Legal Assistant 3

Pierce County • Tacoma, WA

15h • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is: In office during training and probationary period – then has opportunity for a hybrid schedule (up to 2 working from home days per week depending on unit/department needs). Full time – 37.5 hours per week. This is a great opportunity to provide high level legal support work for Pierce County Attorneys, courts, and clientele. In this role you may provide task supervision over workers in unit, making work assignments, overseeing performance of assigned jobs, and providing technical assistance as needed. You may be involved in complex projects that require additional time and detail. You will explain rules and interpret established guidelines to people who may have no knowledge of legal procedures, as well as provide technical assistance and procedural information to the public, attorneys, and other justice system personnel and agencies. Clients are often in the most stressful situation of their lives and may have limited insight into their situation, therefore the role you play is crucial to support them. As a Department of Assigned Counsel employee, you make a difference in people's lives and a positive contribution to Pierce County. The Department of Assigned Counsel (DAC) is responsible for the delivery of mandated legal services to indigent persons accused of crimes in the Pierce County Superior Court; Pierce County District Court; Tacoma Municipal Court; and Pierce County Juvenile Court delinquency proceedings. DAC also provides constitutionally mandated legal services to persons detained for Involuntary Civil commitment proceedings at Western State Hospital, and other evaluation and treatment facilities, and a limited number of participants in Dependency proceedings. The mission of the Department of Assigned Counsel is to provide and administer the public defense delivery system in Pierce County in a manner that assures eligible people receive professional and effective representation while efficiently utilizing public resources.

Requirements

• Two or more years of progressive, responsible experience as a legal assistant, legal secretary or related legal staff support function.
• Thorough knowledge of and background in the legal system, legal terminology, and court practices/procedures.
• Understanding and maintaining attorney/client privilege is of utmost importance.
• Ability to provide accurate and timely legal support.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to work with other team members to ensure all procedures are followed.
• Operates both professionally and with empathy and understanding.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Training by an accredited vocational school, college or university in the field of legal support work or related area is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides task supervision over workers in a department section of unit.
• Makes work assignments, oversees performance of assigned jobs, and provides technical assistance as needed.
• Provides input to supervisor for employee performance appraisal.
• Assists in resolving minor work and personnel problems.
• Assists and advises other employees in an area of specialization.
• May also assist in on-the-job training of newly assigned or reassigned employees.
• Performs counter and/or phone work providing information to the public; advising attorneys and other interested parties regarding status of cases and legal procedures while maintaining security and confidentiality.
• May deal with sensitive and/or potentially volatile situations
• Prepares, processes, and reviews complex felony and/or appeals pleadings, which involves extensive knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements, proper format and content of documents and records from rough draft or transcription for the higher-level courts such as Superior and Appellate courts.
• Reviews cases for conflicting interests of co-defendants and assigns panel attorneys to determined conflict cases.
• Processes requisitions, vouchers, and invoices for payment of panel attorney fees, witness fees, interpreters and any other professional services.
• May perform secretarial support work for lead attorney in confidential personnel issues and unit divisional goals and processes.
• May prepare, process and review a broad-range of legal forms and documents such as wills, divorce, child custody, guardianship, immigration, etc. for Western State Hospital patients.

Benefits

• Opportunity for a hybrid schedule
• Robust professional development options through the Leadership Certification program
• Access to hundreds of learning opportunities both instructor lead and through LinkedIn Learning
• Continuous professional development at every stage

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed