Legal Associate III (Legal Assistant)

Note: This position is onsite (not remote or hybrid)

General Description
Join the CTA Legal Department where your expertise makes a real impact. The California Teachers Association is one of the largest and most dynamic labor unions in California, and it seeks an administrative assistant in its statewide headquarters to support its Legal Department attorneys and programs. Under minimal supervision, this role provides legal secretarial and administrative support to attorneys while exercising independent judgment, initiative, and strong analytical skills. The ideal candidate must be detail-oriented and take pride in delivering high-quality work. The candidate brings exceptional organizational abilities, has a solid knowledge of court rules and administrative agency procedures, and the confidence to independently draft legal documents and conduct routine legal research. This position plays an important role in administering department programs and collaborating closely with attorneys and colleagues in a team environment. This position offers excellent compensation, including a wide array of exceptionally generous benefits, in a friendly and supportive work environment.

Duties and Responsibilities
Incumbent may perform any combination of the tasks listed below:

• Contacts attorneys, courts and administrative agencies, CTA staff and members, government agencies, school districts and others as needed to obtain information.
• Conducts routine legal research.
• Drafts routine correspondence for attorney’s review.
• Files documents and/or pleadings with courts and administrative agencies.
• Reviews and distributes incoming mail, recognizing priority matters and tracking filing deadlines.
• Maintains knowledge of legal documents and familiarity with court and administrative agency rules and regulations.
• Maintains the law library and department reference materials.
• Organizes and maintains attorney’s electronic and/or paper case files.
• Maintains attorney's appointment, litigation and department calendars.
• Operates generally used office equipment and department computer programs.
• Updates case management records as needed, running reports as assigned.
• Enters staff attorney and law clerk staff time, expenses and case costs in the case management system.
• Provides administrative assistance to CTA’s Advisory Panel on Legal Services (APLS) as assigned.
• Provides assistance to attorneys and CTA members regarding participation on Commission on Professional Competence panels and/or helps administer other Legal Department programs as assigned.
• Provides support for conferences, panels and/or trainings as assigned.
• Screens telephone calls and responds to routine inquiries.
• Processes legal referrals for CTA/NEA-Retired members.
• Assists attorneys in law clerk recruitment program.
• Performs administrative functions and other appropriate duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or Associate degree & 2 years relevant experience or High School diploma/GED & 5 years relevant experience.
• Ability to draft legal memoranda, correspondence, pleadings and other papers independently for review of attorney.
• Experience conducting routine legal research regarding court rules, filing pleadings and other legal documents.
• Ability to maintain and update legal files in a timely manner.
• Computer proficiency and the ability to learn and use the Association’s software programs.
• Proficient word processing skills with Microsoft Word; minimum keyboarding speed of 55 wpm.
• Ability to proofread, edit and format documents.
• Ability to communicate clearly, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to learn and communicate CTA structure, policies and procedures.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and initiative.
• Ability to function effectively under pressure and respond to time-sensitive matters.
• Willingness to work overtime as required.
• Ability to work and collaborate as part of a team.

*This position is in a bargaining unit represented by CAS. Salaries are established by a collective bargaining agreement. Step placement is also determined by the CTA/CAS Agreement.