Legal Assistant 3 – Prosecuting Attorney

Pierce-County-Washington; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in Tacoma seeks an experienced Legal Assistant to support litigation management in state and federal courts, handle case files, filing, correspondence, witness interviews, discovery, and trial prep.

You will explain legal guidelines to the public and attorneys, work with deputy prosecutors, and help ensure accurate records, confidentiality, and timely preparation for civil tort defense matters.

Qualifications

• Two or more years of progressive experience in legal support or related staff function.
• Experience in civil torts litigation preferred.
• Ability to understand and apply legal guidelines to varied requirements.

Responsibilities

• Creates, organizes and maintains case files and records; retrieves information and documents.
• Follows instructions and applies available legal guidelines to operations.
• Provides information to the public and advises attorneys regarding status of cases.
• Supervises workers and coordinates preparation of complex reports.
• Participates in collection and preparation of reports requiring regulatory knowledge.

Skills

Legal knowledge

Litigation support

Case management

Public guidance

Education

Legal education/training

Tools

Office software

Job description

The salary reflected here does not include any General Wage Increases negotiated between the County and the union.

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

As a proven Legal Assistant with expertise in all aspects of litigation management, this is a great opportunity to provide legal support work for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

This includes the opening of case files, filing of all court documents, legal correspondence, client and agency contact, witness interviews, discovery management, exhibit preparation, and trial preparation in both State Superior Court and Federal Court.

You will explain rules and interpret established guidelines to persons who may have no knowledge of legal procedures, as well as provide technical assistance and procedural information to the public, attorneys, and other justice system personnel and agencies. As a Prosecuting Attorney’s Office employee, you make a difference in people's lives and a positive contribution to Pierce County.

Learn more about the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office here.

Why It's a Great Department:

The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is committed to the recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion of a diverse staff. Our commitment to diversity creates a strong and collegial office that promotes respect for the community we serve.

Our Department takes great pride in the collegial environment we have created. We are supportive of one another, highly competent, and thrive on the collective teamwork of those who work in our office. We have high standards in our work product and for the support we provide.

How to be Successful in the Role:

In this position, you will provide difficult clerical and support work for general tort defense litigation of a variety of claims made against the county, including personal injury, wrongful death, sexual abuse, constitutional rights, or wrongful termination. This team is comprised of experienced deputy prosecutors and knowledgeable legal assistants who work closely together through conclusion of the matter.

Your Future in this Role:

This is a great opportunity to give back to the community in which you live and help make Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Creates, organizes and maintains computerized and paper files and records and retrieves information, files, documents and records. Manually files and retrieves paper records. Distributes new case files.
• Ability to understand and apply available legal guidelines or regulations to varied operational requirements, and to follow clearly stated oral and written instructions.
• Provides information to the public and advises attorneys and other interested parties regarding status of cases. Required to maintain security and confidentiality. May deal with sensitive and/or potentially volatile situations.
• Provides task supervision over workers in an office section or unit. Makes work assignments, oversees performance of assigned jobs and provides assistance as needed. Also provides supervision over part time workers.
• Coordinates or participates in the collection and preparation of complex reports requiring technical expertise or thorough knowledge of departmental operations, procedures and regulations.

This announcement is not intended to reflect all duties to be performed by our next team member, but shall present a descriptive list of the range of duties that may be performed. To view the complete classification, click here.

Preferred Requirements:

• Additional education or experience may substitute for the recruiting requirements.
• Two or more years of progressive, responsible experience in the legal field as a legal assistant, legal secretary or related legal staff support function.
• Related legal training by an accredited vocational school, college or university is preferred.
• Experience in civil torts litigation

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case basis and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment:

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.