Legal Assistant

Polk County, Iowa; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Polk County seeks a paralegal to work under an attorney, performing delegated substantive legal work and assisting attorneys, clients, and the courts with knowledge of law and procedures.

The role involves preparing for hearings, trials, and depositions, maintaining case files, conducting investigations, and coordinating case processes with justice system personnel while ensuring confidentiality and accuracy in records.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school.
• Successful completion of a two-year paralegal training program.
• One year of paralegal, criminal justice, or related field experience or equivalent.
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Receives referrals and initiates necessary legal actions for timely filing of cases.
• Assists attorneys in hearings and trials; prepares exhibits and maintains case files.
• Attends depositions and court hearings; prepares subpoenas and other court documents as directed.
• Maintains case information; records data in case management systems and electronic databases.
• Performs legal research using traditional and computer-assisted tools; summarizes information for attorneys.
• Orders, monitors, and produces evidence under attorney direction.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Skills

Legal research

Case management

Evidence handling

Confidentiality

Court procedures

Communication skills

Organization

Education

High school diploma

Two-year paralegal training program

Experience in paralegal or criminal justice

Tools

Case management software

Databases

Word processing

Job description

Under the direction of an attorney, performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible and would perform in the absence of the paralegal; applies knowledge of law and legal procedures in providing direct assistance to attorneys, clients, and the courts.

Illustrative Examples of Work

1. Receives and reviews referrals, determines the status and/or action required; initiates necessary legal documents and actions for timely filing of cases; monitors and tracks hearing dates to ensure compliance with deadlines.
2. Assists attorneys in preparation of hearings and trials by maintaining reference files, conducting research, and collecting and analyzing evidence for hearings. Prepares exhibits for presentation at trial. Takes detailed notes and summarizes depositions, interrogatories, and testimony for case files; prepares trial books and witness and exhibit lists; maintains case calendar and schedules; prepares and reviews trial information, minutes, sentencing orders, case files, criminal histories, legal pleadings, and correspondence; investigates facts of cases and ensures all relevant information is considered by the attorney; interviews, locates, and take statements from witnesses, victims, defendants, and involved parties.
3. Attends depositions, court hearings, arraignments, pre-trial conferences, and trials to assist attorneys; prepares and may serve subpoenas, warrants, and other court orders as directed by the attorney; assists in preparing legal arguments, drafts pleadings, motions, and other court orders to be filed with the court; obtains affidavits, drafts correspondence and may make sentencing recommendations.
4. Develops, organizes, and maintains case and client information, coordinates case processes with justice system personnel or case related individuals, schedules and coordinates client appointments and hearings, and accurately records case information; maintains case files and electronic databases; reviews and analyzes files for completeness and enters and maintains data in computer case management tracking software system.
5. May assist attorney in conducting legal research, using both conventional and computer-generated tools; researches public records, identifies appropriate laws, judicial decisions, legal articles, and other material relevant to assigned cases and analyzes, summarizes, and organizes the information, preparing written reports for use by the attorney.
6. Orders, monitors, receives, and produces evidence under the direction of an attorney.
7. Performs related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of the judicial system and court procedures.
• Considerable knowledge of legal terminology and substantive and procedural law.
• Knowledge of investigative and research techniques.
• Knowledge of law office methods, procedures, and protocols.
• Knowledge of legal research and litigation.
• Knowledge of and ability to maintain confidentiality rules.
• Knowledge of current discovery laws and rules with attention to digital evidence gathering, retrieval, storage, and production, and maintaining the integrity of same.
• Problem identification, analysis, and evaluation skills.
• Skill in investigation, organization and research.
• Skill in the use of modern office equipment and computer applications including database record keeping systems, word processing, case management software, and spreadsheets.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare complex legal documents and identify facts and issues, which may require further legal evaluation.
• Ability to make fine visual distinctions upon proofreading written documents and viewing information on a computer screen.
• Ability to assemble, retrieve, and replace files.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with judiciary, defense bar, law enforcement, County officials, representatives of other agencies, and the general public.
• Ability to foster a collaborative and professional work environment.

Training and Experience

• Graduation from high school, and
• Successful completion of a two year paralegal training program, and
• One year of experience in paralegal, criminal justice, or related field, or
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience that will have provided the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Special Requirements

• A criminal background check is required.
• A drug screen is required prior to final offer of employment.
• May be required to work weekends and/or holidays at the Polk County Jail.

Polk County is committed to providing a work environment that is representative, at all levels, of the citizens we serve. Equal opportunities are available to all applicants and current employees regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.