Senior Legal Assistant

Position Summary Your job in the department is to .
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Act as senior legal assistant.
Exercise independent judgment in performing a wide variety of responsible and difficult 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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Anticipating and correcting problems, assisting the training of new employees, and enhancing attorney effectiveness by providing information-management support.
Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities Prepare and e-files legal documents for assigned attorney: Back up other Legal Assistants.
Prepare, process, and file affidavits, motions, indictments, complaints, information, warrants (including governor’s warrants), waivers, jury instructions, orders, and sometimes confidential documents, often involving knowledge of technical and legal terminology on cases being prosecuted in Circuit and Juvenile Court.
Proof-read attorney documents before filing for accuracy; composes correspondence and prepares legal forms for signature, applying knowledge of established departmental policies, procedures and functions as required.
Prepare and file all in-custody paperwork.
Open and e-file new cases and probation violations; reviews probation notifications; follows up on rejected or accepted e-filed documents and makes necessary corrections.
Gather information and prepares necessary documents for Grand Jury and Preliminary Hearings.
Review and file Violation of Restraining Orders and Extraditions based on general instructions.
Assist assigned attorney with trial preparation and all hearings: Maintain Trial Calendar.
Prepare and issue subpoenas and notifies witnesses and police officers as required.
Continuous liaison with civil and law enforcement departments to make sure subpoenas are served and witnesses are available.
These are frequently done on short notice and require prompt attention and follow-up.
Responsible for communicating professionally between the DA’s Office, the Courts, and Defense Attorneys regarding court appearances.
Run Court Dockets daily and supplies all necessary documents for court appearances, verifying status and possible necessary action to be taken by Deputy District Attorney.
Request 911 logs, evidence, trial materials, and other documents from partner agencies as required.
Master use of Laboratory online system(s) and obtains lab results and certified ICPs; masters use of digital evidence management software and discovery.
Discover required reports and evidence to defense attorney through Case Management System and digital evidence management system; invoices all discovery.
Master use of state case information systems and learns required acronyms; scans and inserts legal documents into proper case tab and folder in DA Case Management System; adds people, court dates, court room numbers and other information into Case Management System.
Liaison with the public for general inquiries and for attorney as appropriate, applying knowledge of departmental regulations and procedures.
Contact and coordinate witnesses for interviews, grand jury, trial, and sentencing.
Answer varied questions from the courts and defense attorneys.
Maintain confidential and sensitive information.
Rotation for Monday morning arraignment notes and process assistance in court may be required.
Typical Qualifications Minimum Education Level: High School Diploma / GED Minimum Experience Level: Four-Five years Specifics: responsible experience in office and receptionist work, including two years in a public or private law office.
Substitution Note: Any satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the ability to perform the above described duties.
Other Licenses: Other License required (list below) Specifics: Must be Notary and must be trained and certified as a LEDS operator.
Knowledge of: Considerable knowledge of legal terms and phrases.
Procedures and policies of District Attorney's office and relationship of department with the courts, attorneys, police agencies, governmental agencies, and the public.
Confidentiality Rules, especially of the criminal justice system.
Skill or ability to: Handle dangerous nature of back-up receptionist duties, due to the high stress level and criminal background and/or volatile behavior of many of the individuals approaching the front desk.
Recognize conflicts of interest and report to superiors immediately.
Display a high degree of judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
Make decisions independently in accordance with established policies.
Use initiative and judgment in carrying out tasks and responsibilities with only general instructions and guidance while in high-stress situations and under conditions that can be considered dangerous.
Convey information, ideas, and facts both orally and in writing to supervisors, colleagues, and individuals, inside and outside the county, using language and a format the audience will best understand.
Utilize computers and other technology to communicate in written and verbal forms (e.
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, word processing, texts, emails, spreadsheets, department-specific software).
Effectively relate well with others, including supervisors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside the county.
Develop and exhibit a professional manner in dealing with others and maintain constructive professional working relationships.
Take personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work.
Show up to work on time, and follows instructions, policies, and procedures.
Meet productivity standards, deadlines, and work schedules.
Job Conditions and Physical Demands WORKING CONDITIONS Job Conditions: Normal working hours.
Can be called upon for evening or weekends in emergency situations such as trial or pre-trial.
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 County Travel: Rarely, travel may be required with personal vehicle out of county or state for training purposes.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS The 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 with 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.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS Lincoln County is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
This job description indicates, in general, the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and essential functions expected of the position.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Lincoln County offers a comprehensive benefit package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision which is paid at 90% by the County and 10% by the employee.
Other fully paid benefits include life, AD&D, long-term disability insurance.
Other optional insurances are available.
A 401K retirement plan is also provided.
The County's current contribution rate is 11%.
Regular and Trial Service employees working between 20 - 39 hours per week on a regular basis are eligible for pro-rated employee benefits.