FIND_THE_RIGHTJOB.

Attorney Assistant

CLASS SUMMARY

Attorney Assistants perform paraprofessional legal and secretarial work in the Office of the City Attorney, Office of the Hearing Examiner, the Police Department’s Civil Enforcement Unit or other departments that employ attorneys. Attorney Assistants will work with elected and appointed officials, other departments, as well as the public, attorneys, and other professionals. Primary job responsibilities include preparing legal pleadings for various courts; preparing ordinances, resolutions and contracts; maintaining case docket and calendars; assembling documents into working files; and creating and maintaining data in applicable computer databases.

EXAMPLES OF JOB FUNCTIONS

Prepares, organizes, reviews and files a variety of legal pleadings such as trial briefs, motions, orders, judgments, notices of appearance, answers to complaints, depositions, affidavits, interrogatories, summons and subpoenas.
Prepares ordinances and resolutions using proper forms of execution and acknowledgment.
Prepares contracts for attorney approval.
Selects, prepares, and completes legal documents incidental to the closing of real estate transactions, such as deeds, promissory notes, deeds of trust, reconveyances, closing statements, UCC documents and excise tax affidavits, under a limited practice certification from the Washington State Supreme Court pursuant to APR 12. Effectuates closing between the parties.
Locates debtors, arranges accounts receivable payments, maintains payment records and data bases, drafts legal documents to press claims on behalf of the City, presents City's case in Small Claims Court, works with collection agencies and performs related collection duties.
Maintains case docket and diary; collects, assembles and organizes documents into working files.
Files, retrieves and disposes of documents.
Creates and maintains files by extracting information from local and state databases; enters case and client information into applicable computer databases and manages documents within.
Responsible for closing, storage and/or destruction of files according to policies and procedures.
Selects and/or makes recommendations for purchase of supplies and equipment.
Assists in the preparation of the office's budget and maintains budget and expense account records, financial records, and payroll records.
Acts as receptionist as required. Sorts, reads, and annotates incoming mail and legal documents; attaches appropriate files to facilitate the necessary action; maintains follow up.
Maintains the office's library.
Makes arrangements for and coordinates appointments, meetings, conferences and depositions.
Independently meets the public and other City employees; answers inquiries requiring knowledge of City policies, procedures and activities, or directs persons to proper offices.
Operates various office equipment.
Performs other duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet all requirements when they apply.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent
Experience: Two years of experience as a legal secretary under the direction of an attorney in a predominantly civil or appellate practice.
Substitution: Satisfactory completion of a legal secretary or similar training program OR a Limited Practice Officer (LPO) certification may substitute for one year of experience.
Equivalency: We may accept different combinations of education and experience. We welcome job seekers with relevant backgrounds to apply.

EXAMINATION DETAILS

For information on what to expect with the hiring process, a test information guide, and frequently asked questions, please visit our website.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and pass the examination for this position to be eligible for hire.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. All applicants must complete and submit a City of Spokane employment application online by 4:00 p.m. on the filing cut-off date.

Upon request, at time of application, the City will provide alternative accessible tests to individuals with disabilities that impair manual, sensory, or speaking skills needed to take the test, unless the test is intended to measure those skills.

The examination will consist of a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), with scoring weight assigned as follows:

T&E 100%

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EVALUATION DETAILS:

Copies of your college or university transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted) may be a required part of this application and will be used to verify that you meet the minimum qualifications, as posted on the job announcement.
Responses to your T&E questions should be consistent with the information given in your application details. Answers are subject to verification.
Failure to complete all the questions or incomplete responses will result in a lower score; therefore, it is advantageous for you to provide a full and complete response to each question.
Resumes or questionnaires uploaded as attachments will not be accepted in lieu of completing each question online.
"See Resume" or "See above," etc., and copy/paste from a previous answer are not qualifying responses and will not be considered.

This is an online examination and will require a computer. If you do not have access to a computer, please notify Civil Service so that one may be provided. Reservations can also be made through your local, public library.

Training and Experience examination links with instructions will be emailed prior to 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time on the start date and will expire at 11:59 p.m. on the due date as listed below. Keep in mind that the test link will be emailed from City of Spokane (info@governmentjobs.com).

Applicants who apply and meet the minimum qualifications between Monday, January 19, 2026, and Monday, February 2, 2026, will test Thursday, February 5, 2026, through Monday, February 9, 2026.

T&E Subjects May Include:

Work Experience related to:
- attorney assistance and court litigation
- administration of a legal office
- contracts
Computer Skills and Experience

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, familial status, genetic information, veteran/military status or disability status. As a Fair Chance employer, City of Spokane does not conduct initial background screening for non-public safety positions.

BENEFIT COMPENSATION VALUE

In addition to a salary, The City of Spokane provides a generous benefits package valued between $24,902 - $34,218.

INSURANCE BENEFITS

Eligibility: Coverage begins for new hires and their dependents on the first day of the month following 30 consecutive days of employment.

Eligible Dependents: Spouse or Domestic Partner, birth, adopted children or children placed for adoption, Domestic Partner's children, step-children who live with employee, and any child for whom employee is legal guardian or for whom coverage is required by a Qualified Medical Support Order. Adult children under age 26 are eligible.

