SEIU UHW West
United Healthcare Workers West

Confidential Legal Specialist

Based in Oakland, CA

 

Position: Confidential Legal Specialist
Reports to: Legal Counsel/ HR Director/ Chief of Staff
Classification: Full time, Salary non-exempt
Location: Oakland

Position Summary:
The Legal Specialist is a statewide position supporting UHW Legal Counsel, Chief of Staff and HR department. The Legal Specialist oversees confidential operational and administrative tasks but also must have the skill set required to design and oversee special projects handled in the Legal, HR and Chief of Staff office with multiple staff, multiple vendors and multiple locations. The responsibilities are typically performed at a professional level with the ability to work under strict deadlines and accommodate last minute changes in priorities. The Legal specialist will be mainly responsible for supporting UHW’s Legal counsel by performing high level administrative duties and communicating with legal counsel, state and federal administrative agencies, and state and federal and court personnel.

The Legal Specialist must possess enough technical skills to manage and navigate state and federal court dockets, such as PACER, legal research applications, such as LEXIS-NEXIS and Westlaw, and complex databases under general supervision. The Legal Specialist should have excellent oral and written communications skills and some degree of creativity that can be called upon when developing new projects. The Legal Specialist should be an organized, multitasking person, able to work with minimal supervision and able to make decisions at his/her level of responsibility and discretion or under general instructions from his/her supervisor (s). The Legal specialist will spend the majority of time performing office or non-manual work directly related to UHW management policies and general business operations of UHW.

Main Responsibility:

• Transcribe and proofread legal documents
• Schedule court depositions, hearings and other meetings
• Make travel arrangements for attorneys and process third party and vendor invoices
• File documents with the administrative agencies and courts by the established deadline
• Develop, implement and validate document management and e-discovery process
• Work with legal counsel, legal consultants and other related departments
• Manage the day to day affairs of the Legal Department and support scheduling, obtaining equipment and editing presentation notes
• Maintains current and orderly files according to guidelines, including, but not limited to administrative and court files. Provides quick retrieval of information, general document control, and updates materials. Closes files and sends to storage following policy.
• Provides guidance to and acts as authoritative source for others within same skill set.
• Respond to inquiries from executive office, union officers, senior staff, union leaders managing the flow of communications, answer questions, troubleshoot technical issues of applications or databases used and independently resolve problems whenever is possible
• Prepare training presentation materials for Legal and HR for use of others, editing content and adding appropriated graphic and design elements, including web or cloud materials
• Compose or prepare correspondence, forms, newsletters, flyers and reports at a professional level of technical skills using the Microsoft Office suite applications or similar
• Serve as liaison with other UHW units in advising employees on internal process within the legal department, implement, prioritize and schedule activities based on a general plan or instructions from his/her supervisor (s).
• Serve as legal administrative support person, create agendas, order equipment, keep minutes, coordinate meeting’s logistics with T & M staff and communicate to members of the group
• Perform specialized /technical duties required to support the specific responsibilities of his/her director and the Legal, HR and Executive team, using discretion to make judgments, based on general operational guidelines
• Support purchasing for the office, research items and obtains prices
• Compile and maintain information that may require web or library research, gathering and updating data and records
• Participation of union activities that may include overnight travel
• Perform other duties as required to support UHW mission, values, activities and programs, in addition to the function of the director or other directors that he/she supports on a regular basis
• Track and maintain all legal and confidential documents for the Legal, HR and Executive departments.
• Assist the Chief of Staff and HR department in tracking legal cases, grievances and arbitration including preparation of information request and subpoenas

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function assigned satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
• College degree preferred, but not required. Paralegal or legal studies desirable. Generally required thorough legal and administrative experience
• Minimum 3-5 years' experience on similar administrative, legal, operations or technical positions
• Typing speed of at least 50 wpm with a high rate of accuracy and some proof-reading experience
• Familiarity with a multi-office, organizational environment, collective bargaining agreements & non-profit experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience using computer software such as report writer, MS Office Suite software, including strong Microsoft Excel, Access, Cloud based systems and Salesforce skills to develop and maintain reports and statistical data with the ability to manage large volume of electronic data and paperwork in an organized, detailed and accurate manner. Familiarity with state and federal court dockets, such as Domainweb and PACER, legal research applications, such as LEXIS-NEXIS or Westlaw, and discovery applications a plus.
• Must be accurate, timely, and detail oriented, maintain a high degree of confidentiality, and able to communicate effectively with employees at any level
• Must be willing to travel
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills. Ability to work well independently under general directives and as team member. Ability to take initiative, exercise good judgement to solve job related problems and follow tasks through to completion
• Ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff and member
• Ability to effectively analyze and communicate complex information across broad functional and organizational lines.
• Excellent punctuality and attendance.
• Ability to work under deadlines and accommodate last minute changes in priorities.
• Understanding and commitment to the mission of SEIU UHW – West.
• Ability to multi task and work in a challenging fast paced environment
• Strong presence with ability to interact with Senior Leadership and Executive Board members

Physical Demands:

• Ability to sit at a computer for extended periods.
• Work long and irregular hours including nights and weekends
• Able to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Able to bend and stoop.
• Occasionally lift and/or move boxes with documents weighing up to 20 pounds.
• The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.

Compensation
SEIU-UHW offers a competitive salary starting at $77,000 but to commensurate with experience, and a generous benefit package.

Application
SEIU-UHW is an affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability.

SEIU-UHW is an affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, or disability.

To Apply:
Please go to our Jobs page at: www.seiu-uhw.org/jobs.