Criminal Paralegal
- Full-Time
- SeaTac, WA
- City Of SeaTac, WA
- Posted 3 years ago – Accepting applications
Job Description
This job posting is available to the City of SeaTac employees only. This position is overtime eligible and non-exempt.
BASIC FUNCTION:
Under the supervision of the Assistant City Attorney or designee, the employee occupying his position will perform complex legal office operations of a paralegal for the criminal division of the City Attorney’s Office as authorized by state law and court rules. Responsibilities will include the following: perform technical clerical and administrative duties; prepare, maintain and generate a variety of technical legal forms and documents; provide assistance and support to the prosecuting attorney while maintaining confidentiality of department operations with a substantial amount of independence, judgment, and initiative.
Representative Duties: Provide a variety of paralegal and complex clerical, technical, and support duties to the Prosecuting Attorney and Assistant City Attorney, including: case management of all cases filed in SeaTac municipal court; respond to discovery requests from opposing counsel, conduct legal research, draft complaints, and contact witnesses; work with various law enforcement agencies in obtaining police reports, toxicology reports, evidence, and any relevant information for a successful criminal prosecution. E
Coordinate and monitor assigned projects; gather information for prosecution and litigation; prepare written reports for internal and external audiences; track legal documents, and routes to defendants, attorneys and courts for processing; E
Maintain, track, and update legal information. Perform a variety of paralegal, legal administrative, secretarial, clerical and public relations duties to assist the City's attorneys; perform a variety of legal office support activities. E
Serve as a liaison between the Prosecutor and the public, police, courts, defense counsel and other City departments and employees and respond to citizen inquiries. E
Assist in preparing civilian witnesses and police officers for trial and court hearings by coordinating schedules, court appearances, and answering questions. E
Prepare, review, and maintain case files for daily court calendars, investigate cases; obtain information and evidence for use in court; prepare and maintain case log; provide case maintenance support; close physical case files. Transfer, download and print all arraignment, pretrial, motion, review and contested court calendars along with the corresponding court dockets, defendant case history and driving abstracts. E
Review legal documents and reports for accuracy and completeness of charges and to determine proper filing in compliance with court requirements; update case files with information received from Judicial Information Systems (JIS) applications; obtain from police and file with the court a National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) and protection order history for all domestic violence cases; provide file maintenance program to assure timely follow-up on cases with defendants, attorneys and the court system. E
Perform address searches using appropriate databases for all defendants failing to appear at arraignment and draft a Certificate of Address Search using information obtained. E
Prepare legal documents and gather evidence relevant to code enforcement, civil infraction and criminal court proceedings including, but not limited to, complaints, motions, legal pleadings, demand for discovery, subpoenas, declarations, jury instructions, and proof of service. E
Support the relationship between the City and the constituent population by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with clients, visitors, and City staff; promotes City goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures.
Contact crime victims and obtain all necessary documents for purpose of restitution. Draft motions to set restitution hearings for prosecutor review and signature. E
Maintain a current understanding of court rules, statutes and case law. E
Maintain related legal and technical files and records, including a computerized brief bank; develop and maintain extensive filing systems daily including organizing files, locating documents in other departments and/or outside agencies; continually prioritize projects; review legal documents with attention to detail; assist in the maintenance of the law library.
Operate business and office machines including typewriter, copiers, FAX machine, and transcription equipment. E
Review and transcribe specific court hearings; maintain, and update the Criminal Paralegal Procedure Manual. E
Attend meetings, seminars, conferences and training as appropriate. E
Maintain and enforce confidentiality of work-related issues, client records, and City information; monitor staff compliance to security procedures and privacy laws, policies, and guidelines; performs related duties as required or assigned. E
Perform related duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience: • Graduation from high school or equivalent. Associates degree in paralegal or legal administrative arts or a related field. Three (3) years of increasingly responsible legal assistant/paralegal experience.
Licenses and Other Requirements: • Must be able to pass a criminal background check and fingerprinting process to obtain National Criminal Information Center searches.
