Paralegal - Public Defender's Office

Works under the general direction of the Operations Manager. This position is a working position that handles confidential information and serves as the lead office assistant. The workload includes a wide variety of clerical and administrative duties in support of the Calhoun County Public Defender’s, delegating daily assignments as necessary. This position must function efficiently and effectively in a fast-paced professional environment and will be responsible for making critical daily decisions regarding workloads and processes. 

1. Assist with the development of support staff policy and procedures for assigned tasks. 
2. Assist with recruitment, interviewing, and selection process of support staff members. 
3. Delegates work to legal assistant staff to ensure offices processes are followed and deadlines are being met. Provides/refers staff to training as necessary, provides coaching, and initiates appropriate handling of disciplinary matters. 
4. Responsible for overseeing the process of incoming/outgoing legal mail, processing specialized mail services as necessary (return receipts etc.) customer service, and maintaining/ordering office supplies. 
5. Must be able to problem solve and effectively communicate with the public, clients, courts, outside contacts, and staff. 
6. Drafts, transcribes, types, edits, copies and/or distributes correspondence, minutes, reports, and legal documents as necessary. 
7. Oversees and maintains daily organization of a high-volume docket. Manages the maintenance of the department electronic filing and records systems. Ensures compliance with all file retention laws and policies. 
8. With strong emphasis on quickly and with attention to detail, must ensure court ready documents prepared by attorneys are reviewed, proofed, and processed in a timely manner. 
9. Must be willing to write motions and orders when necessary. 
10. Monitors due dates and progress on cases and pleadings, including reminding attorneys when due dates are approaching and endures attorneys’ calendars are updated and maintained as necessary. 
11. Ensures all writs are processed in a timely manner according to court schedules. 
12. Schedules and facilitates meetings with support staff regarding new processes and daily tasks monthly at minimum. 
13. Assists with the development of presentation materials for trials when necessary (i.e.: photo printing, Power Points, etc.)
14. Performs other duties as assigned.

• This position requires knowledge normally acquired though an associate degree in a related field of study or possess five to seven years of experience providing administrative support in a legal office. 
• Three to five years of responsibly providing administrative support in a busy office environment, preferably in a legal environment. Experience working in a court, law office, or legal environment is strongly preferred. 
• Professionalism is an absolute necessity, along with the ability to appropriately handle both confidential information and sensitive situations. Must maintain absolute confidentiality in matters related to attorney-client communications. 
• Computer skills necessary to effectively utilize word processing, databases, spreadsheets, scanning and imaging, e-mail, internet, and meeting scheduling is required. 
• The ability to network with others and to build trusting relationships with employees, co-workers, elected officials, and department heads. A professional appearance and demeanor are required. 
• Possess communication skills necessary to provide excellent customer service and accurate information to the public, vendors, clients, and all levels of county personnel. 
• Ability to frequently multi-task and handle simultaneous projects requiring concentration and attention to detail with occasional distractions due to people and/or telephone calls. 
• Must be able to handle difficult situations and conflicts that may arise in a professional manner, as well as deal with pressures related to meeting deadlines and other scheduling requirements, etc. 
• Possession of a valid Michigan Driver’s license and an acceptable driving record. 
• Excellent organizational, concentration, and attention-to-detail skills. 

Supervisory Responsibilities                      

• None

Physical Demands

• Physical ability to occasionally lift, push, pull, or carry items weighting up to thirty pounds.
• Physical ability to talk, hear, and communicate verbally with others.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Occasionally required to perform tasks involving repetitive movement, bending, stooping, kneeling and/or climbing.  
• Frequently required to sit for extended periods of time.

Working Conditions

Hybrid Work Classification: On-Site Required

Flexible Classification: Fixed Schedule 

• Normal office environment with occasional discomfort due to heat, dust, and noise
• Extended workdays (beyond eight hours/day and weekends) are occasionally required.