Senior Legal Assistant - Public Defender's Office

Under the supervision of the Public Defender Administrator, performs varied secretarial and support functions for department staff. Activities include preparing and processing legal documents, opening and maintaining case files and providing general clerical support such as answering the telephone and opening and routing mail. Responsible for performing secretarial and clerical functions including typing and interviewing clients to obtain necessary background information.   Supervises administrative functions, at the direction of the Public Defender or their designee, one paralegal and one legal assistant in the office.  Serves as an executive assistant in compiling data regarding the office functions, budget and personnel matters.  Assists with training new employees to the office.

Starting pay is dependent on an applicant's relevant experience.  

**Applications are accepted until there are sufficient numbers of qualified applications or a qualified candidate is identified.  This position could close at any time.**

documentation. Processes all police reports and other information received from area police departments. Files documents with the court and continually updates files until cases are closed. Maintains statistics of legal activities such as incoming petitions, misdemeanors and felonies authorized, and dispositions.

12. Receives and screens telephone calls for the Public Defender Administrator. Determines

whether or not to transfer calls to staff attorneys or other staff, and refers other calls to various agencies.

13. Reviews, audits and submits invoices for authorization to Public Defender Administrator.

Inputs and submits invoices to Controller’s Office for payment. Resolves payment problems

with vendors as directed by the Public Defender Administrator.

14. Organizes and processes inventories for supplies, furnishings and equipment.   Serves as the liaison for internal and external venders and coordinates repair of office furniture and technological equipment.

15. Uses a variety of software programs to provide administrative support to the Office and acts as a point of contact with vendors.

16. Prepares and types various motions, orders, subpoenas, and other legal forms and documents

and prepares proofs of service as appropriate. Types correspondence for Administrative staff.

Proofreads documents for spelling punctuation, grammar and format.

17. Enters data on court cases to computer and generates legal and statistical documents.

18. Opens criminal and juvenile files, enters case information to computer. Processes all

discovery and other information received. Files documents with the court and continually

updates files until cases are closed. Maintains statistics of legal activities such as incoming

petitions, misdemeanors and felonies authorized, and dispositions.

19. Assists in coordinating and maintaining the calendar for on-call arraignment attorneys.

Other Functions:

1. Serves as data processing liaison for the office, including accounts payable and receipt.

2. Coordinates the collection of maintenance of statistical records of office and prepares monthly and annual reports.

3. Must be able to work on site at the County Government Complex in Charlotte.

4. Other duties as assigned.

This list may not be inclusive of the total scope of job functions to be performed.  Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted or modified at any time.

Education: Associates degree with 2-3 years of specialized training; or an equivalent amount of experience.

Experience: Seven years previous clerical experience including experience with data processing systems such as Microsoft Word and Excel, preferably in a legal setting, financial applications and working with the public.  Administrative management experience in a fast-paced office setting.   Extensive knowledge of legal policies and procedures is imperative as well as accounting and statistical knowledge.

Other Requirements: Must be an accurate typist with a high typing proficiency. Ability to obtain Notary Public Certification.

The qualifications listed above are intended to represent the minimum skills and experience levels associated with performing the duties and responsibilities contained in this job description.  The qualifications should not be viewed as expressing absolute employment or promotional standards, but as general guidelines that should be considered along with other job-related selection or promotional criteria.

Physical Requirements [This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description. These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements. Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified applicants unable to fulfill one or more of these requirements]:

• Ability to enter and retrieve information from computer.
• Ability to file and destroy files in the office or in the storage vault, which may include climbing ladders.
• Ability to sit for long periods of time.

Working Conditions:

• Work performed in general office conditions.
• Exposure to individuals charged and/or convicted of a variety of criminal offenses.