Law Clerk - County Attorney - Criminal Division

Pima County; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 32,000 - 43,000; Part time

Job summary

Pima County in Tucson is seeking a part-time Law Clerk to support the County Attorney's Office by reviewing motions, conducting legal research, and drafting memoranda and responses.

The position requires enrollment in an ABA-accredited law school (1st–3rd year) or a law degree, with experience in Lexis/Westlaw and interviewing witnesses. It is an unclassified, part-time role with duties in misdemeanor and felony matters.

Qualifications

• First, second, or third year law student in or a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
• Experience with legal research and drafting is required.
• Ability to interview victims and witnesses.

Responsibilities

• Researches appeals and prepares drafts of preliminary briefs or arguments based on statutory law or decisions.
• Conducts legal research through Lexis and Westlaw, or statutes, Constitution, law reviews, digests and case law.
• Drafts motions, responses and legal memoranda.
• Interviews victims and witnesses.
• Maintains appropriate security and confidentiality of information.

Skills

Legal research

Drafting

Interviews

Court procedure

Education

ABA-accredited law school or graduate

Tools

Lexis/Westlaw

Job description

Job Description Summary

Department - County Attorney

Job Description

THIS RECRUITMENT IS TO ESTABLISH A REGISTER for current and future LAW CLERK UNCLASSIFIED vacancies in the Pima County Attorney's Office.

Job Type: Unclassified

Job Classification: 1737 - Law Clerk

Salary Grade: 7

Pay Range

Hiring Range: $22.85 - $26.84 Per Hour

Pay Range: $22.85 - $30.82 Per Hour

Range Explanation:

• Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
• Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position.

As a part-time Criminal Division Law Clerk, you will perform paraprofessional legal work assisting attorneys by reviewing motions received in misdemeanor or felony prosecution cases, conducting in-depth legal research regarding them and drafting responses to those motions; drafting affirmative motions or sentencing memoranda in misdemeanor or felony cases, all at the request of trial deputies; reviewing these items with the clerk supervisor and the trial deputy. This work may include record review and analysis, listening or watching electronic media containing possible evidence in the cases, and discussions about these matters with the trial deputy and clerk supervisor; possible review, analysis, and discussions regarding appellate or special action matters in the trial or appellate courts, including drafting appellate or special action documents, and discussion of appellate and special action matters with assigning attorneys; attendance at court hearings and report documentation.

This classification is an unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules.

Essential Functions:

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s need and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.

• Researches appeals and prepares drafts of preliminary briefs or arguments based on statutory law or decisions;
• Conducts legal research through the use of computerized legal research systems such as Lexis and Westlaw, or statutes, U.S. Constitution, legal periodicals, law reviews, digests, legal encyclopedias, codes, regional and federal reporters, slip opinions and various case law;
• Updates or shepardizes case law to distinguish and analogize the case to the fact situation at hand;
• Identifies applicable statutes or rules that are in force and effect for the particular matter;
• Researches points and rules of law and prepares written reports summarizing research;
• Performs research and studies legal records and comments to obtain data applicable to the case under consideration;
• Drafts motions, responses and legal memoranda;
• Interviews victims and witnesses;
• Serves copies of pleadings on opposing counsel and delivers documents to various county offices;
• Conducts routine investigations on less serious charges for background and basic information;
• Confers with attorneys regarding legal issues;
• Maintains appropriate security and confidentiality of information created or encountered in the performance of assigned duties;
• May supervise, train, and assign and review the work of other law clerks;
• Maintains electronic and paper files as necessary.

Minimum Qualifications:

First, second, or third year law student in or a graduate of a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.

Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Selection Procedure:

Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidate from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be as part of the selection process.

Supplemental Information:

Licenses and Certificates: Valid driver license is at time of application. Valid AZ driver license is at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services’ review and approval of the candidate’s driving record.

Special Notice Items: The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. Some positions may require satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems. This position will require apost-job offer physicaland/or drug screen.

Physical/Sensory Requirements: Lift up to 50 lbs. maximum, frequently up to 20 lbs. Necessary to reach. Be able to grasp. Speaking Activity – necessary to speak in person and over the phone. Must be able to operate a motor vehicle. Vision requirements be able to distinguish colors, have dept and peripheral vision. Action Activity - reaching, speaking activity - in person and on the phone; Vision Activity - must be able to operate a motor vehicle, distinguish colors, have depth perception, and have peripheral vision. Frequently required to lift, push or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Working Conditions: Regular, daily attendance is an essential function for this position. The Law Clerk regularly receives and responds to telephone calls and emails. The Law Clerk occasionally drives to visit clients at residence or at jail or juvenile detention center, and to witnesses and other case involved parties at residences or business locations.

EEO Information:

Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.