Legal Assistant 1

This position is 37.5 hours per week. A hybrid schedule may be considered after successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.

Why It's a Great Opportunity: 
You will provide administrative support to the Department of Assigned Counsel. You will be responsible for administrative support duties including data entry, answering telephones, opening case files, sending client letters, and scanning of archived case files. The work that you do impacts members of all teams, and the attorney’s ability to do their job well; you are contributing to the level of service we are able to provide our clients every day. You will have the opportunity to be involved in aspects of all of the divisions within the office, and to build relationships with all staff in the office. 

Why It's a Great Department: 
The Department of Assigned Counsel (DAC) is responsible for the delivery of mandated legal services to indigent persons accused of crimes in the Pierce County Superior Court; Pierce County District Court; Municipal Courts in Tacoma, Fircrest, and Ruston; and Pierce County Juvenile Court delinquency proceedings. DAC also provides constitutionally mandated legal services to indigent parents involved in Juvenile Court dependency and termination proceedings and to persons detained for involuntary civil commitment proceedings at Western State Hospital and other evaluation and treatment facilities.

The mission of the Department of Assigned Counsel is to provide and administer the public defense delivery system in Pierce County in a manner that assures eligible people receive professional and effective representation while efficiently utilizing public resources. The Department of Assigned Counsel provides professional high-quality representation to individuals in a variety of settings.  

How to be Successful in the Role: 
Understanding and implementing attorney/client privilege is of the utmost importance as you may be navigating sensitive situations. To succeed in this role, you must have the ability to provide accurate and timely legal support, communicate effectively, and work with other team members to ensure all procedures are followed and work is completed professionally, with empathy, and to the standard.

Throughout the training process, you will meet with your Supervising Support Staff Lead regularly to discuss expectations and set goals for yourself and introduce you to the current court and reception policies, procedures, computer programs (LINX, JABS, NICE), and the teammates you will work with to support your clients.  

Your Future in this Role: 
 In this position, you will develop professional networks with attorneys, courts, and agencies and strive to provide a high standard of legal support to each. Your work will directly impact your community, and it offers a great foundation for future positions within Assigned Counsel and Pierce County.

Core Daily Responsibilities: 

• Operates standard office equipment such as computers, printers, copies, telephones, adding machines, recorders, and fax machines.
• Inputs, verifies and retrieves information from database.
• Opens and prepares new case files; and maintains current files.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions and knowledge, skills, and abilities can be found here.

• Other education or experience which clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position may substitute for the recruiting requirements.
• A minimum of six months experience as a legal assistant, legal secretary or related legal staff support function.
• Must be able to utilize word processor or personal computer at an acceptable level of proficiency as required for positions requiring those skills.

Preferred Requirements:

• Training by an accredited vocational school, college or university in the field of legal support work or related area.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to:   www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process, or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.