County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction of County Counsel, to develop, plan, organize, and direct the administrative management functions of the County Counsel’s Office; to implement policies and procedures related to personnel, fiscal and administrative matters (including the data processing, filing, and library functions of the office); to direct, coordinate, review and evaluate the work of the administrative support, technical and paralegal staff; and to do other work as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This class is located in the County Counsel’s Office and reports directly to County Counsel. The Law Office Manager functions as a member of the management team by consulting and coordinating with other members of the management team to provide accurate, comprehensive and timely information and recommendations to the department head upon which final policy, budgetary and administrative decisions will be made. The class of Law Office Manager is distinguished from the class of Administrative Services Officer in that the former must be familiar with court and law office operations, responsibility and complexity of court and law office assignments, nature of the court and law office budget and fiscal programs, nature of centralized office activities, nature of the personnel activities, nature of the management analysis activities, nature of data processing, filing and law office library functions.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Plans, organizes, directs and coordinates personnel, fiscal, office services and general administrative activities and functions.

2. Prepares and coordinates the preparation of multiple budgets.

3. Attends budget hearings with the department before the Board of Supervisors.

4. Coordinates and manages the department’s data processing activities.

5. Establishes and supervises annual plan of expenditure controls.

6. Consults with the department head in the formulation of major administrative policies and prepares implementation directives.

7. Conducts organizational/management studies as directed by the department head.

8. Manages office service functions such as payroll, accounting, supplies, and files.

9. Coordinates hiring, promotions, transfers, disciplinary actions and training of all support personnel.

10. Advises the department head in the management of professional staff in such areas as recruiting, examinations, promotions, merit increases, reclassifications, discipline, and affirmative action.

11. Prepares the budget advancement of grant applications for state-funded projects.

12. Prepares monthly and quarterly expenditure reports.

13. Develops and maintains long range automation plans.

14. Develops long range space utilization and acquisition plans.

15. Establishes policies and procedures for requisitioning of supplies, repair of equipment and maintenance of property records.

16. Conducts studies of various administrative activities as required.

17. Composes memorandums, letters, reports and other documents.

18. Insures conformance with fiscal audit requirements by coordinating with County departments as well as private foundations and agencies.

19. Represents the department head on committees, task forces, and other activities related to the administrative functions.

20. Manages the law library and develops and implements law office research and billing software.

21. Manages and implements case filing system.

22. Coordinates and assists in space planning and law office physical environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, or closely related field. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for two years of education on a year-for-year basis.)

AND

Experience:

The equivalent of four years of full-time progressively responsible law office experience in a managerial, administrative or staff capacity performing administrative, budgetary or personnel analyses.

License or Certificate:

Possession of a valid California Driver’s License may be required.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Principles of supervision, motivation, administration, organization and management in a legal environment.
• Financial administration.
• County’s economic practices.
• Statistical and graphic presentation methods used in administrative budget analysis.
• Modern office methods, forms and equipment in a law office.
• Principles of employer/employee relations.
• Fundamentals of governmental accounting.
• Data processing principles and procedures.
• Law office library and filing systems.
• Law office software related to research and billing.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, coordinate, supervise, and manage the work of staff members in a law office.
• Work closely and in harmony with professional staff.
• Analyze, plan, coordinate and manage finance programs and budgets.
• Provide technical assistance and consultative services to professional staff, governmental organizations, community agencies, and groups.
• Direct the analysis of complex organizational, administrative and budgetary problems and find workable solutions.
• Conduct long range planning.
• Select, train, supervise, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff.
• Communicate and articulate in an effective manner to individuals and groups.
• Establish and maintain effective relations with governmental organizations, civic groups, the general public, and fellow employees.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

DF:jc
0246h
11/98
co:updated 5/3/00
Old doc. name: 0246h under Jobspecs/Oldspecs
New doc. name: 0246 under Jobspecs/Newspecs
Csc date: 12/9/98

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.