Legal Assistant

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

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.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

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.

Anticipated Starting Salary Range: $70,387 - $80,000
Full Salary Range: $65,208 - $105,830
*The starting salary will depend on the selected candidate's experience, skills, education, and internal salary equity.

This position is eligible for a hybrid (remote up to two days per week) telework arrangement after the six-month probationary period. Candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Tasks specific to assisting the Office of General Counsel:

• 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

• 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.

Any of the following combinations of completed education and legal administrative work experience:

• High school diploma/GED with four years of experience
• Associate degree or higher with two years of experience

• 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.

• 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.

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

More about why you should join us!

Union/Grade: AFSCME / Grade D
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No
Anticipated Starting Salary Range: $70,387 - $80,000
Full Salary Range: $65,208 - $105,830

What your work environment would be:
You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.