Prosecution Assistant

County of Tulare•Visalia, CA

About The Position

This recruitment establishes an employment list for current and future vacancies in the District Attorney’s Office. The employment list is anticipated to remain active for six months. The current vacancy is with the Tulare County District Attorney Office at the Visalia Courthouse and Porterville. The Prosecution Assistant reviews, prepares, files, and processes designated misdemeanor cases using the District Attorney’s information systems. The role prepares criminal complaints, examines case files to prepare witness subpoena lists, and confers with law enforcement officers about collecting facts and evidence. It also requires reading and understanding complex legal language to check questions of law and evidence and assisting with memoranda for legal opinions. Candidates must have completed a paralegal certification or the equivalent of one year at a law school accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, or have successfully completed the first-year law student’s examination (California mini-bar). A criminal history check and background investigation will be conducted before the successful candidate begins work. Candidates must also pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening. Other possible conditions include background reinvestigation every 10 years for some positions, E-Verify on the first day for some positions, and a physical examination for some job classes.

Requirements

Completion of a paralegal certification, or equivalent to completion of one year at a law school accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, or successful completion of the first-year law student’s examination (California mini-bar).
Knowledge of criminal law and procedure; legal research methods; drafting legal documents and opinion writing; filing procedures and legal terminology; legal ethics related to criminal procedures; legal office practices and procedures; and automated legal research methods and document preparation.
Ability to read and analyze legal documents; collect and examine factual data; understand and apply legal principles and precedents; explain legal actions and documents courteously, patiently, and tactfully; present verbal statements of fact and law; establish effective working relationships with attorneys, officials, coworkers, and the general public; follow and give verbal and written instructions; operate a personal computer; organize, maintain, and coordinate litigation files and calendars; and use computer systems for legal research and criminal case processing.
Pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening.
A criminal history check and background investigation will be conducted before the successful candidate commences service; felony convictions, nondisclosure, or falsification of history result in immediate disqualification.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of legal citations to assist attorneys, interviewing techniques, trial procedures and rules of evidence, filing procedures and legal terminology, and the DAMION system.
Two years of journey-level experience as a Paralegal in the criminal justice system.

Responsibilities

Review, prepare, file, and process designated misdemeanor cases using the District Attorney’s information systems.
Prepare criminal complaints.
Examine case files to prepare witness subpoena lists.
Confer with law enforcement officers regarding the collection of facts and evidence.
Read and comprehend complex legal language to check questions of law and evidence.
Assist in preparing memoranda for legal opinions.
Organize, maintain, and coordinate litigation files and calendars.
Use computer systems to conduct legal research and process criminal cases.