Medical
Qualified employees may select from two health carrier options; a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) administered by Kaiser Permanente or a Preferred Provider Option (PPO) administered by Premera Blue Cross. The monthly premium varies dependent upon plan and coverage level selected.

Vision
Vision coverage is included in the medical plan selected. Costs for eye exams and hardware; lenses, frames or contacts varies depending on the medical plan selected.

Dental
Dental insurance is provided by Delta Dental of Washington. The City pays the monthly premium in full for employee and eligible dependents.

Life Insurance - Employee Only
Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at one-and-a-half times the employee's annual base salary to a maximum of $150,000. The City pays the monthly premium in full.

Life Insurance - Eligible Dependent(s)
Basic Term Life Insurance is provided at $5,000 for spouse/domestic partner and $2,000 for each child. The City pays the monthly premium in full.

Flexible Spending Account
The City offers two optional Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA. The Health Care FSA allows an employee to use pre-tax dollars to receive reimbursement for eligible medical, dental, and vision expenses. The Dependent Care FSA allows an employee to receive reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses for dependent children up to age 13 and other eligible dependents as defined by IRS Code.

AFLAC
Supplemental insurance is optional and is provided by AFLAC to help pay benefits that major medical insurance does not cover. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.

AudioNet Hearing Aid Benefit
AudioNet Hearing Aid Benefit is optional. The City of Spokane has partnered with AudioNet America to offer a discounted Hearing Aid Program with fixed out-of-pocket costs.

LegalShield/ID Shield
Prepaid legal services and/or prepaid identity theft programs are optional. These programs pay for a limited number of documents to be reviewed, limited trial defense representation, the preparation of a standard will, identity theft consultation, restoration and monitoring according to terms of contract.

Pet Insurance
Get cash back on the everyday care your pet needs to stay healthy! Nationwide/Voluntary Pet Insurance is an optional plan in which City of Spokane Employees can enroll.

Voluntary Term Life Insurance
Voluntary Term Life Insurance is optional and is provided through The Standard Insurance Company and is subject to application review and approval. Additional coverage up to $300,000 is available for employees and their spouse/domestic partner. Dependent children can be insured for up to $10,000 each. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium.

Continued Medical/Dental Insurance
Employees separating from City service have the option to continue medical and/or dental insurance benefits in accordance with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium in addition to a small monthly administrative fee.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Spokane Employees' Retirement System
The Spokane Employees' Retirement System (SERS) is a defined benefit pension plan covering non-uniformed, permanent employees. As a participant, you contribute 11% of your salary toward your retirement. Contributions and earnings are tax-deferred. The City also contributes 11% of your salary toward your retirement. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2015 become vested (eligible for a monthly benefit at retirement age) at seven years of service.

Deferred Compensation
Enrollment in the City-sponsored 457 Deferred Compensation Plan administered by MissionSquare Retirement allows participants, on a voluntary basis, to defer a portion of their salary on a before or after tax basis. Contributions and associated earnings contributed on a before tax basis are eligible to receive City matching contributions and are tax deferred (not taxed until taken out). You can also choose to participate in the 457 Roth (after tax) contribution option. You may enroll in the 457 plan or change your contribution at any time. Minimum contribution is $15 per paycheck up to and is subject to the IRS annual limitations. The City will match employee contributions up to $120/month.

PAID TIME OFF

Official Holidays
The City observes seven official holidays as paid. An official holiday that falls on a Saturday will be observed on the preceding Friday. An official holiday that falls on a Sunday will be observed on the Monday immediately following. The City observes Martin Luther King Jr's birthday but has not declared that day as an official holiday. For this reason, employees hired before the third Monday of January receive an additional eight hours of floating holiday time to be used in accordance with Local 270 Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions.

Floating (Personal) Holidays
Up to 48 hours administered throughout the year. Floating holiday hours may not be carried over into the next year and any unused hours will not be paid at termination.

Vacation Leave
Employees must be in paid status for 80% of that pay period to accrue vacation leave. The amount of vacation earned depends on the employee's length of service - from 12 days per year for a new employee to 27 days per year after 20 years of employment. Unused vacation hours carry over each year.

Sick Leave
Sick leave accrues at a rate of six (6) hours per biweekly pay period. Employees must be in paid status for 80% of that pay period to accrue sick leave. There is no maximum accumulation and unused sick leave hours carry over each year.

Other Leaves
The City also provides several other paid and unpaid leaves, such as: bereavement leave, Family and Medical Leave, maternity leave, jury duty, and military duty leave.

WORK/LIFE PROGRAMS

Employee Assistance Program
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a referral and counseling service administered by Deer Oaks. It provides a myriad of services to employees and their household members. Services include receiving confidential assistance for personal issues, such as managing stress, depression, parenting, alcohol/drugs, grief, etc. Each household member is eligible to receive up to eight counseling sessions per issue per year at no charge. There is also a benefit relating financial or legal concerns in addition to Worklife/Convenience services and online tools.

Employer Sponsored Bus Pass (ESBP) Program
The City of Spokane encourages employees to use alternatives to driving alone to work and participates in the ESBP Program offered by Spokane Transit Authority (STA). The program provides a bus pass for unlimited rides free of charge.

Revised March 15, 2022

Similar jobs