Legal Assistant I

Benton County•Mn 56329, MN

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

Benton County is seeking a Legal Assistant I for the County Attorney’s Office. This role provides comprehensive administrative support to the department, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery. The position involves decision-making, serving as a liaison between the executive and staff, supporting organization and planning efforts, and helping leadership operate more effectively. Responsibilities include assisting with data requests, developing internal procedures, and contributing to departmental plans, policies, and strategies, as well as managing internal and external communications. The Legal Assistant I also maintains files and records, coordinates special projects, and serves as a liaison for non-routine inquiries from agencies, other departments, offices, and the public. The position requires ongoing training to remain current on policies and programs. This role provides administrative support to the County Attorney’s Office, including support for Assistant County Attorneys and Victim Services staff across multiple areas of responsibility.

Requirements

Two (2) year Associate/Technical Degree in administrative support, or a related field
Three (3) years of administrative experience
One (1) year of experience in law enforcement, legal office, or a similar field
Equivalent combination of education/training/experience
Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota.
Must successfully complete a background check.
Obtain and maintain certifications and licensures.
Ability to obtain and maintain, within six (6) months of hire: BCA Single Certification: Training and Certifications are determined by the BCA schedule.
Knowledge and skill in clerical functions, Microsoft Office Suite, and computer database operations.
Ability to complete work assignments in a confidential manner as necessary and to exercise the appropriate judgment in the release and presentation of information from work assignments.
Knowledge of Minnesota local government operations and procedures.
Ability to organize and prioritize tasks in a timely manner and within budget constraints.
Ability to pay close attention to detail.
Ability to de-escalate high-stress confrontations.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment.
Ability to interpret and react quickly to information and situations.
Ability to solve problems quickly and determine the appropriate course of action.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule forms.
Ability to prioritize workload and adapt as new work comes in.
Ability to provide optimal customer service skills with public agencies, departments, and various staff.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and have strong positive public relations skills.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Ability to handle a variety of typical assignments under moderate supervision within standard operating procedures.
Ability to apply a variety of procedures, policies, and/or precedents using moderate analytical ability.
Effective communication with the department and other departments, outside agencies, and the public to relay basic information or facts.
Ability to travel within your daily work assignment.
Ability to travel within Minnesota, including extended overnight stays.
Ability to work extended, evening, and weekend hours as needed.
Performs the physical/mental demands of the work environment requirements for this position.
Must comply with organizational and departmental policies.
Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours and outside regular hours, as necessary.
Effective and respectful communication and interactions with other employees, supervisors, individuals from different organizations, and citizen customers.
Must comply with data practices policies and standards related to private data. Access to private data is limited strictly to what is necessary to perform assigned job duties. While accessing such data, the employee must take reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access by individuals without a work-related need. Once the work-related purpose has been met, private data must be properly secured and stored in accordance with county policies and Minnesota Statutes.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a legal, court, or government environment (e.g., County Attorney’s Office, law firm, or judicial system).
Experience working with law enforcement and/or court systems.
Experience applying verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques to manage tense or confrontational situations, ensuring safety and maintaining a positive environment.
Familiarity with legal terminology, documents, and processes, including pleadings, subpoenas, discovery, and court filings.
Experience supporting attorneys or legal staff, including preparation for hearings, trials, or exhibits.
Experience drafting correspondence and legal or administrative documents with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Strong organizational skills with experience managing, maintaining, and prioritizing high-volume files and records.
Experience with electronic filing (e-filing/e-serving) and case management systems (e.g., MNCATS, MCAPS, or similar).
Experience providing customer service and serving as a point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including handling sensitive or confidential information.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate projects, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, process-driven environment.
Experience with data entry and maintaining accurate information in database systems.
Experience coordinating communications across departments, agencies, or external partners.
Basic knowledge of criminal and/or civil court processes.
Experience with billing, invoicing, tracking payments, or supporting budget-related activities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and general office technology.

Responsibilities

Assist attorneys in preparation for court hearings and trials by gathering necessary information, drafting documents, and transcribing statements.
Prepare complaints, in-custody complaints, correspondence, subpoenas, witness lists, discovery, and other legal documents.
Prioritize and distribute incoming criminal and civil case files to attorneys.
Assist in drafting and preparing child protection/permanency petitions, criminal and civil pleadings, complaints, discovery materials, motions, legal memoranda, and arguments.
Prepare commitment petitions, guardianship documents, IV-D documents, summons/ warrant complaints, and requests for a seal of a search warrant document.
Complete administrative subpoenas.
Prepare writs for defendants who are in jail elsewhere to appear in court.
Assist County Attorneys in exhibits preparation.
Serve as the first point of contact and liaison for non-routine inquiries from agencies, departments, and the public.
Respond to inquiries from attorneys, law enforcement, victims, witnesses, defendants, and the public.
Screen and distribute requests for legal assistance from county departments, the public, victims, and litigants, and refer to appropriate attorneys.
Communicate with jail staff regarding court-related appointments.
Coordinate internal and external communications and act as a liaison to other departments and offices.
Maintain and organize files, records, and filing system (physical and electronic).
Maintain accurate case file information in systems such as MNCATS and MCAPS.
Manage e-filing and e-serving of court documents.
File, scan, copy, fax, and organize legal documents.
Maintain and update various case management databases.
Refer to the appropriate attorney or department.
Provide clerical support for Attorney staff, including drafting documents, answering phones, and assorted front office duties.
Assist in responding to internal and external data requests.
Manage special projects and support departmental operations.
Prepare vouchers for payment and assist in monitoring the monthly budget.
Prepare monthly timesheets and billing statements.
Generate revenue documents by entering billable time and reimbursable expenses of the attorneys.
Track payments.
Prepare and distribute invoices.
Assist in developing and improving internal procedures and systems to enhance efficiency.
Provide input and recommendations on departmental plans, policies, and strategies.
Assist in developing and improving internal procedures and systems to enhance efficiency.
Establish initial contact with victims and ensure victims are advised of their statutory rights throughout the Criminal Justice process.
Provide victims with information for applying for restitution.
Obtain information regarding the impact the crime had on the victim’s life and property.
Advise victims of resources available at the Minnesota Crime Reparations Board and other Office of Justice Programs.
Assist in filing claims and gathering pertinent information for the court to order restitution.
Keep victims informed of the status of the case through all stages of the criminal justice process.
Assist attorneys in obtaining victim input regarding plea negotiations.
Encourage victims to act in the best interest of their own safety and the safety of others.
Attend training as needed.
Responsible for maintaining required training and program updates.
Perform other duties as assigned or apparent.