Paralegal I/ Family Advocate (Internal Applicants Only)

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bilingual premium pay

Job summary

King County seeks a Paralegal I/Family Advocate to support ITA unit deputies, provide crisis intervention for families and vulnerable witnesses, and coordinate with prosecutors. Responsibilities include contacting families, coordinating safety plans, and connecting them with community resources throughout ITA proceedings.

Ideal candidates will have strong crisis management and communication skills, be able to handle high-volume, sensitive caseloads, and work in a hybrid environment with standard

Qualifications

• Experience providing crisis intervention and family advocacy in legal settings.
• Ability to conduct crisis assessment and provide immediate support to families and witnesses.
• Familiar with HIPAA requirements and court proceedings related to ITA matters.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with diverse populations.
• Ability to coordinate with prosecutors and providers, including safety planning and resource referrals.

Responsibilities

• Provide earliest contact with families and crisis intervention across ITA cases.
• Assist with addressing emotional and physical needs to reduce trauma impacts.
• Utilize advocacy, case management, and de-escalation techniques; develop safety plans with families.
• Inform/refer families to civil or ERPO protection options; coordinate with hospital for information release.
• Connect families with community resources and service providers; assist with court preparation and testimony.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Case management

De-escalation

Safety planning

ERPO knowledge

Community resources

Court testimony

PBK input

Communication

Equity work

Stakeholder relations

Legal terminology

Crisis work

Initiative

Problem-solving

Caseload management

Reliability

Confidentiality

Tools

Word

Excel

PBK

Job description

Internal Applicants Only

This position is open only to current employees of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Applicants must serve and pass their six-month probation period in their current position in order to be eligible to apply.

Supervisor: Elizabeth Mazich

Salary: Range 49-- $37.97 (step one) - $48.13 (step ten) hourly*

Please note that in 2027, King County employees will receive a 3.75% wage increase.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, our core business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and/or 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. based on business needs.

Work Location: In-person /telecommute (hybrid) - Ninth and Jefferson Building, Harborview Medical Center, and Civil Division offices located in Columbia Tower.

The Paralegal I/Family Advocate will be responsible for providing administrative support to Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA) unit deputies, and providing immediate crisis intervention to families and vulnerable witnesses, with the highest priority being safety. Specific duties will include initiating contact with patients’ family members upon receipt of discovery and providing support and information to families and witnesses throughout the ITA proceedings. This includes responding to family members’ questions and concerns, explaining the legal process, and keeping them informed of court hearings and the outcomes. The paralegal/advocate will consult and coordinate with prosecutors daily regarding case issues as a representative of the families’ concerns, needs, and input.

• Support, assist and inform family members throughout the ITA proceedings: Provide earliest contact and crisis intervention, be available to respond to questions or concerns and explain the ITA process
• Assist with addressing emotional and physical needs to reduce the impacts of trauma and victimization
• Deploy advocacy skills: Crisis intervention, case management and de-escalation techniques; development of coordinated safety plans with family members and vulnerable witnesses as needed
• Inform and refer family members and vulnerable witnesses in filing for civil protection orders and/or extreme risk protection orders (ERPO) as needed. Communicate with the hospital a “Duty to Warn” if a family member is in the process or has a protection order against the patient
• Connect family members with community resources and service providers
• Advocate and speak on behalf of the family and prepare family members for court testimony
• Initiate contact with family upon receipt of petition and maintain contact throughout the process with the intent to identify and address any safety concerns, keep the family informed of the status of the case, and gather the families input for the prosecutor and courts
• Consult and coordinate with prosecutors regularly regarding case issues and proceedings as a representative of the family’s concerns, needs and input – includes informing prosecutor of family’s willingness to assist with prosecution and of additional discoverable information or pertinent facts to the case gained through contact with the family
• Communicate case updates to appropriate family members; comply and explain to the family HIPPA requirements and refer family to the hospital for a release of information (ROI) from the patient in order for the family to receive patient psych/medical information
• Foster relationships with teammates and external agency partners: Hospitals, Evaluators, Attorneys, Paralegals. Law Enforcement, and other system entities to empower, support and educate families throughout the ITA system process
• Assist paralegal team with PBK input and duties, as needed
• Answer phone calls and respond to e-mails in a timely manner
• Assist unit supervisor and staff supervisor as requested
• Perform related work or other projects as requested or required
• Actively participate in PAO equity work, attending equity trainings and discussions

• Knowledge of civil, appellate, and criminal law terminology, court rules and procedures
• Demonstrated ability to work with people in crisis
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written; ability to communicate professionally and effectively with individuals and groups
• Considerable knowledge of local related community resources
• Skill in working with diverse populations
• Ability to exercise independent initiative and judgment and also function as a team player
• Ability to problem-solve and identify needed procedural and policy changes
• Demonstrated ability to manage voluminous and sensitive caseloads
• Ability to demonstrate predictable, reliable and timely attendance
• Ability to accept supervision and feedback
• Skill in performing in a fast-paced environment with a high-volume caseload
• Computer skills (WORD, Excel, PBK a plus), office equipment (phone, fax, copier), and organization skills
• Attention to detail and a low error rate in a fast-paced environment and the ability to multi-task and manage frequent interruptions
• Ability to comply with confidentiality requirements
• Active participation in PAO equity work, attending equity trainings and discussions, support for the PAO’s Race, Equity and Social Justice policy and principles, work with PAO colleagues and management to identify opportunities for improvement
• Engage race, equity and social justice principles in regular job duties and decision making
• Additional responsibilities and/or tasks may be incorporated, or existing ones modified as business needs evolve

Desired qualification but not required: This position may be eligible for the bilingual premium pay of $1 per hour for all hours worked. Desired languages include Spanish, Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Shanghai, Other), Dari, Russian, and/or Vietnamese. To qualify for the bilingual pay premium, applicants must demonstrate sufficient language proficiency.

*Employees with less than 2 years of service will receive .25 per hour less than the hourly salary table due to a mandatory contribution toward the Teamsters Pension Trust that was voted by members of Teamsters Local No. 117.