Legal Assistant - Civil

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, include the responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics listed below. This list of responsibilities is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Summary 

Under general supervision, the Legal Assistant in the Civil Division of the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office performs a variety of administrative and clerical support functions for the Criminal District Attorney or an Assistant Criminal District Attorney(s) to whom assigned. This position affects the accuracy, reliability and acceptability of further processes and services.

Individuals in this position serve at the pleasure of the current elected official.

• Performs general clerical duties including answering the telephone, filing, typing correspondence, etc. 
• Assists the general public via telephone or in person with information pertaining to various legal issues/questions. 
• Establishes and manages computerized and/or paper filing system. 
• Prepares and drafts orders, motions, judgments, petitions and other legal documents. 
• Coordinates citation and service of petitions. 
• Assures services delivered meet quality and timeliness standards. 
• Manages caseload from intake to disposition with accuracy, including tracking and updating cases. 
• Processes computerized information records systems with attention to detail and accuracy. 
• Prepares original and responsive pleadings in child protection cases and follows applicable law. 
• Tracks deadlines for and prepares discovery requests and responses. 
• Coordinates with court coordinators, caseworkers, and attorneys to schedule and calendar hearings, bench trials, and jury trials. 
• Coordinates and schedules mediations with opposing parties, their attorneys, CPS, and the Dispute Resolution Center. 
• Reviews redacted files to ensure compliance with Department of Family and Protective Services policy and Texas statutes. 
• Manages calendar for attorney workroom and assists the public in scheduling use of the attorney workroom. 
• Assists with dockets, including taking case notes during docket, distributing affidavits of indigence to parties, notarizing affidavits of indigence, and tracking orders. 
• Manages checks received in payment for bail bond forfeitures. 
• Manages accounts related to bail bond forfeitures and asset forfeitures. 
• Prepares criminal history rap sheet reports on the TLETS system in accordance with all guidelines, laws and regulations required. 
• Researches, interprets, and analyzes criminal history data to locate and request prior conviction records. 
• Attends TLETS certification class to obtain/maintain license for accessing sensitive information including criminal history and driver’s license records. 
• Maintains confidentiality and security of records and information. 
• Obtains and reviews evidence, including reports, videos, audio, records and/or criminal case documents from law enforcement agencies, as requested. 
• Manages evidence, including but not limited to, photographs and other digital and physical items for evidentiary purposes. 
• Tracks P1 notifications. 
• Tracks daily Writs of Habeas Corpus settings and alerts assigned prosecutors of the same 
• Tracks and maintains appellate caseload updates and deadlines. 
• Drafts appellate motions. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Requires High School Diploma or equivalent. 
• Requires completion of legal assistant program or equivalent, or two or more years of college. 
• Requires two years experience in the legal profession serving as a legal secretary, paralegal or related; or any equivalent combination of experience and training.

• Class C driver’s license. 
• Bilingual preferred (Spanish and English). 
• Paralegal certificate or related education or experience preferred. 
• Attend and successfully complete TLETS training.