Oversees the purchasing, payment and inventory of the County Attorney's library

i. Preserves and maintains confidentiality of legal transactions and matters

j. Responds to inquiries and requests for information from County Departments, outside agencies, and the general public and makes referrals as appropriate within the skill set of the employee

k. Maintains open, accessible and friendly customer service communication and interaction with all County Departments, outside agencies, and the public

l. Occasionally assists County Attorney in preparing and tracking legislation in the General Assembly

m. Assists the County Attorney with any reasonable tasks as requested

Prepares official public meeting notices, public hearing legal advertisements within appropriate timeframe in accordance with Virginia law subject tot he review of the county attorney NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Performs related duties as required Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Education and experience to perform legal assistant or paralegal duties; experience in an administrative position in a law office a plus

Special Qualifications:

Must possess satisfactory results of a criminal history background check. Must become Notary public within 6 months of employment. Have excellent organizational skills to perform duties with precision and accuracy.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of legal terminology, and ability to conduct routine legal research and drafting of routine legal documents

Knowledge of legal research tools (i.e., LexisNexis/Westlaw, Va. Code, Virginia Judicial System cases, Attorney General Opinions, etc.)

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Ability to maintain moderately complex legal records

Ability to use various office equipment and computer software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, case management system

Typing and computer skills

Ability to transcribe various notes and meeting minutes

Ability to maintain a high standard of accuracy when performing duties

Verbal and writing skills

Ability to interpret and perform instructions furnished in written or oral form

Ability to work independently

Plan and organize daily work, and establish priorities for the completion of work, and avoid duplication of effort

Accept supervisory and managerial instruction and direction

Ability to search for and retrieve information and files from court records

Working Conditions & Disclaimer

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This position classifies the physical exertion requirements as moderate. Work typically involves some combination of stooping, kneeling, and crouching and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds).

Must be able to climb and descend stairs daily. Must be able to operate office and computer equipment which may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard of workstation. Must be able to precisely communicate orally. Must be able to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of color.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Essential functions are regularly performed in an office setting.

Disclaimer

This above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications as required of employees assigned to this job.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Culpeper County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

General Sign-off: The employee is expected to adhere to all County policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.

The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications as required of employees assigned to this job.

Culpeper County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Culpeper County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

COUNTY OF CULPEPER BENEFITS

Full-time employees have access to a wide variety of benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, life insurance, optional life and disability insurance plans, flexible spending accounts, and a deferred compensation program.

RETIREMENT As a condition of full-time employment, each individual is enrolled in a retirement plan with the Virginia Retirement System that provides a monthly benefit to all retirees for life. VRS Plans 1 and 2 and the VRS Enhanced Hazardous Duty plans are defined benefit plans. The VRS Hybrid plan consists of both a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan.

All individuals are required to contribute 5% of their gross salary to their retirement account each month as a condition of employment.

LIFE INSURANCE The County of Culpeper provides a basic life insurance plan for all eligible employees. The coverage amount is an employee's annual salary, rounded up to the next highest thousand, then multiplied by 2. The County pays 100% of the cost of this benefit. Additional coverage may be purchased.

MEDICAL INSURANCE The County offers two (2) medical plans: an HMO & an HSA.

DENTAL INSURANCE The County offers three comprehensive dental plans for employees and their eligible dependents.

HOLIDAY/VACATION/SICK ACCRUALS The County follows the state calendar for paid holidays. Vacation and sick accrual depend on the agency, office, or department in which an individual is employed.

PAY FOR PERFORMANCE The County currently utilizes a merit pay system to determine employee salary increases. This does not apply to Culpeper Human Services.

SHORT TERM DISABILITY The County offers basic income protection in the event an employee is unable to perform the essential functions of his or her position. The County pays for this coverage for all VRS members.

LONG TERM DISABILITY The County also offers additional income protection that will continue beyond the short term disability period until an employee is able to return to work or reaches retirement age. This coverage is provided for a nominal cost to employees covered under VRS Plans 1 and 2 and the VRS Enhanced Hazardous Duty plan. This coverage is provided at no cost to all employees covered under the VRS Hybrid plan.

VOLUNTARY INSURANCE PROGRAM The County offers voluntary insurance programs through a variety of insurance carriers. These include:

Accident Plan

Cancer Plan

Whole Life Insurance

Critical Illness Plans

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT The County offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that allows employees to set aside up to $2,500 annually, on a pre-tax basis via payroll deductions, to pay for eligible medical, dental, or vision expenses. The IRS regulates this program and runs concurrently with the benefit plan year.

DEPENDENT CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The County offers a Dependent Care Assistance Program that allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 annually, on a pre-tax basis via payroll deductions, to pay eligible dependent care expenses. The IRS regulates this program and runs concurrently with the benefit plan year. Open enrollment is held annually.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION The County offers a 457 as another alternative to set aside money for retirement.

This employer uses E-Verify

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