Legal Assistant II - County Attorney

JOB
Reporting directly to a Division Chief, responsible for providing advanced legal assistance to assigned legal staff, and acts as a liaison between attorneys, courts, witnesses, law enforcement agencies, other agencies, and the public. Assists legal staff by drafting all necessary legal documents.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Prepares petitions, motions, orders, and other legal documentsRequests hearing dates, mediation dates, and other settingsPrepares and sends notice of court hearingResearch case informationFiles, makes copies, and mails noticesArranges and coordinates witnessesNotarizes legal documentsAttends court to assist attorneys, as neededAssists with the preparation of discovery, subpoenas, briefs, bench warrants, and other time sensitive legal documentsAssists with records management and filing, including e-filing and use of the County’s electronic case management systemMaintains calendar, case files, and docketsAssimilates legal discoveryProcesses and distributes Public Information RequestsServes as back up to other Legal Assistants as neededMaintains division’s central email inbox, responds to inquiries, monitors E-file notifications, and takes action as requiredCommunicates with the County Attorney’s Office staff/prosecutors, private attorneys, local mental health authority counselors, jail staff, courthouse personnel, citizens, and outside agenciesReviews and evaluates legal documents and information received by the division, determines the appropriate action or response necessary, and after confirmation with the civil prosecutor, responds, takes action, and/or drafts any legal documents or creates materials necessary for review by an attorneyProvides regular subject matter support for technology and business process development and applicable softwareFacilitates interagency transfer of documents that the County Attorney’s office is in custody or control ofPrepares trial notebooks for prosecutors and assists with court room technology for displaying evidenceAttends all meetings and trainings, as requiredPerforms special duties as assignedCivil AssignmentSchedules depositionsAssists in the process of settlement of damage claimsWorks closely with the Local Mental Health Authority, social/case workers, local/state hospitals, and the Health and Human Services CommissionObtains updated medical records from mental health hospitals, as needed, prior to probable cause or commitment proceedingsCoordinates with out of county hospitals and Crisis Intervention Team on transfers from Williamson County, and obtain necessary paperwork from themServes as the first point of contact for intake of applications involving persons in need of involuntary commitments or other mental health related matters; attends commitment hearings as necessaryObtains updated medical records from mental health hospitals, as needed, prior to probable cause or commitment proceedingsReceives and uploads waivers from court-appointed attorneys for Probable Cause hearingsCommunicates regularly with mental health hospitals regarding potential filings, discharges, and patient statusProcesses, analyzes, and organizes all responsive information received from various county departments and agencies for Public Information Act requestsOrganizes, drafts, and compiles all exhibits for briefs submission to the Attorney General’s OfficeMaintains calendar of all deadlines and mails all 10-day letters and 15-day briefs to the Attorney General’s Office for Public Information Act requestsAssists with cost estimates for Public Information Requests, as needed and distributes to requestorsOrganizes and creates secure online links to distribute responsive information to requestorsOversees auto-redactions of responsive information and sends to attorney for reviewJuvenile AssignmentReconciles Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) and submits paper records to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for criminal history reportingProcesses juvenile referrals, including data entry, legal document preparation, requesting court and/or jury dates, and notifying counsel and schoolsReviews sex offender registration status, completes CJIS reporting information for each referral and calculates child support and restitutionSets up each case received in database, ensuring that all pertinent identifying information of case and juvenile is entered, including correct DPS offense codes and entry of TRN (DPS tracking number for the offense arrest/detainment)Performs daily reporting on DPS Electronic Disposition Reporting (EDR) website regarding any action taken by prosecutor on each case (petition filed, sent to juvenile services for deferred, sent to juvenile services for discretionary disposition, declined case, etc.)Coordinates detention hearingsPrepares transfer paperwork for a juvenile to be certified as an adult to the District Attorney’s OfficePrepares appointment/court setting notices to schools and attorneys Processes general juvenile related telephone calls and emails from probation staff, court staff, law enforcement agencies, parents, attorneys, and school officialsContacts law enforcement agencies to obtain missing information as neededPrepares and sends collection lettersDrafts judicial confessions, writs of attachment, and applications for grand jury subpoenas Routes paperwork for various assessments, releases from detention, furloughs, adjudication documents, transfer documents, disposition documents, deferred dispositions, and trial documentsFiles enforcement actionsProvides written updates to Juvenile Services of actions taken on all cases and disposition outcomesCalculates child support as neededContacts Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) for case information and statusFamily Justice AssignmentWorks closely with outside agencies including TDFPS, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and The Office of the Attorney GeneralArranges mediations; prepares and sends out notice of mediationDrafts and coordinates with respondents and/or attorneys for the execution of Affidavits for Relinquishment of Parental RightsRequests birth certificate verifications and reviews pleadings to ensure accuracy of informationRequests TDPFS visitation plans and ensures attachment to the appropriate orderMonitors, responds to, and notifies attorneys of legal intervention requestsCoordinates with court staff and clerk’s office for new case filingsConducts conflict check to ensure appropriate appointment of attorneysReads TDFPS affidavits and determines appropriate pleadings and orders needed based upon included information and in consultation with attorneys; drafts documents for attorney reviewPrepares letters requesting Issuance of Citation and Precept and E-filesRequests and reviews criminal history information and compiles certified copies of documents from each jurisdiction; notifies attorneys of possible aggravated circumstances that warrant further pleadings as appropriate based on the criminal historyProtective Order AssignmentCreates case shells for all protective order inquiriesConducts conflict checks across divisions and recordsRuns criminal histories and locates information in CJIS databasesAssists law enforcement with evidence being properly obtained and distributed to the protective order fileWorks closely with the victim assistance coordinator and investigator assigned to protective ordersObtains non-law enforcement records such as medical records, phone records, and certified records from County and District Clerk’s Offices nationwide. Creates and organizes service packets and assists in coordination with process serving agenciesAssists in the data entry of necessary information into CJIS databasesDrafts and files all necessary paperwork, to include but not limited to, applications for protective order, temporary ex parte protective orders, affidavits, temporary ex parte protective order extensions, and final protective ordersCompiles, organizes, and prepare all exhibits for presentation to the Court ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPSReports directly to – A Division ChiefDirect Reports – NoPHYSICAL DEMANDSPosition involves prolonged sitting at a workstation, visual examination of documents, reaching, walking, twisting, bending, standing and occasional lifting/carryingENVIRONMENTAL FACTORSWork is primarily indoors in an air-conditioned environmentHigh stress, pressure of deadlines, and case management under limited time constraintsIRREGULAR HOURSWork outside of the normal office hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) may be requiredMay be deemed essential personnel in the event of an emergencyRegular attendance is requiredThe above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position. This job description is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the job change.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
A Williamson County online application (resumes alone are not sufficient) must be received before the position is closed. Positions are open until filled, subject to close at any time after five (5) calendar days. The Human Resources Department is located at 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, TX 78626. Phone (512) 943-1533 or visit our website at www.wilcotx.gov/469/Human-Resources. Williamson County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please request assistance from the Human Resources Department.TOBACCO FREE WORKPLACE POLICYWilliamson County is a tobacco free workplace. The use of tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, chew, etc.) and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) (e.g., vapor, e-cigarettes, etc.) is prohibited on all Williamson County premises. Employees who violate this policy are subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.