Legal Secretary Public Defender

POSITION:Legal Secretary III DEPARTMENT:Public Defender

RATE OF PAY: $15.80 per hour HOURS WORKED: Monday to Friday

BENEFITS: Highmark BC/BS, Vision, Delta Dental and Life Insurance. (First of the month following sixty (60) calendar days)
County Retirement Plan. Aflac, optional.
Paid time off – Holiday from start. Vacation, Sick, Personal (after completion of six (6) month Initial Employment

Period)

OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF JOB: To assist the department with the secretarial needs, including complex litigation, forms, procedures and related duties, which includes the use of discretion, independence and judgement and providing overall training, supervision to secretarial staff.

QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION/TRAINING: High School diploma or equivalent, plus some secretarial, legal and computer training. Some college with Criminal Justice courses preferred.

WORK EXPERIENCE: 2-4 years working experience in law office, including taking and transcribing of legal dictation, notes. Experience in government preferred.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF JOB:

• Supervises secretarial staff and assigns work.
• Takes, transcribes and types dictation, including legal opinions, briefs, memos, subpoenas and other related legal documents.
• Develops and maintains legal files and filing systems on all court cases and appeals, invoices and billings.
• Logs opinions, orders and other court decisions; performs necessary docketing of cases.
• Processes a variety of legal forms, i.e. petitions, stipulations, nol proses, warrants, writs, etc. completely and accurately, to implement court orders and proceedings.
• Operates computer and software to maintain necessary information.
• Greets general public and assists them with paperwork and qualifying process.
• Opens, screens and distributes mail appropriately.
• Composes replies to routine correspondence.
• Monitors office budget and secures payment of office bills.
• Orients and trains new clerical employees.
• Answers phone calls and routine inquiries, or directs calls to appropriate individuals.
• Interacts with general public, clients and other internal departments.
• Makes and cancels appointments as required.
• Processes dismissal and expungement documents and a variety of forms to implement court orders as required.
• Assigns arraignment dates and caseloads for attorneys as required.
• Attends court hearings as required to record dispositions.
• Distributes files for pre-trial conferences.
• Assists attorneys with preparation of hearings/trial information as needed.
• Develops and maintains legal files on court cases; logs opinions, orders and other court decisions.
• Prepares for hearings and trials by assembling legal records and other information, including appeals, rulings and other pertinent documents.
• Complies data and budget information in preparing annual department budget.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Must be able to speak and understand the English language and to follow oral and written instructions.
• Must possess effective oral and written communication skills.
• Must possess ability to function independently, have flexibility and personal integrity and the ability to work effectively with clients, judicial authorities, co-workers and others.
• Must possess the ability to maintain confidentiality in regard to client information and records.
• Must possess the technical knowledge of operating personal computers and other office equipment.
• Must possess the knowledge of legal terminology and Criminal Justice system.
• Must possess some knowledge of the operation and procedures of the civil and criminal court systems.
• Must possess the ability to take and transcribe legal dictation and type from drafts clearly and accurately and within a reasonable speed.
• Must possess ability to prepare and maintain files and reports.
• Must possess the ability to compose replies to routine correspondence.
• Must possess the knowledge and ability to assist in the preparation and assembly of legal documents.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Works in adequate work space, lighting, temperatures and ventilation.
• Works with average indoor exposure to noise and stress, but subject to frequent disruptions.
• Normal exposure to indoor dust/dirt.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess hearing, seeing, speaking and reasoning senses necessary to carry out job duties.
• Must be able to sit for long periods during the workday, with frequent standing, walking and occasional twisting, stooping, pushing, pulling, grasping and reaching necessary to carry out duties.
• Dexterity requirements range from simple to coordinated movements of fingers/hands, feet/legs, and torso necessary to carry out job duties.
• Sedentary work, with occasional lifting/carrying of objects with maximum weights of ten pounds.
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Must be able to cope with the physical and mental stress of the position.
• Must be able to pay close attention to details and concentrate on work.
• AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $15.80 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Travel requirement:

• No travel

Work Location: In person