Legal Assistant & Crime Victim/Witness Coordinator

POSITION SUMMARY
This is a salaried, at-will, FLSA-exempt position appointed by and reporting to the County Attorney. Under general direction, the employee exercises significant independent judgment in administering the County’s victim/witness program, ensuring legal compliance with the Iowa Victim Rights Act. This position performs professional-level administrative and legal support duties, coordinates with multiple stakeholders, and serves as a liaison for victims and witnesses throughout the legal process. The role includes interpretation and implementation of policy and procedure with minimal supervision. This position qualifies for exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act due to its primary duty involving independent program coordination, compliance responsibilities, and use of discretion and judgment in matters of legal significance.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Interacts regularly with legal staff, court officials, witnesses, law enforcement personnel, child abuse investigations, victims of crimes, county officials and others involved in hearings, trials, and lawsuits.
• Prepares drafts of pleadings, motions, and discovery documents in connection with cases, types legal papers, documents, and correspondence including summonses, complaints, motions, subpoenas, briefs, pleadings, appeals, contracts, deeds, and other legal instruments from written or verbal instructions.
• Transcribes interviews, interrogations, and prepares legal transcripts, and tracks subpoenas for criminal court cases.
• Assist attorneys in preparing documents and reviews the work of others for completeness and accuracy prior to necessary action or approval; edits and ensures that all documents and contents of reports are timely filed and maintained.
• Independently plans and coordinates services, support, and education to victims and witnesses of crimes. Exercises discretion in determining necessary referrals, protective actions, and appropriate resource coordination to meet the legal and emotional needs of each case.
• Performs additional duties as outlined by the Iowa Code, Iowa Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice with regard to being the Crime Victim/Witness Coordinator for the County. Interprets and implements requirements under the Iowa Code as well as guidelines of the Iowa Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice to ensure countywide compliance with crime victim/witness standards and grant conditions.
• Advises attorneys and staff on victim/witness protocols and legal obligations, contributing to policy updates and procedural enhancements. Serves as the primary point of contact for external agencies and grant partners, ensuring compliance with all legal reporting and funding requirements.
• Maintains responsibility for ensuring timely and accurate communication of legally mandated notifications, court events, and victim rights information, relying on professional judgment to determine urgency and approach.
• Exercises independent judgment and discretion when determining appropriate steps in victim/witness support, legal correspondence, and compliance procedures based on case circumstances and applicable laws.
• In the absence of or in assistance to the legal secretary, creates and maintains client files, answers phones, maintains schedules, researches procedural matters, makes travel arrangements, schedules meetings and conferences, files day-to-day correspondence.
• Must pass a thorough fingerprint search conducted by local, state, and national files.
• Must maintain regular and punctual work attendance. Must complete crime victim/witness coordinator and prosecutor support staff training programs on an annual basis.

INCIDENTAL JOB DUTIES

• Any other duties as assigned or required by the County Attorney or Assistant County Attorneys.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• The individual must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skill and abilities.
• Basic knowledge of the Iowa court system and criminal procedure. Ability to add, subtracts, multiply, and divides in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to create and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional and effective working relationships with staff, elected officials, county employees, court staff, law enforcement, social welfare officials, victims, witnesses and the general public.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, plan, organize, and prioritize tasks with numerous interruptions and maintain composure while working under pressure and adapt quickly to change.
• Ability to use logical thinking and pay attention to detail to solve problems and reach conclusions. Display a high level of initiative, effort, attention to detail, and commitment towards completing assignments efficiently. Works with minimal supervision. meter, printers, shredders, and calculator.
• Ability to display high standards of ethical conduct. Exhibits honesty and integrity, and refrains from theft-related, dishonest, or unethical behavior.
• Ability to receive and follow written and verbal directions with proficiency and accuracy.
• Ability to handle confidential work with tact and discretion; to perform complex clerical tasks, and handle routine decisions in accordance with department policy.
• Knowledge of basic office practices, and the ability to operate a variety of standard office equipment such as; but not limited to: computers and various software applications, multi-line telephone, copier, facsimile, scanners, postage
• Knowledge and familiarity with Microsoft Office; and case management software, preferably PROSECUTORbyKarpel (PbK).
• Knowledge of legal principles and legal research methods, strong grammar and spelling skills required.
• Knowledge of the purposes, objectives, and organization of the County Attorney’s Office.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

High School Diploma or GED; plus an Associate degree in a legal assistant program or related field.

And,

Two (2) years of full-time work as a legal secretary or paralegal, or a similar support capacity under the supervision of a practicing attorney or criminal justice agency.

Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Criminal Justice, or related field with experience as a Crime Victim/Witness Coordinator.

OR,

An equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential job duties.

Possession of a valid State of Iowa Driver’s license.
Must meet all requirements as outlined in the employee handbook.
Drug testing shall be required as allowed by state law.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative 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 demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk; climb; sit; stand for extended time periods; turn; twist body; bend; use hand to finger manual dexterity, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk and hear. The employee must frequently push/pull or lift up to ten (10) pounds with ease.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include near vision, far vision, depth perception, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee’s work is primarily performed inside in an office setting. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Work time may require irregular hours and shift times.

HOURS OF WORK
Generally, 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday. May be required to work additional hours or to change hours with minimal notice because of operational needs.

1. Marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of essential job duties have been excluded from this job description.
2. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective employee and incumbents are encouraged to discuss possible accommodations with the County.
3. Job descriptions in no way state or imply that the description includes every duty to be performed by the employee in the position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.
4. The County reserves the right to change or reassign job duties or combine positions at any time.
5. Buchanan County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person