WITNESS ASSISTANT I, DA - EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT

County of Los Angeles; California; On-site; USD 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE is seeking qualified candidates for emergency Witness Assistant I vacancies to support efforts to stabilize services and accelerate hiring in high-need areas. Selected applicants may be hired for up to 90 days with a path to permanent County employment.

During the initial period, performance will be assessed, and passing candidates may be considered for permanent appointment.

Qualifications

• Specialized office clerical experience at the level of Intermediate Clerk or higher.
• Public contact to obtain information in support of legal processes.

Responsibilities

• Persuades victims/witnesses, police officers, fire fighters, and medical personnel to appear in court as scheduled and rescheduled.
• Notifies attorneys and investigators of problems or conflicts and recommends solutions.
• Works with Deputy District Attorneys, judges, investigators, police officers, court and medical personnel, and the public to solve problems related to witness appearance.
• Documents and searches for and locates victims/witnesses to appear in court trials by researching telephone directories, cross directories, court records, databases, and information systems.
• Questions employers, relatives, and acquaintances to locate missing or reluctant victims/witnesses.
• Serves and re-serves subpoenas by various methods and reviews subpoenas and lists for accuracy and completeness.
• Instructs victims/witnesses in laws, rules, and procedures governing their appearance and testimony.
• Contacts victims/witnesses, police, fire fighters, medical personnel, and expert witnesses to be on-call for upcoming court proceedings.
• Advises and notifies deputy district attorneys, victims/witnesses and police officers of the specific time and place to appear, travel details, and reimbursement claims.
• Coordinates airline, hotel, and ground transportation arrangements for victims/witnesses.
• Prepares witness reimbursement forms for travel, transportation, lodging, meals, and witness fees.
• May testify in court to detail measures taken to ensure appearance.
• Informs witnesses/victims of date and time of court appearance, travel details, and reimbursement of expenses.

Job description

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

EXAM NUMBER: A1216E-HE

The LA County Department of Human Resources (DHR) has authorized Hiring as an Emergency under Civil Service Rule 13.04 in response to Assembly Bill (AB) 2561 (McKinnor), which requires the County to report on high vacancy rates and recruitment efforts. This action supports a Countywide strategy to address persistent staffing shortages that threaten the delivery of essential public services. We are looking for qualified and committed individuals to help strengthen the County workforce and ensure residents continue to receive critical support. If you are looking for a new opportunity where your work will make an immediate impact, this may be the role for you.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Witness Assistant I vacancies related to the effort to stabilize critical services and accelerate hiring in high-need areas.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Witness Assistant I.

• Persuades victims/witnesses, police officers, fire fighters, and medical personnel to appear in court as scheduled and rescheduled. Evaluates the commitment of witnesses to testify by regular telephone conversations. Notifies attorneys and investigators of problems or conflicts (e.g., uncooperative victims/witnesses) and recommends solutions. Works with Deputy District Attorneys, judges, investigators, police officers, court and medical personnel, Los Angeles County personnel, outside vendors (e.g., travel arrangements), and the public to solve problems related to witness appearance.
• Documents and searches for and locates victims/witnesses to appear in court trials by researching telephone directories, cross directories, court records, databases (e.g., PIMS), and information systems (e.g., Lotus Notes). Questions employers, relatives, and acquaintances to locate missing or reluctant victims/witnesses.
• Serves and re-serves subpoenas by e‑mail, mail, fax, telephone, or in person with the assistance of an Investigator as the trial is scheduled and rescheduled. Reviews subpoenas and victims/witness lists for accuracy and completeness and makes necessary corrections in time allotted.
• Instructs victims/witnesses in the laws, rules, and court procedures governing their appearance and testimony. Contacts victims/witnesses, police, fire fighters, medical personnel, and expert witnesses to be on‑call for upcoming court proceedings. Advises and notifies deputy district attorneys, victims/witnesses and police officers of the specific time and place to appear to testify, details of travel arrangements, and reimbursement claims. Advises witnesses and police of the ongoing status of the court case and their pending testimony.
• Coordinates airline, hotel, and ground transportation arrangements for victims/witnesses. Prepares witness reimbursement forms for travel, transportation (e.g., train and uber), lodging, meals, and payment of witness fees.
• May testify in court, when victims/witnesses do not appear, to detail the measures taken to ensure their appearance.
• Informs witnesses/victims of the date and time of court appearance, details of travel arrangement, and reimbursement of expenses.

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY:

One year of specialized office clerical experience*, involving extensive public contact to obtain information in support of legal processes.

You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

*Specialized office clerical experience is experience at the level of the County's class of Intermediate Clerk, Intermediate Typist-Clerk or higher. You may still qualify even if your job title isn’t exactly the same as the ones listed. What matters is that your experience is at a similar level – meaning your job involves similar responsibilities, requires comparable skills and knowledge, and takes place within a similar organizational structure. Please provide a clear explanation of your experience to demonstrate that it is at the appropriate level.

LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver’s License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:

2 – Light:This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

LOCATION & SHIFT REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must be willing and able to work in ANY AREA of Los Angeles County and on ANY SHIFT (e.g., evenings, nights, weekends, etc.)

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

VACANCY INFORMATION:

This recruitment will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT US:

Exam Number: A1216E-HE

Department Contact Name: Exams Unit

Department Contact Phone: [phone]

Departmental Contact Email: [e-mail]

California Relay Services Phone: [phone]