Senior Legal Assistant

Scott County Community Development Agency • Shakopee, MN

21h • $27 - $41 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Legal Assistant independently performs complex legal administrative duties in the fast-paced County Attorney’s Office, providing comprehensive support to attorneys and staff. The role drafts and assembles legal documents; manages case files and calendars; conducts criminal-history and related information checks; coordinates court hearings; and assists attorneys with preparation for hearings, trials, and meetings. The position prepares and serves discovery and pleadings, notifies and coordinates witnesses, and may assist in the courtroom. It also serves as a liaison among law enforcement agencies, Court Administration, Community Corrections, defense attorneys, defendants, the public, and others regarding criminal and civil matters.

The position handles time-sensitive referrals, documents, deadlines, correspondence, inquiries, discovery, subpoenas, court calendars, case records, and databases. It may attend court proceedings and meetings, help train staff, provide back-up support, and assist with support-staff policies and procedures. The position is located in Shakopee, Minnesota. A comprehensive benefits package is provided to employees who work 20 hours per week or more; further details are available through the Scott County Benefit Hub.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree or equivalent and two years of legal or administrative work experience; legal-office experience is preferred.
• Four years of legal experience may substitute for the degree.
• Ability to pass CJIS fingerprinting.
• Work assigned hours or shifts and begin and end work on time.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with MNCIS or MCAPS.
• Previous criminal experience in a County Attorney’s Office.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized legal administrative support to attorneys in the County Attorney’s Office.
• Receive time-sensitive information and referrals; manage documents and exhibits for attorney review and legal action; assess workload and deadlines and initiate timely responses.
• Prepare, transcribe, and draft legal documents, including forms, petitions, subpoenas, formal complaints, orders, and correspondence.
• Obtain and track criminal histories, convictions, aliases, active case files, and other relevant information; secure police reports, send notices, and assist with subpoenas and orders.
• Open, close, organize, and maintain case files; process incoming correspondence; answer authorized letters; review hearing notes and notices for accuracy; communicate with Court Administration; and respond to public inquiries.
• Notify witnesses, inform them of hearing status, track availability, and keep attorneys informed.
• Assemble trial notebooks and organize case files; attend trials or other court proceedings to assist attorneys and provide feedback.
• Monitor and collect unpaid court fines.
• Handle law-enforcement calls, faxes, and emails requesting administrative subpoenas; prepare and submit subpoenas; respond to questions about subpoena authority; and search the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics for appropriate authority.
• Collaborate with other counties and agencies within and outside Minnesota.
• Attend court, hearings, and meetings upon request, maintaining appropriate decorum.
• Receive, review, and serve discovery on defense counsel; compare case files with law-enforcement files to ensure prompt disclosure; request and monitor additional discovery and serve it.
• Maintain attorney calendars and files.
• Answer and screen calls and emails and respond to walk-in inquiries from the public and county employees and departments.
• Process the daily court calendar, troubleshoot issues, and resolve conflicts.
• Search for and provide driver’s license information, criminal history, and other pertinent information to support attorney charging decisions.
• Recognize and resolve suspense files.
• Use, organize, develop, update, and maintain databases and records, including MCAPS, Portals, DVS, Evidence.com, LETG, and E-filing/E-service; manage file retention.
• Perform other administrative tasks as needed, including back-up support, training new staff, and assisting with development or revision of support-staff policies and procedures.
• Work assigned hours or shifts and begin and end work on time.
• Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

Benefits

• A comprehensive benefits package is provided to employees who work 20 hours per week or more; detailed benefit information is available through the Scott County Benefit Hub.

What This Job Offers

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