Administrative Assistant I (Legal)

Catawba County Government•Hickory, NC

About The Position

Catawba County Social Services is recruiting a detail-oriented and highly organized Administrative Assistant I to support child welfare attorneys and paralegals in its legal department. This full-time position helps ensure that court-related documentation, filings, and communications are accurate, timely, and compliant with legal and departmental standards. The role is based in a fast-paced legal environment and supports court processes that directly affect children and families in the community.

Requirements

Meet one of the following education and experience combinations: a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or another related field; an associate's degree in Business Administration or a related field and one year of office or clerical experience; or a high school diploma or GED equivalent and three years of office or clerical experience.
Hold NC Notary Public certification or be able and willing to obtain it within a specified timeframe.
Strong organizational and time management skills and practices.
Ability to work independently and manage a high volume of documents.
High attention to detail.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
Proficiency in office software and legal research tools.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with legal terminology, court systems, and civil procedures.
Prior experience in a legal or clerking environment.
Experience in a clerk or legal office.

Responsibilities

Prepare, serve, distribute, and track subpoenas; prepare federally required Notices and Orders of Disclosure; ensure timely receipt of subpoenaed documents; and coordinate with social work staff to ensure complete witness lists.
Upload court orders through the Odyssey system for signature and filing, serve filed orders on relevant parties, and upload them to PATH NC each week in a timely manner.
Manage agency responses to third-party subpoenas, coordinating inter-agency efforts and communicating with outside firms and agencies.
Maintain the legal department's filing system, including timely closure and retrieval of records.
Assist with notarizing, filing, and distributing Juvenile Petitions and TPR Motions.
Perform other notary duties as needed.
Maintain and update data in the legal database.
Provide backup support to full-time paralegals for in-court support functions.
Perform other duties as assigned.