Job Description

Requisition No: 867498

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE, 13TH CIRCUIT- OPS LEGAL SECRETARY - 21813002

Pay Plan: Temp

Position Number: 21813002

Salary: $15.75 per hour

Posting Closing Date: 03/10/2026

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STATEWIDE GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE

OPS Full Time Legal Secretary

IMPORTANT! – Please navigate to the following website: www.guardianadlitem.org to apply for this position:

• Click on the “Career Opportunities” icon.
• Scroll down to the link, “Submit Your Guardian ad Litem Employment Application Here.”
• Complete the “mini” job application and attach your current resume.
• Select HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY for the job location

OR

• Email your mini application and resume directly to C13.Apps@gal.fl.gov

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY

The Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office is Florida’s award-winning, state-funded child advocacy organization that provides independent legal representation to abused, abandoned and neglected children in Florida’s dependency court proceedings. The Office upholds the highest standards of integrity, excellence and child centered representation. The Guardian ad Litem Legal Secretary performs a variety of secretarial, administrative support, and clerical duties for Attorneys in a local GAL Circuit office. The Legal Secretary works independently under the general supervision of the Circuit Director or Managing Attorney and must exercise discretion with sensitive and confidential information. More information about the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office can be found at www.guardianadlitem.org

As an employee with the State of Florida, your benefits are a significant part of your compensation with 19 percent of your total compensation coming from the benefits that the State offers. As a full-time employee, your insurance rate will be significantly low due to the contribution of the State of Florida. In fact, single coverage is as low as $50 per month, with family coverage costing only $180 per month. While the rates are higher for halftime employees, health insurance options are still available if you are in a salaried position.

As a fulltime OPS employee, your employee insurance rate will be significantly low due to the contribution of the State of Florida. In fact, single coverage is as low as $50 per month with family coverage costing only $180 per month.

• Participate in FICA social security and Medicare. (mandatory)
• Workers Compensation (mandatory)
• Unemployment Compensation (mandatory)

• Participate in Deferred Compensation (voluntary)
• Participation in group insurance (Only available for employees who work an average of 30 hours or more per week) you may enroll in the $25,000 basic life insurance and pay the entire monthly premium. OPS employees are not eligible for optional term life insurance.
• Health Insurance. OPS employees are eligible for health insurance if they are reasonably expected to work 30 hours or more per week on average.

ABOUT THE WORK

• The legal secretary is responsible for composing and typing correspondence, detailed reports and charts, memoranda, etc., using a personal computer.
• The legal secretary is also responsible for establishing and maintaining a comprehensive office filing system, preparing travel arrangements, scheduling meetings, and preparing materials for supervisor's use.
• A variety of working relationships are established within the Guardian ad Litem Office, and in state courts system personnel, vendors, judges and non-judicial officers, and the general public.
• The legal secretary works independently and must exercise discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive information.
• Work is performed under general supervision of the Supervising Attorney.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING GUIDELINES

• Must have a standard high school diploma or equivalent and three years of administrative support experience, one year of which was in a Legal Secretary, Administrative Specialist II or comparable position preferred.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, two-year college or vocational school may substitute for the recommended experience on a year for year basis.

(The Executive Director or designee may waive the required training and experience requirements.)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems.
• Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Knowledge of computer software applications including Outlook, Excel and Word. Ability to talk to others and convey information.
• Ability to respond patiently with the general public.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality concerning sensitive information.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at 1-844-377-1888 on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.