Legal Assistant

County of Jackson•Black River Falls, WI

21d•Onsite

About The Position

The District Attorney's Legal Assistant performs the full range of clerical and legal secretarial tasks, plus tasks that are unique to the Office of District Attorney. Performs a variety of complex word processing and record keeping duties in the District Attorney's Office using DA specific computer software (PROTECT), and MS Outlook and MS Word. Drafts and prepares criminal complaints, juvenile petitions and orders, and miscellaneous other legal documents; handles correspondence and performs data entry for data base of case intakes; completes fingerprint cards; accesses CCAP and multi-state driver records, prepares records, files and performs receptionist duties and schedules hearings; tracks juvenile cases to ensure statutory time limits are met; enters case file data into PROTECT; utilizes CCAP-PROTECT interface. Must be able to multi-task and perform tasks under deadlines. The position requires the exercise of good judgment in the application of office procedures and strict confidentiality. Supervision is provided by the District Attorney and the Assistant District Attorney.

Requirements

Post-secondary coursework in legal secretary, paralegal, administrative assistant, or related field
Minimum of one (1) year experience in a law office or legal services environment
Computer experience including Microsoft Office Suite, internet, and accounting applications with knowledge of the principles of budgetary accounting
Knowledge and understanding of courthouse security procedures
Ability to read and interpret documents, and laws in the English language
Ability to listen to and understand information and ideas in spoken and written format so individuals may effectively understand and convey communications
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form
Inductive and deductive reasoning – ability to combine separate pieces of information, or specific answers to problems, to form general rules or conclusions; includes coming up with a logical explanation for why a series of seemingly unrelated events occur together and deciding if an answer makes sense
Ability to apply working knowledge of Statues and Ordinances, court rules and procedures

Nice To Haves

Legal Secretary Certificate preferred

Responsibilities

Compiles reports for referral in Protect and opens appropriate files and enters data using Word and PROTECT
Generates letters, memos, summons, subpoenas, warrants, stipulations, motions, orders and miscellaneous other legal forms
Organizes and supervises the worthless check and immunization programs
Assists the receptionist, as needed, answering phones, taking messages, scheduling appointments and furnishing information
Communicates with Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Department of Natural Resources, Police Departments and other law enforcement agencies, Judges' Offices, Clerk of Court's Office and Department of Health and Human Services, regarding schedules, cases and requests for follow up investigation and does related work as required at the direction of the District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney
Conducts internet research to obtain information relevant to office needs
Obtains criminal histories and determines if case may qualify for enhanced penalties
Updates office calendar
Accesses the TIME System for Wisconsin to retrieve driving and criminal records
Updates PROTECT system to ensure case information is current
Prepares jury instruction requests and witness lists
Conducts traffic and ordinance pre-trials on behalf of Assistant District Attorney and District Attorney
Ensures all juvenile orders are distributed to all parties involved in each case
Assists in courtroom as needed
Understands and applies statutory deadlines to ensure legal documents are filed and served on time
Treats all persons dealing with office of District Attorney with equal dignity and genuine courtesy
Manages correspondence as needed to ensure timely service of process and communication with defendant, witnesses, court staff and others
Maintains working knowledge of Department of Transportation licensing requirements and procedures
Maintains strict confidentiality of all District Attorney functions
Drafts probable cause section of criminal complaints and juvenile delinquency petitions and other various legal documents
Schedules court hearings and calendars appointments on computer
Maintains law library and legal research resources
Serves as TIME System Agency Coordinator and ensures regulatory compliance
Serves as PROTECT and Statute Administrator
Prepares Writs regarding prison cases and makes sure prisoners are transported to court from other jurisdictions
Completes Extraditions with Prison authorities
Sorts, indexes and files records and materials relevant to the department timely and accurately
Ensures that subpoenas are served on witnesses prior to trial date
Ensures that criminal complaints are filed before initial appearance and copies are forwarded to attorneys and defendants
Receives electronic reports and jail list from Jackson County Sheriff's Department; requests any missing reports from appropriate law enforcement agency
Provides appropriate counter and over-the-phone service to the general public, attorneys and other agencies by: greeting, providing information and assistance and answering appropriate inquiries
Interacts with the public and co-workers in a courteous, proficient, and professional manner.
Works in a professional manner with attorneys and other court officials
Performs other duties as assigned