LEGAL ASSISTANT II

Thurston County • Olympia, WA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is seeking highly motivated and qualified individuals who will take on the role of a Legal Assistant II (2 positions available) in the Criminal Division. In the Criminal Division, this position will provide a variety of technical clerical support services to assigned attorneys including specialized, technical or program-specific information. Responsibilities may include establishing and maintaining data; logging, tracking, and creating management reports; performing legal research; drafting and editing various legal documents; and screening calls and scheduling appointments.

Requirements

• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Associate degree in legal assistant or paralegal studies, or legal-related studies, and/or Paralegal certificate from an accredited program.
• Or, four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in a legal-related field, which include two years in a Legal Assistant I level position; or any combination of education and relevant experience which demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.
• Must be able to type 60 words per minute.

Nice To Haves

• Strong technical skill set; able to work effectively with various case management systems, Microsoft Office applications, i.e. Outlook, PowerPoint, and media players.
• Superior communication skills (written, oral, and listening) with the ability to work with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently and be self-motivated, handling multiple competing priorities, sensitive situations and crisis situations and functioning well under time pressure.
• Must possess exceptional interpersonal skills to interact with difficult individuals.
• Familiar with correct and effective use of legal terminology and legal case management techniques.

Responsibilities

• Required to proficiently perform essential job functions of the Legal Assistant I classification.
• Prepares, files, and/or serves correspondence, legal briefs, pleadings, charging information, complaints, orders, court orders, affidavits, notices of appearance, motions, notices of infraction, summonses, warrants, subpoenas, jury instructions, and other legal documents from verbal or standing instructions.
• Develops procedures for handling and locating files from the intake process through the appellate process. Prepares, organizes, and maintains case files; reviews case files and court rules to assure timely action or review by attorney, and initiates preparation of appropriate documents and pleadings at each stage of case progress. Organizes, assembles, and maintains other attorneys' files and records, including correspondence, opinion, information and research files. Maintains statistical records, updates case status and information, and enters caseload information into a computer for the compilation of monthly and/or annual statistics for internal use, budget preparation, public inquiry, and management reports. Certifies disposition of all criminal cases and forwards disposition notices to appropriate authorities.
• Reviews court files for complete information and consistency of court dates, and performs basic legal research to verify citations of statutes and cases or other related information. Researches and investigates records of potential plaintiffs and/or defendants/respondents and recommends legal action to be taken.
• Gathers information and performs investigation work to locate addresses for defendants to be served with necessary court documents. May determine restitution/reimbursement amounts on each case; sets up and maintains appropriate files and cards for follow-up and monitoring of payments. Presents documents for judge's signature or may attend court to assist the attorney.
• Provides assistance and serves as a liaison to witnesses, victims and experts as each respective case is processed through the judicial system. Maintains frequent contact with victims, witnesses, law enforcement or administrative agencies, judges/court personnel, other public officials and employees, attorneys and defendants, as appropriate.
• Receives and reviews incoming mail; composes responses to routine inquiries from attorneys, agencies and the public; composes answers to procedural correspondence for approval; routes other correspondence to attorneys, calling attention to items needing immediate consideration.
• Reviews cases to determine what information is discoverable and ensures that this information is served in compliance with statutes and court rules. May be assigned to respond to public record requests.
• May utilize appropriate techniques to effectively interview witnesses, victims, and members of the public to obtain factual information. Analyzes collected information and assesses needs of individuals, provides guidance through court procedures and processes, answers questions, coordinates testimony for hearings/trials. Communicates with neighboring county, city, state, and federal jurisdictions. Makes reservations and travel arrangements for attorneys, law enforcement personnel, victims and witnesses as needed. Coordinates arrangements for depositions/interviews, hearings and meetings.
• Has knowledge of applicable Washington State law.
• Provides direction, assistance and guidance to other staff and assists in training new Legal/Office Assistants. May provide coverage for Legal/Office Assistant positions during periods of absence.
• Performs a variety of coordinating activities for supervisor. Has working knowledge of the different positions within the office to provide coverage when needed.

Benefits

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree