ATTORNEY 1 L0405

Definition: This is entry level professional legal work.

An employee in this class performs legal research work confined to one, or comparatively few, fields. When first employed, attorneys customarily spend much of their time in learning the specialized techniques and requirements of governmental legal practice in the areas to which they are assigned. As they become more experienced in their work, they have the responsibility of carrying to completion any assigned tasks with a minimum of supervision, although completed work of other than a routine nature is usually subject to review by an attorney of higher rank. The difficulty of legal problems encountered ranges from simple to moderately complex. Supervision is received from an attorney of higher rank, who has ultimate responsibility for important legal decisions and trial work.

Examples of Work: Prepares digests of laws and cases.

Assists in preparing cases for trail by drafting pleadings and by assisting an attorney of higher rank in trial work.

Searches for, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in preparation of briefs, pleadings, indictments, and other legal papers in connection with suits, trials, and other proceedings.

Searches for, interprets, and applies laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities on points of law involved in the preparation of opinions.

Assists in the preparation of materials pertaining to proposed legislation affecting the agency concerned.

Conducts public hearings for a board or commission and directs prosecutions for violations of the law and of the rules an orders of the board of commission.

Drafts tentative rules and regulations and reviews rules, regulations, and bulletins prepared by administrative officers for conformity to the law.

Confers with private citizens to advise them on state laws and regulations.

Performs related work as required.

Required Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of the application of legal principles to individual cases or problems.

Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations affecting the administration of the programs to which assigned.

Knowledge of court procedures and rules of evidence.

Ability to understand and interpret constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and precedents.

Ability to analyze facts, evidence, and precedents and arrive at logical interpretations.

Ability to set forth findings of facts and decisions in written forms.

Ability to prepare legal documents and records.

Minimum Experience and Training: Graduation from an approved school of law and certificate of admission to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, or preparatory steps to become a member thereof. Continued employment is conditional upon the obtaining of such certificate of admission.

Date Established or Last Revised

Class Specification - 1977

Commonwealth Equivalent PSG ST08