Legal Assistant

JOB Your job in the department is to .
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Work with considerable independence in performing legal assistant work of a complex nature, all in keeping with a working knowledge of the criminal justice system.
Your job also involves .
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Enhancing attorney effectiveness by providing information-management support.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES Prepare and e-file legal documents for assigned attorney(s) (and back up other Legal Assistants in doing same): Understand legal information from notes, often involving knowledge of technical and legal terminology; Type (word processing) and proofread a variety of documents including general correspondence, reports, memos, subpoenas, and exhibits.
Prepare motions, orders, waivers, jury instructions and other confidential material from general instructions or personal knowledge as directed.
Perform all Front Desk Information Clerk duties (back-up): Serve visitors by greeting, welcoming, and directing them appropriately.
Notify staff of visitor arrivals.
Maintain security and telecommunications systems.
Inform visitors by answering or referring inquiries.
Direct visitors by maintaining employee and department directories.
Operate telecommunication system by following manufacturer’s instructions.
Keep a safe and clean front area by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
Support continuity among work teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs.
Contribute to team effort by helping with intake and processing of all front desk paperwork flow from the courts, defense attorneys, and incoming correspondence.
Assist Legal Assistants and Deputy District Attorneys in all aspects of prosecution and legal process, as requested: Assist Senior Legal Assistants with trial calendar, trial prep, and preparing Case Management System and physical paperwork for court hearings, as requested.
Provide discovery to defense attorneys and records billing.
Research and obtain certified copies from other states and counties for trial purposes and discover to Defense.
Maintain department records and update Case Management System.
Prepare and issue subpoenas and notify all witness and law enforcement officers as required.
Continuous liaison with Civil Department in Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies and the Circuit Court to ensure subpoenas are served and witnesses are available.
Responsible for communicating between District Attorney's office, the Courts and defense attorneys regarding court appearances.
Track case prosecution progress, verifying status and communicating possible necessary action to be taken by Deputy D.
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Notify attorneys of any new hearings scheduled by court (same day).
Notify witnesses and victims of changes in trial status.
Respond to daily urgent requests in a timely manner to support Legal Assistants and Deputy District Attorneys, as needed.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Job Conditions: Normal working hours.
Can be called upon for evening or weekends in emergency situations such as trial or pre-trial or to prepare search warrant.
Frequently work under pressure and at times difficult time constraints.
Working conditions can be somewhat dangerous due to threats of violence or retribution by defendants.
Working conditions are also inherently dangerous due to the face to face meetings between assistant and victims/witnesses who are often hostile and/or angry, and sometimes violent.
Such face to face meetings is necessary due to service of subpoenas and changes in grand jury and/or trial matters.
Work Location: Lincoln CountyTravel: Rarely, travel may be required with personal vehicle out of county or state for training purposes.
PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe physical demands are typical of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical capability to handle high mobility demands and complex personal interactions.
Physical Ability: Tasks involve the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (15-25 pounds).
Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination.
Some tasks require oral communications ability.
Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds.
Environmental Factors: Tasks are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, animals/wildlife, toxic/poisonous agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances.