Paralegal Prosecuting Attorney's Office - Grant Funded

Ingham County; Lansing (MI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a para-professional to support criminal and civil proceedings, FOIA requests, and related matters. You will conduct legal research, draft briefs, review documents, and assist with case strategy and discovery.

This role requires independent judgment, notary duties, and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a high-volume environment. An associate’s degree in criminal justice and paralegal certification are preferred.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice or related area; 3–5 years of relevant experience in a law firm, office, or court is required.
• Paralegal certification is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare legal documents including briefs, pleadings, appeals, witness lists and discovery notices.
• Assist attorneys with case strategies, trial proceedings and FOIA-related tasks.
• Maintain case and document management systems; log and track correspondence.
• Conduct legal research and draft opinions and memos.
• Attend hearings and trials with attorneys and staff; assist with Notary duties when needed.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Document review

Discovery analysis

Public communication

Education

Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice or related field

Paralegal certification preferred

3–5 years relevant experience

Tools

PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

E-filing software

Job description

Under the direction of the Ingham County Prosecutor and/or Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and the Office Administrator, performs para-professional legal services including legal research and writing, document review, discovery analysis, assistance with supportive legal documents, and victim/public communication. This position uses considerable independent judgement in making decisions requiring the complex interpretation and application of the law. Conducts necessary research and prepares drafts of legal opinions, pleadings, briefs, and other legal documents. Analyzes and organizes information to help attorneys develop case strategy.

• Assists attorneys with the preparation of legal documents including, but not limited to, briefs, pleadings, appeals, witness lists, witness statements, plea agreements, settlement agreements, and discovery notices. Assists attorneys in development of case strategies, case theories, jury selections, and trial proceedings. Also assists in civil forfeiture, Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests, family court proceedings, and other proceedings/cases handled by the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office.
• Works autonomously and exercises independent judgment while preparing, reviewing and distributing memoranda, correspondence, reports, PowerPoint presentations, forms, and other documents as assigned. Logs and tracks correspondence.
• Assists in information gathering for attorneys by identifying and engaging with witnesses and experts, developing timeline outlines, and handling various related tasks.
• Assists and attends hearings and trials with attorneys and other staff.
• Remains up-to-date on new/developing laws, forms, and legal information relevant to the prosecution of criminal, delinquency cases as well as civil forfeiture and processing Freedom of Information Requests (FOIA).
• Performs case preparation at the direction of the attorneys.
• Reviews, analyzes, and performs redactions of various documents to include medical records, police reports, photographs, video, etc for purposes of complying with FOIA requests from the public.
• Drafts various legal documents including correspondence, motions, and other pleadings necessary to move cases toward resolution competently and in compliance with all legal requirements and deadlines. Presents statements of fact, law and basic arguments clearly, logically and concisely. Files pleadings and other legal documents with courts or administrative agencies; possesses knowledge and ability to e-file documents in all courts.
• Logically and accurately reads, understands, analyzes, interprets applicable statutes, court decisions, ordinances, court rules, codes, laws, policies, procedures, and other legal documents, and applies to assignments.
• Reviews, analyzes, and summarizes legal and technical documents related to cases, including but not limited to, criminal backgrounds, police reports, out-of-state documents, medical records, CPS records (Child Protective Service), school documents, Registers of Action, transcripts, Center for Forensic Psychiatry evaluations, and Michigan State Police laboratory reports.
• Ensures that case management systems and document management systems are updated in a timely manner reflecting actions taken by the employee.
• Researches and analyzes legal or factual issues using legal databases and books, and provides findings to attorneys.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with court staff, officers of the court, judicial system employees, victims, law enforcement, and the public.
• Serve as a Notary Public of witness on various documents related to county business as necessary
• Assists in the collection and maintenance of statistical records of the Prosecutor’s Office and assist in the preparation of monthly and/or annual reports as requested.
• Trains new employees as required.

Other Functions:

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May be responsible for mentorship and supervision of legal interns.
• Manages multiple tasks, set priorities and meets deadlines consistent with time pressures and high volumes of work.
• Provides administrative assistance such as preparation of case statistic reports, case summaries, and other reports as requested by management.
• Maintains and operates computerized database for docket control, case management, calendaring, and litigation support.
• Attends legal seminars, training classes, and position orientated meetings on and off site.
• Must adhere to departmental standards in regard to HIPAA and other privacy issues.
• During a public health emergency, the employee may be required to perform duties similar to, but not limited to, those in his/her job description.

(An employee in this position may be called upon to do any or all of the above tasks. These examples do not include all of the tasks which the employee may be expected to perform.)

Education:

Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice or a related area of study, or a minimum of three to five years of relevant experience in a law firm, office, or court is required. Paralegal certification is strongly preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Must have and maintain a valid State of Michigan driver’s license.
• Uses personal vehicle to perform tasks outside the office.
• Notary Public preferred.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of criminal law applicable to practice as a paralegal
• Principles, practices, and techniques of legal research and writing
• Methods and techniques of effective interviewing and investigation
• Legal forms and the content required for filing cases
• Standard business software and specialized legal software and programs
• Correct English usage including spelling, grammar and punctuation, practices of legal communication
• Effective customer service practices and techniques
• (The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description. The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria)
• Demonstrates effective communication skills by engaging, interacting and working with all individuals to ensure clarity and understanding in all interactions.

Requirements and Working Conditions

Working Conditions

• This position works in an indoor environment. There is no planned exposure to prominent lights, noises, odors, temperatures or weather conditions.
• This position is exposed to individuals in crisis. These individuals may suffer from mental or emotional illness, have violent tendencies or be unconcerned with their personal safety and hygiene.
• This position is required to travel for meetings and appointments.

Mental Demands

• While performing these duties, an employee will use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data; information and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret people and situations; learn and apply new information and skills; perform highly detailed work; deal with changing deadlines, interruptions and concurrent tasks; and interact with others encountered in the course of work, including contact with the public.

Physical Requirements

• This position requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, traverse, climb, balance, twist, bend, stoop/crouch, squat, kneel, crawl, lift, carry, push, pull, reach, grasp, handle, pinch, type, endure repetitive movements of the wrists, hands or fingers.
• This position’s physical requirements require periodic stamina in traversing, climbing, balancing, stooping/crouching, squatting, kneeling, crawling, grasping, handling and pinching.
• This position’s physical requirements require regular stamina in walking, twisting, bending, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and reaching.
• This position’s physical requirements require continuous stamina in sitting, standing, typing and enduring repetitive movements of the wrists, hands or fingers.
• This position performs medium work requiring the ability to exert between 20-50 pounds of force in the physical requirements above.
• This position primarily requires close visual acuity to perform tasks within arm’s reach such as: viewing a computer screen, using measurement devices, inspecting and assembling parts, etc.
• This position requires the ability to communicate and respond to inquiries both in person and over the phone.
• This position requires the ability to operate a PC/laptop and to enter and retrieve information from a computer.
• This position requires the ability to handle varying and often high levels of stress.

This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the requirements listed above. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements.

June 2024

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