LEGAL ASSISTANT II

Position Summary

POSITION SUMMARY:

Performs work in preparing, editing, serving, and filing legal documents referred to the District Attorney. Drafts, prepares and edits legal documents on behalf of the County. Provides information to the general public; provides advice on various legal matters to other county departments.

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Assist attorneys as requested with case preparation, including, but not limited to, providing information on trials, drafting pleadings, and other matters within the District Attorney's purview
• Serve as a liaison between prosecutors, public defenders, attorneys, Judges, witnesses, victims, and law enforcement agencies, and other County departments; and responds to and/or resolves inquiries, problems, issues and exceptions
• Review documents for form and completeness, including proofreading and cite checking
• Assist in the preparation and maintenance of reports required by federal, state and county agencies by getting documents signed and delivered to appropriate agencies by scheduled deadlines
• Establish and maintain a case management system (i.e., fully indexed and cross-referenced bank of briefs, memoranda, and other research documents previously produced by the office). Files documents within established office filing system
• Maintain daily calendar for assigned legal staff
• Perform routine clerical duties such as providing information to callers, composing and typing routine correspondence, and reading and routing incoming mail
• Regular attendance and timeliness are required

LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER: The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION:

Required:

• High School Diploma of GED

Preferred:

• Associate's Degree in Paralegal, Legal Assistant, Criminal Justice, or related field
• Paralegal/Legal Assistant certification

SKILLS ~ EXPERIENCE:

Required:

• 4 years of clerical experience in a legal field which must have included review and analysis of contracts and/or assisting in the drafting of legal documents
• Must be loyal and able to keep the confidences of the office as required by law
• Knowledge Federal, State and local codes, laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the functions of a District Attorney's Office
• Working knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply federal, state and local laws, and to effectively draft and prepare a variety of legal documents
• General knowledge of basic hardware and software and uses of a variety of different computer operating systems such as Microsoft Office Work, Excel, Outlook
• Exceptional skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with County staff, attorneys, investigators, police agencies, and citizens
• Proficient verbal and written skills to communicate information and directions to courts, attorneys, investigators, police agencies, and citizens

Preferred:

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish

DISCLAIMER: McLennan County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudications in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records, and educational attainment. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.

Supplemental Information

All Employees

oMust be committed to achieving excellence in assigned duties, always in service of the county and community

oMust have ability to earn and keep the trust of fellow employees and the community at large

oMust be approachable and ready to help fellow employees and the general public

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is constantly required to work under time pressures to meet deadlines; the employee must frequently change tasks, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, and work closely with others as part of a team. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

PHYSICAL DEMAND REQUIREMENTS: Some light lifting, bending, standing, walking (trial presentations/on-scene investigations) and prolonged sitting. Vision (ability to read police reports, law book, and normal printed material), understandable coherent speech and hearing.

McLennan County will conduct background checks on new hires that will include a criminal background check related to convictions and deferred adjudications in the past seven years and may include credit reports, motor vehicle records, employment records, and educational attainment. A conviction or deferred adjudication is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered individually.