HOW TO APPLY:
Individuals interested in this position are encouraged to complete the following:
Apply to this Job
BASIC FUNCTION:
Under the supervision of the Assistant City Attorney or designee, the employee occupying his position will perform complex legal office operations of a paralegal for the criminal division of the City Attorney’s Office as authorized by state law and court rules. Responsibilities will include the following: perform technical clerical and administrative duties; prepare, maintain and generate a variety of technical legal forms and documents; provide assistance and support to the prosecuting attorney while maintaining confidentiality of department operations with a substantial amount of independence, judgment, and initiative.
Representative Duties: Provide a variety of paralegal and complex clerical, technical, and support duties to the Prosecuting Attorney and Assistant City Attorney, including: case management of all cases filed in SeaTac municipal court; respond to discovery requests from opposing counsel, conduct legal research, draft complaints, and contact witnesses; work with various law enforcement agencies in obtaining police reports, toxicology reports, evidence, and any relevant information for a successful criminal prosecution. E
Coordinate and monitor assigned projects; gather information for prosecution and litigation; prepare written reports for internal and external audiences; track legal documents, and routes to defendants, attorneys and courts for processing; E
Maintain, track, and update legal information. Perform a variety of paralegal, legal administrative, secretarial, clerical and public relations duties to assist the City's attorneys; perform a variety of legal office support activities. E
Serve as a liaison between the Prosecutor and the public, police, courts, defense counsel and other City departments and employees and respond to citizen inquiries. E
Assist in preparing civilian witnesses and police officers for trial and court hearings by coordinating schedules, court appearances, and answering questions. E
Prepare, review, and maintain case files for daily court calendars, investigate cases; obtain information and evidence for use in court; prepare and maintain case log; provide case maintenance support; close physical case files. Transfer, download and print all arraignment, pretrial, motion, review and contested court calendars along with the corresponding court dockets, defendant case history and driving abstracts. E
Review legal documents and reports for accuracy and completeness of charges and to determine proper filing in compliance with court requirements; update case files with information received from Judicial Information Systems (JIS) applications; obtain from police and file with the court a National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) and protection order history for all domestic violence cases; provide file maintenance program to assure timely follow-up on cases with defendants, attorneys and the court system. E
Perform address searches using appropriate databases for all defendants failing to appear at arraignment and draft a Certificate of Address Search using information obtained. E
Prepare legal documents and gather evidence relevant to code enforcement, civil infraction and criminal court proceedings including, but not limited to, complaints, motions, legal pleadings, demand for discovery, subpoenas, declarations, jury instructions, and proof of service. E
Support the relationship between the City and the constituent population by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with clients, visitors, and City staff; promotes City goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures.
Contact crime victims and obtain all necessary documents for purpose of restitution. Draft motions to set restitution hearings for prosecutor review and signature. E
Maintain a current understanding of court rules, statutes and case law. E
Maintain related legal and technical files and records, including a computerized brief bank; develop and maintain extensive filing systems daily including organizing files, locating documents in other departments and/or outside agencies; continually prioritize projects; review legal documents with attention to detail; assist in the maintenance of the law library.
Operate business and office machines including typewriter, copiers, FAX machine, and transcription equipment. E
Review and transcribe specific court hearings; maintain, and update the Criminal Paralegal Procedure Manual. E
Attend meetings, seminars, conferences and training as appropriate. E
Maintain and enforce confidentiality of work-related issues, client records, and City information; monitor staff compliance to security procedures and privacy laws, policies, and guidelines; performs related duties as required or assigned. E
Perform related duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience: • Graduation from high school or equivalent. Associates degree in paralegal or legal administrative arts or a related field. Three (3) years of increasingly responsible legal assistant/paralegal experience.
- Municipal legal department or private law firm experience with a focus on criminal law in the State of Washington is preferred.
- Studies of criminal law or closely related field; AND three (3) years of legal administrative experience in Washington State; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- A combination of experience and training that provides the candidate with the knowledge and skills to perform the job will be considered.
Licenses and Other Requirements: • Must be able to pass a criminal background check and fingerprinting process to obtain National Criminal Information Center searches.
- Valid Washington State driver’s license.
HOW TO APPLY:
Individuals interested in this position are encouraged to complete the following:
- an online application
- respond to the supplemental questions
- submit a resume
- submit a cover letter addressing how you meet or exceed the required education and experience