Legal Assistant

Under the supervision of the Prosecuting Attorney or Chief Assistant, performs varied secretarial and support functions for the legal staff. Activities include preparing and processing legal documents, preparing and issuing subpoenas, opening and maintaining case files and providing general clerical support such as answering the telephone and opening and routing mail. May be responsible for performing secretarial and clerical functions related to child support enforcement and paternity cases including typing and filing complaints and interviewing clients to obtain necessary background information.

Employees hired after or employed as of February 1, 2023, are eligible to receive a retention stipend of $2,500 if they remain employed as of July 31, 2023. Employees who remain employed through January 31, 2024, will receive an additional $2,500.
**Applications are accepted until there are sufficient numbers of qualified applications or qualified candidate has been identified. The position could possibly close at any time.**

1. Prepares and types various motions, orders, warrants, subpoenas, juvenile court petitions, and other legal forms and documents and prepares proofs of service as appropriate. Types briefs, answers and correspondence for the prosecuting attorneys. Proofreads documents for spelling, punctuation, grammar and format.

2. Enters data on court cases to computer and generates warrants, juvenile petitions, family support complaints and other legal documents.

3. Responds to telephone callers and visitors and answers inquiries of attorneys, parties, victims, witnesses, and others regarding departmental procedures, schedules, case information and other matters.

4. Opens criminal, juvenile and civil files, enter case information to computer, and files all documentation. Processes all police reports and other information received from area police departments. Files documents with the court and continually updates files until cases are closed. Maintains statistics of legal activities such as incoming petitions, misdemeanors and felonies authorized, and dispositions.

5. Inputs data to computer from warrant requests, types warrants after authorization and secures signature, and prepares it for delivery to District Court. Copies police report and sets up file for warrant request.

6. Receives trial dates from the court, pulls files and enters date to computer system. Updates information as the cases are returned from the court and carries out follow-up directives of the prosecutors.

7. Assists in coordinating the calendar of staff and pulls and reviews files for scheduled cases and distributes to appropriate attorney.

8. Operates LEIN system to obtain driving records and criminal histories. Obtains certified driving records, certificate of convictions, and orders of suspension from courts or agencies as appropriate.

9. Prepares orders for forensic evaluation and sends with letter and police report to Forensic Center.

10. May be responsible for the processing of appeals, includes tracking appeals files and generating a schedule for briefs to be filed, typing briefs, motions and other documents, opening and maintaining files, reviewing communications regarding appeals, keeping statistics and performing other support tasks related to appeals.

11. Processes child support cases, includes setting up appointments for incoming referrals, inputting data to computer, generating complaints, summons, ex parte orders, URESA petitions, and various motions and orders. Ensures service of process. Ensures files are in order and complete for court proceedings.

12. Interviews custodial parents to obtain necessary information related to child support and paternity case files and complaints. Enters information to system and generates pleadings and other legal documents for client to sign. Explains documents and procedures to clients.

13. Monitors and responds to informational requests and correspondence from out-state agencies. Discusses and clarifies legal and procedural inquiries from clients and caseworkers from other states.

14. Provides assistance with child support cases, includes tracking cases, responding to inquiries, and coordinating cases with the Department of Social Services and the Office of Friend of the Court.

15. Performs a variety of support tasks such as typing forms, reviewing and distributing mail, filing updates to law books, copying, faxing and filing.

16. Maintains files for Mentally Incapacitated persons for which office attends in Probate Court, types abuse and neglect petitions brought to office by DSS, and prepares and processes records for a variety of other matters.

Other Functions

17. Serves as data processing liaison for the office, includes performing system updates, informing/training other staff on system features, scheduling outside training and working with the Prosecuting Attorneys Association to resolve system inquiries and problems.

18. Coordinates the collection of maintenance of statistical records of office and prepares monthly and annual reports.

This list may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed. Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted or modified at any time.

Must be a high school graduation or equivalent. Prefer advanced coursework in word processing and legal secretarial areas.

One year of prior typist/secretarial experience in a legal setting providing a knowledge of legal terminology and court procedures. Requires some knowledge or experience with computer systems.

Must be an accurate typist with a high typing proficiency.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

Physical Requirements:
{This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements}:

· Ability to access filing systems.

· Ability to enter and retrieve information from computer system.

· Ability to generate various documents from computer system.

· Ability to operate copying machine for extended periods.

Working Conditions:

· Works in office setting.

· Exposure to individuals charged and/or convicted of a variety of criminal offenses.

Employment Type: Full Time