Legal Assistant I

Legal Assistant I

Summary The Legal Assistant I provides clerical, administrative, case management, and legal support services to the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Responsibilities include preparing draft legal documents and correspondence, establishing and maintaining case files, coordinating court schedules, filing pleadings, researching case histories, maintaining electronic records, and assisting attorneys and the public. The position requires discretion, confidentiality, attention to detail, and the ability to exercise independent judgment while following established procedures and supporting efficient office operations.

Typical Duties

• Prepares draft legal pleadings and correspondence for use in conjunction with criminal prosecution, civil litigation, and other governmental matters
• Performs initial file set up for a wide variety of legal proceedings and intra-office files. Provides comprehensive clerical support to attorneys and other support staff
• Coordinates the scheduling of court hearings and other matters with state and county offices, private sector law firms, and others
• Enters and retrieves data from electronic information systems
• Maintains electronic information systems and forms contained therein
• Locates and provides records to other governmental agencies and the public. Proofreads office work product
• Files pleadings and other documents with the courts
• Research case history
• Schedules and coordinates appointments for other professional staff. Receives the public in person and over the phone and helps answer requests for assistance
• Calendars hearings, meetings, and other compliance dates
• Documents work performed in court files and in office memoranda
• Cross trains attorneys and other support staff
• Interviews parties to obtain information necessary for completion of a variety of legal forms
• In addition to regular duties, legal assistants perform special projects as assigned by management. Representative examples have included, but are not limited to, compiling statistical data, preparing charts and graphs that depict workflow indicators, assisting in long range office planning, preparing information for inclusion in annual reports, authoring draft policy and procedure manuals, critiquing department policies and procedures, evaluating existing practices and recommending modifications thereto.
• Perform any duties as assigned by the Supervisor or Lead.

Education, Training, & Experience Requires knowledge of the field of assignment sufficient to perform thoroughly and accurately the full scope of responsibility as illustrated by examples in the above job description

Education/Training An AA Degree or equivalent is preferred, but not required, if supplemented by specialized training in legal administration and support. Alternatively, a combination of education, training and work experience that demonstrates the candidate is fully qualified will also be considered.

Experience

• A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience as a Legal Assistant is desired, preferably within a public service environment. . Additionally, at least three years of clerical experience is required. Other combinations of education and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis as a substitute for specified position requirements; an individual should have a great deal of computer knowledge, skill and ability.

• Note: Any first aid rendered by such persons is rendered only as a collateral duty responding solely to injuries resulting from workplace incidents, generally at the location where the incident occurred.

• At Clallam County, we strive to take care of our team! Our employees are the greatest asset of Clallam County, and we take pride in offering a highly competitive compensation and benefits package to all eligible employees.

• County Paid Benefits include:

• Medical - Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield

• Dental - Delta Dental of Washington

• Vision - Northwest Benefit Network

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• HRA Veba (select positions)

• Life and disability insurance (select positions)

• Wellness Benefit Program

• Infant at Work Program

• Employee Assistance Program

• Transportation Program/Transit Pass

• Training and Career Development Program

Retirement:

• Employees are covered under the PERS retirement plan provided through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and Social Security.
• Sheriff's Office Employees are covered under LEOFF2 and PSERS.

Deferred Compensation:

• Deferred Compensation Program 457(b) - Tax Deferred Savings Program
• Deferred Compensation Program 401(a) - Tax Deferred Savings Program

Vacation:

• Generous Vacation and Paid Sick Leave
• 11 Paid Holidays Annually
• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Presidents' Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veteran's Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• day following Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day
• 4 Personal Days (32 hours floating holiday)
• Employment Vacation Donation Program
• Vacation Leave Accrual (Unless otherwise provided by contract, all regular full-time employees shall accrue vacation leave monthly based upon the following schedule):
• 0-48 months = 8 hours per month
• 49-108 months = 10 hours per month
• 109-168 months = 12 hours per month
• 169-204 months = 14 hours per month
• Over 204 months = 16.67 hours per month

Sick Leave:

• Full-time employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 8 hours per month. Eligibility for use of sick leave is established after one month of continuous employment.

• Part-time employee's benefit contributions and leave accruals are prorated.

• Note: This is a general overview of the benefits offered through employment with Clallam County, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy.