Public Defense Legal Assistant (CS/TLT/SDA)

King County; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Transit pass

Training opportunities

Job summary

King County's Department of Public Defense seeks experienced Legal Assistants across divisions to support administrative duties, discovery, and client communications. The role requires independent judgment and adherence to procedures, with hybrid work and on-site presence in Seattle or Kent.

Ideal candidates will have prior legal office experience and the ability to lift up to 20 pounds. The position offers a flexible schedule, training opportunities, and county benefits.

Qualifications

• Have demonstrated experience as an office or administrative assistant.
• Prior work in a legal setting and criminal legal system is a plus.
• Must be able to lift/move up to 20-pound boxes.
• Must have a Washington State Driver's License or ability to travel to required destinations around King County.

Responsibilities

• Performs a wide range of advanced administrative duties, both in the office and remotely, requiring independent judgment and timeliness.
• Opens and distributes cases to assigned attorneys and maintains case records.
• Maintains Master Court Calendar and verifies monthly reports.
• Obtains criminal history information from jails or prisons via phone, email, or mail.
• Provides excellent customer service to DPD clients, onsite and remotely.

Skills

Customer service

Office software

Communication

File and records management

JIS/SCOMIS familiarity

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

This posting will remain open until filled and may close at any time without prior notice. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. on August 12, 2026, will be given priority consideration.

King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) is seeking interested applicants for all vacancies that become available as Legal Assistants in any of our four divisions. The ideal candidates will be able to exercise good independent judgment, and apply office guidelines, legal procedures, work methods, court rules, and applicable laws.

This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies as Career Service, Term‑Limited Temporary (TLT), or Special Duty Assignments (SDA). This recruitment will be used to establish an eligibility pool to fill any vacancies that may occur over the next 6 months. Applications will be reviewed, and selections made as vacancies as occur.

WHY JOIN DPD?

The Department of Public Defense (DPD) provides high quality legal representation to indigent clients in felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile defense, family defense (dependency cases), involuntary commitment (mental illness), sex offender commitment, and inquests. We also advocate to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal legal system and civil legal systems that restrict our clients’ liberty and to address systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive, premised on a shared anti‑oppression framework. To learn more about DPD, visit our website.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following:

Administrative Support

• Performs a wide range of advanced administrative duties, both in the office and remotely, and word processing of complex and/or confidential materials, requiring independent judgment, initiative, and timeliness on assignments that are sensitive in nature in accordance with department procedures.
  • Identifies, in both initial and follow up discovery, prior division involvement with individuals listed/present in discovery and pass on detailed descriptions of those prior involvements to attorney or attorney supervisor for conflict analysis.
  • Opens and distributes cases to assigned attorneys.
  • Maintains Master Court Calendar with supervisor and attorney supervisor.
  • Verifies monthly reports, close client case files and process closed files daily.
  • Obtains criminal history information from jails or prisons via telephone, email, or regular mail.
• Maintains professional and accurate records, both in the office and remotely, including confidential reports and information, both in electronic and written format within established deadlines and in accordance with department procedures.
  • Accurately docket and enter case assignment information, following case management system docketing work procedures.
  • Process debits and credits daily into case management system.
  • Request case credit and assignments from the Director's Office.

Customer Service and Communication

• Provide excellent customer service, both in the office and remotely, as the first line of contact with DPD clients.
  • Demonstrates the ability to be onsite at the work locations at least three days a week in any of DPD’s office locations (Seattle and Kent). Location assignments are changeable; work location may include more than one office location over the course of a week and may change over the course of employment.
  • Demonstrates and practices cultural sensitivity when engaging a diverse population.
  • Uses professional communication skills and demonstrates empathy with DPD’s clients many of whom suffer from trauma and/or mental illness, via the phone and in-person.
  • Reliably answers and returns calls, providing the DPD community authentic support and demonstrating a willingness to assist them.
  • Monitors and responds to voicemail and email messages.
  • Greets clients and visitors upon arrival to the office, ensuring guests are comfortable and are connected with the correct office personnel.
  • Provides clear and reassuring communication to DPD clients.

The Department reserves the right to assign additional duties in support of DPD’s mission.

Other Functions:

• Request discovery from other agencies.
• Review case assignments with the attorney supervisor.
• Organize office supplies.

*Detailed specifics of job duties are assigned by case type and division.*

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Have demonstrated experience as an office or administrative assistant. Prior work in a legal setting and criminal legal system is a plus.
• Must be able to lift/move up to 20-pound boxes.

• Must have a Washington State Driver's License or ability to travel to required destinations around King County.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Spelling, grammar, and vocabulary skills.
• Advanced office equipment and software programs.
• Legal procedures, work methods, court rules, and applicable laws.

ABILITY TO:

• Provide excellent customer service, including communicating with people of diverse backgrounds, who may be experiencing stress, trauma, and/or suffering from mental illness.
• Use office productivity tools such as Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Word, and Outlook) document management, and Internet search engines.
• Apply procedures, policies, and guidelines.
• Adapt to ever changing work needs and requirements.
• Learn new and/or increasing complex duties.

• Work in a fast-paced, and multifaceted environment with high attention to detail.

The following qualifications are a plus:

• Have lived experience involving the criminal legal system.
• Knowledge of Superior Court Management Information System (SCOMIS), Judicial Information System (JIS), and Electronic Case Records (ECR).
• Fluency in a foreign language.

WHY KING COUNTY?

King County offers great benefits, to include a pension plan, holidays, transit pass, plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development. Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance.

Work Schedule and Location

The Legal Assistant Team works in a hybrid model, with an onsite minimum of three (3) days per week. During the probationary period, employees are required to work onsite four (4) days per week. The ratio of telecommuting to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location for these positions may be Seattle or Kent.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County‑issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

DPD maintains physical offices in the following locations:

• Dexter Horton Building, 710 Second Avenue, Seattle
• Jefferson Street Building, 1401 East Jefferson, Seattle
• Meeker Street Building, 420 West Harrison Street, Kent

Rotations of work location and practice area and/or workflow are an essential function and can occur based on business need. Placements may be made to any of our Seattle and/or Kent locations. The typical workweek is 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is eligible for overtime.

DPD Policies

DPD Ethical Walls Policies and Procedures will apply to employees, such that if you work or have worked for one of DPD's divisions, you may be ineligible to work in another division.

Outside Work Policy for Administrative Staff will apply to employees, such that you must receive approval from your supervisor and Managing Attorney before being permitted to engage in outside employment for compensation or volunteer.

Union Membership

This position is represented by Service Employees International Union, Local 925.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, this salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. King County offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance for employees and dependents; retirement and deferred compensation. For additional information, please review the detailed summaryofbenefits offered by King County.