Legal Assistant I

Clallam County; Port Angeles (WA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney's Office in Port Angeles, WA seeks a Legal Assistant I to provide clerical, administrative, case management, and legal support. Responsibilities include drafting pleadings and correspondence, maintaining case files, coordinating court schedules, filing with courts, and researching case histories.

The role requires discretion, confidentiality, attention to detail, and the ability to exercise independent judgment while following established procedures to support

Qualifications

• AA degree or equivalent; specialized training in legal administration preferred.
• Three years of progressively responsible Legal Assistant experience.
• Experience in public service environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare draft legal pleadings and correspondence for various matters.
• Coordinate scheduling of court hearings with state and county offices and private firms.
• Maintain electronic case files and search case histories.
• Enter and retrieve data from electronic information systems; file pleadings with courts.
• Interviews parties to obtain information necessary for completion of forms.
• Cross-train attorneys and support staff; assist attorneys and the public.

Skills

Discretion

Confidentiality

Attention to detail

Independent judgment

Legal terminology

Clerical skills

Education

AA Degree or equivalent

Tools

Electronic case management systems

Job description

The Legal Assistant I provides clerical, administrative, case management, and legal support services to the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Responsibilities include preparing draft legal documents and correspondence, establishing and maintaining case files, coordinating court schedules, filing pleadings, researching case histories, maintaining electronic records, and assisting attorneys and the public. The position requires discretion, confidentiality, attention to detail, and the ability to exercise independent judgment while following established procedures and supporting efficient office operations.

• Prepares draft legal pleadings and correspondence for use in conjunction with criminal prosecution, civil litigation, and other governmental matters
• Performs initial file set up for a wide variety of legal proceedings and intra-office files. Provides comprehensive clerical support to attorneys and other support staff
• Coordinates the scheduling of court hearings and other matters with state and county offices, private sector law firms, and others
• Enters and retrieves data from electronic information systems
• Maintains electronic information systems and forms contained therein
• Locates and provides records to other governmental agencies and the public. Proofreads office work product
• Files pleadings and other documents with the courts
• Research case history
• Schedules and coordinates appointments for other professional staff. Receives the public in person and over the phone and helps answer requests for assistance
• Calendars hearings, meetings, and other compliance dates
• Documents work performed in court files and in office memoranda
• Cross trains attorneys and other support staff
• Interviews parties to obtain information necessary for completion of a variety of legal forms
• In addition to regular duties, legal assistants perform special projects as assigned by management. Representative examples have included, but are not limited to, compiling statistical data, preparing charts and graphs that depict workflow indicators, assisting in long range office planning, preparing information for inclusion in annual reports, authoring draft policy and procedure manuals, critiquing department policies and procedures, evaluating existing practices and recommending modifications thereto.
• Perform any duties as assigned by the Supervisor or Lead.

Requires knowledge of the field of assignment sufficient to perform thoroughly and accurately the full scope of responsibility as illustrated by examples in the above job description

Education/Training

An AA Degree or equivalent is preferred, but not required, if supplemented by specialized training in legal administration and support. Alternatively, a combination of education, training and work experience that demonstrates the candidate is fully qualified will also be considered.

Experience

A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience as a Legal Assistant is desired, preferably within a public service environment. . Additionally, at least three years of clerical experience is required. Other combinations of education and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis as a substitute for specified position requirements; an individual should have a great deal of computer knowledge, skill and ability.

Note: Any first aid rendered by such persons is rendered only as a collateral duty responding solely to injuries resulting from workplace incidents, generally at the location where the incident occurred.