PARALEGAL I

Thurston County • Olympia, WA

8h • Onsite

About The Position

Thurston County Public Defense is currently recruiting for one (1) Paralegal I
position. This position works within the Superior
Court Unit and provides specialized Legal Assistant II duties and responsibilities to assigned
attorneys. This position performs lead duties to other legal support staff, such
as planning work and daily priorities, distributing and checking their work, and
developing unit/office procedures. This position serves as a member of the Lead
Support Team. Work is performed independently, and discretion is afforded.

Requirements

• Associate degree in legal assistant or paralegal studies, or legal-related studies, and/or Paralegal certificate from an accredited program; and three (3) years' experience in a position equivalent to a Legal Assistant II level position.
• Or, six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in a legal-related field, which include three years in a Legal Assistant II 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 at least 60 words per minute.

Responsibilities

• Types correspondence, reports, legal pleadings and other material with high standards of accuracy, style of presentation, completeness and correctness of content. Composes responses to routine inquiries from attorneys, agencies and the public. In support of litigation, may perform research on specific subject matter and summarizes findings for attorney review. Drafts legal documents for attorney review and signature. Reviews case documents for grammar and appropriate content.
• Assures proper documents are completed and filed in preparation of or as a result of legal motions such as written evidentiary motions, legal memoranda, summary judgements, supporting documents, finding of fact and conclusions of law, etc. Provides assistance and information to the public and witnesses regarding court dates and appearances on criminal cases.
• Provides courtroom support to Defense Attorney by organizing and preparing trial notebooks, exhibits, or other documents, organizing and scheduling witnesses, taking notes, and/or related tasks during trial or other hearings.
• Communicates verbally or in writing with opposing attorneys or parties regarding discovery issues, settlement negotiations, or other matters related to the litigation.
• Extracts information from case management and related systems to generate specialized reports.
• Research, compiles, and completes special project assignments as assigned. Maintains statistics and prepares statistical reports.
• Performs lead work duties including coordinating and monitoring staff workload, assisting in the planning of work and setting daily priorities, and developing training plans and training staff. Conveys supervisor's direction and instructions to subordinate personnel, furnishing explanation when necessary. Advises staff on supervisor's preference and requirements. Assists in managing office activities including responding to complaints and recommending solutions, being the first point of contact in resolving staff problems, and the frequent reporting on, and maintenance of, a positive working environment with respect to personnel problems, disciplinary issues, assessing work performance of staff, and providing input for evaluations to the supervisor. Devises and evaluates office procedures and implements changes subject to approval of supervisor.

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.
• 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: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree