Paralegal - LEAD, CoLEAD & Familiar Faces Vital Programs | Specialty Courts Unit | Criminal Division

Position Description

With more than 200 attorneys and professional staff, the Seattle City Attorney’s Office is one of the largest law offices in Seattle and is the third-largest public law office in the state. Our office is committed to making Seattle a safe, healthy, empowered, and thriving community for everyone. We strive to address historical injustices within the court system with self-examination and to pursue justice in Seattle with integrity, creativity, and fairness. We believe working transparently, innovatively, and in collaboration with our partners in the community is necessary to achieve outcomes that promote equity, accountability, and healing.

The Criminal Division of the Seattle City Attorney’s Office (SCAO) represents the City in prosecuting misdemeanors and is looking for a part-time paralegal to join the office. As a member of the Criminal Division’s Prosecution Support Team, you will be a key player in supporting assistant city prosecutors who provide legal coordination for LEAD, Co-LEAD and Familiar Faces Vital program clients.

About the programs:

LEAD (Let Everyone Advance with Dignity/Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) aims to improve public health, public safety, and racial equity by providing long-term, trauma-informed, community-based case management to individuals with complex needs who face persistent challenges in connecting to community-based services and resources. Law enforcement is able to refer to LEAD in lieu of booking into jail for certain crimes. LEAD Seattle · King County – A better community-based and coordinated approach to health, safety, and equity.

CoLEAD is an adaptation of the LEAD program that was created at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Co” stands for both COVID and Co-Responder. CoLEAD utilizes a hotel-based model of care providing intensive case management and residential on-site support to individuals with complex behavioral health needs who commonly commit law violations or exhibit problematic behavior related to unmet behavioral health conditions. CoLEAD link

Familiar Faces/Vital provides comprehensive and integrated services to adults who are experiencing behavioral health challenges, need an intensive level of community-based support, and may be experiencing homelessness. “Familiar Faces” refers to a population defined as individuals who are frequent utilizers of a King County jail and who also have a mental health and/or substance use condition. The Vital Program - King County

Job Responsibilities

• Monitor and maintain all LEAD, CoLEAD & Familiar Faces Vital program databases.
• Manage LEAD team email and ensure proper archive standards.
• Manage LEAD Team spreadsheet(s).
• Generate a weekly Upcoming Hearings List for LEAD program clients.
• Monitor daily in-custody calendar and alert prosecutorial liaisons and program partners of new client bookings/releases.
• Create and manage watch alerts and monitor in-custody status for program clients utilizing Jail Booking and Reporting System (JBRS).
• Manage input and exit of program clients into case management system.
• Analyze police reports and verify information.
• Review dockets of pending cases in various jurisdictions.
• Perform victim and witness contact and take notes accordingly.
• Explain and discuss LEAD, CoLEAD, and Familiar Faces Vital programs with witnesses and victims.
• Document and archive information received from victims and witnesses.
• Request and track evidence from the Seattle Police Department, government agencies, and victims and witnesses.
• Analyze complex datasets using tools (such as Excel) and make appropriate recommendations for presentation.
• Gather data from program client files, police reports, agencies, and courts.
• Interpret and compile program data.
• Utilize various databases such as NCIC, MCIS, FORS, JABS, DOL, and other court databases.
• Make public records act requests.
• Redact Seattle Police Incident Reports per GR 15.
• Generate and File documents in the Seattle Municipal Court portal.
• Assist and participate in program meetings (including note-taking), policy/protocol decisions, and community engagement events, when necessary.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, to include King County Prosecutor’s Office, REACH, Seattle Mayor’s Office, Public Defender Association/PDA, and act as program liaison both internally and externally, when necessary.
• Legal research as needed; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelor’s degree and two years of experience performing paralegal duties, or a certification from a nationally accredited paralegal training institution and three years related experience, or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required to perform the work of the class.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to communicate professionally, effectively, and clearly, both verbally and in writing, with co-workers, attorneys, victims/witnesses, defendants, government officials, and the public.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to work independently and as a team player, and under pressure and/or stressful situations.
• Ability to manage large amounts of data and translate the data into easy-to-interpret summaries and/or graphs, tables, charts, etc.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel (including Pivot Tables), PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Must be dependable.

Additional Information

• Complete the online City of Seattle Application
  • (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle)
• Include the following required attachments:
  • Cover Letter describing your interest in the position. (.pdf, .doc, or .docx format)
  • Resume detailing your relevant experience. (.pdf, .doc, or .docx format)

Benefits – The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, 12 official holidays and 2 floating holidays, sick, and paid parental leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees. City Attorney’s Office employees also have the opportunity to participate in a defined benefits retirement program. More information about benefits can be found at https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Workplace Environment – Currently, the Seattle City Attorney's Office has a Flexible Work Arrangements Policy. Employees have the option to work a hybrid schedule (3 days in the office, 2 days remote). This is subject to change as circumstances and business needs dictate.

Background Check Requirements – All positions are security sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the verification of credentials and/or other information required by the municipal corporation’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check in accordance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information on good conduct and rehabilitation.

Who may apply – This position is open to all candidates who meet the minimum qualifications.

The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, family or marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics. The Seattle City Attorney's Office encourages people of all backgrounds to apply.

Questions? Contact our Human Resources team at LAW_HR@seattle.gov.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.