Legal Assistant - Criminal and Civil

Nature of Work

The City of Bellingham is seeking an on-site Legal Assistant – Criminal and Civil to provide reliable, in-person support to our criminal and civil divisions while ensuring smooth office operations. This role requires excellent multitasking, attention to detail, and a commitment to confidentiality and high-quality service. If you’re a motivated, service-oriented professional ready to contribute your strengths to a dedicated legal team, we encourage you to apply.

At the City of Bellingham, the Legal Assistant- Criminal and Civil is responsible for performing office management duties and providing direct administrative support and assistance to the staff in the criminal and civil divisions of the City Attorney’s Office. Performs technical and clerical tasks, while applying policies and procedures of the Legal Department, Police Department, Municipal Court and other courts. Provides information to the public, opposing counsel, victims related to criminal prosecution, and City Departments. Maintains records and computer databases. Applies rules and regulations specific to this area of work, including maintaining confidentiality and meeting public records requirements.

Salary And Benefits

This position will start at Step 1 ($32.34/hour). This on-site position is a .75 FTE (30 hours/week). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the E-Team Handbook and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $32.34 - $39.31. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.

At the City of Bellingham, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive in both your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are well cared for. Here’s a closer look at the outstanding benefits that come with being part of our team. You can find more details on our employment benefits page and labor agreements page.

• 13.33 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time (will be pro-rated based on assigned FTE)
• 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
• 40 hours of sick leave upon hire + 8 hours accrued monthly (will be pro-rated based on assigned FTE)
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
• Optional 457 deferred compensation savings plan and 401(a) Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
  
  

Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.

Closing Date/Time: Fri. 3/13/2026 4:30 PM Pacific Time

Essential Functions Of The Job

• Prepares files for court calendars, routes documents, and maintains filing systems to include: creating, organizing, updating, indexing, maintaining, and purging files; and preparing records for archival transfer.
• Collates, copies and processes files, documents, forms, notices, and court orders for all aspects of criminal prosecution including discovery and record retention.
• Develops and maintains an accurate and timely record-keeping system or database for the civil and criminal division.
• Data entry, and online search of computer databases for information and records. Maintains confidentiality of information and records.
• Responsible for preparing and sending out subpoenas to witnesses and officers, as well as tracking of subpoenas to insure service. May assist in location and coordination of witnesses and officers.
• Serves as liaison with clients or staff in other departments, agencies, or jurisdictions.
• Develops clerical procedures, routines, forms, and record-keeping systems. Instructs others in such procedures and coordinates workflow to avoid duplication of work.
• Receives and directs visitors and phone calls.
• Works with other related offices, agencies, and personnel to facilitate the smooth flow of information.
• Assists Legal Administrative Assistant with fulfilling public records requests, including review of Computer Assisted Dispatch Reports, 911 calls, and Fire Incident Reports, and making redactions to records exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act. Assigns agenda bills to Senior Assistant Attorneys.
• Assists Paralegal and Claims Coordinator with claims and litigation support, including discovery and trial preparation, service of pleadings, and filings with courts and agencies.
  
  

Additional Work Performed

• Performs other related work of a similar nature and level.
  
  

Working Environment

Work is performed primarily in an office setting with extensive time spent at a computer workstation. Works around standard office equipment. May work in an office with frequent public contact. Possibility of exposure to hostile and offensive language from interactions with the public. Work can have deadlines and be stressful at times and requires ability to handle stress while continuing to function at a high level.

Physical ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including:

• Frequently operate a computer and other office machinery such as a keyboard, mouse, phone, copier, and fax machine;
• Frequently communicate accurate information and ideas with others;
• Remain stationary for long periods of time;
• Move between work sites;
• Occasionally, transport objects weighing up to thirty (30) pounds.
  
  

Experience and Training

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Word processing skills required.
• One year of experience working in an office environment with demonstrated clerical responsibilities highly preferred.
• Associate degree or vocational training in the legal field highly preferred.
• Experience in the criminal justice system and civil law is highly preferred.
• Keyboard entry skills at a minimum of 65 wpm highly preferred.
• Three years of progressively responsible legal support experience is preferred.
  
  

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to provide the applicant with the knowledge, skill, and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the job will be considered.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Employment is contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, local background check, and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years.
• Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
  
  

Selection Process

• You are encouraged to print a copy of this job announcement for your reference as the process moves along**
  
  

Please ensure your application is complete and all required information has been provided. Standard completeness means all application fields (contact information, personal information, education, work experience, references, and supplemental questions). Application materials should comprehensively document your experience and skills related to the position responsibilities and experience/training requirements. As part of the City’s commitment to reducing bias in the hiring process, Human Resources redacts personally identifiable information for reviewers. Only the documents listed as required will be reviewed.

First Round Interviews for the most qualified candidates are tentatively scheduled for the week of April 13, 2026. Invitations to participate in the Interview process will be sent via e-mail on or around April 2, 2026.

Candidates will receive updates regarding application status via email. Please be sure to check your email frequently, including your spam folders for messages filtered by your email providers.

Equal Opportunity

Our environment is characterized by respect for cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and ethnic diversity. The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its work force. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.

Fair Hiring Practices

• The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
• The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
• The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
• The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.
  
  

There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section for additional information.

This position is unrepresented. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the E-Team Handbook.

This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website for more information on PERS.

01

Thank you for your interest in this position at the City of Bellingham! To ensure a consistent review, only the City of Bellingham job application and required supplemental documents will be reviewed. Cover letters and resumes are not reviewed unless they are required as part of the process. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete each section of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Please do not indicate "see resume" or copy content that is unrelated to the position being applied for from your resume when answering these questions.

Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No
  
  

02

Do you have a high school diploma or GED?

• Yes
• No
  
  

03

Do you have Word processing skills?

• Yes
• No
  
  

04

Or in place of the above requirements, do you have a combination of relevant education and experience that provides you with the required knowledge, skill and ability to be considered? If yes, please briefly describe.

05

Please indicate below if you have any of the preferred qualifications:

• One year of experience working in an office environment with demonstrated clerical responsibilities
• Three years of progressively responsible legal support experience
• Experience in the criminal justice system and civil law
• Associate degree or vocational training in the legal field
• Keyboard entry skills at a minimum of 65 wpm
  
  

06

Describe how your experience or skills have prepared you to manage sensitive information, follow detailed procedures, and support professionals in a fast-paced office environment.

07

Describe your experience using electronic filing or data management systems. What type of system did you use, and what functions were you responsible for?

08

Describe your experience or training using software such as Word, Excel, and email. Include examples of tasks you regularly perform with these tools.

09

Describe any experience you have working in a legal support or similarly structured environment. If you do not have direct legal experience, please describe comparable experience in other office settings.

• Required Question