Legal Assistant - Public Defender (Prescott)

The Public Defender’s Office has a rewarding opportunity for a legal assistant supporting our attorneys in case preparation at the Prescott office. The ideal candidate will be experienced in a legal environment charged with attorney-delegated legal assistant duties. 

Here in Yavapai County Government, we live each day by our core values of Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration, and Innovation. We do what we do because we care for our community and because people matter. The County Public Defender’s Office has also developed their own department mission and values. We at the PDO strive to ensure access to justice for all people. 

OUR WHY

We ensure access to justice for all people.

OUR POV

We live our why by being diligent, fearless, and principled in our pursuit of justice.

OUR NON-NEGOTIABLE VALUES

Dedication

We show up well-prepared and are committed to our why.

Courageousness

We are bold, creative, and accessible every day.

Honorable

We are honest, authentic, and trustworthy in our actions.

• Reviews relevant facts of case, researches case law, and confers with attorneys.
• Types and proofreads legal documents, composes and creates letters, memoranda, and legal documents from specific direction, standard formats, copy, rough draft, and dictation, prepares and edits confidential and sensitive legal documents, and maintains confidentiality. 
• Files legal papers with courts and processes court papers according to court procedures and attorney instructions.
• Prepares/organizes files for up-coming court dates and creates/updates calendars.
• Confers with clients, coordinates interviews, monitors cases, and prepares trial notebooks.
• Confers with other attorneys, experts, and lay witnesses.
• Prepares and assists attorneys at court hearings and trials. 
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education: 
 High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience:  
 A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in a legal environment charged with attorney-delegated legal assistant duties.

Additional Requirements:
Must possess a valid Arizona driver’s license.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
 
Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and laws pertinent to the assigned department.
• Legal terminology and legal forms and documents.
• Business English, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and composition.
• Clerical office practices and procedures.
• Research techniques and report writing.
• Microsoft Office 365 software.
• Filing and recordkeeping.
  
  

• Analyzing and organizing factual information and making persuasive legal arguments.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing and communicating orally in a face-to-face setting and by telephone with public and employees.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.
• Organization and adherence to detail.
  
  

• Apply legal principles to determinations on individual cases and problems.
• Produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts.
• Perform self-directed research and analysis as required.
• Provide timely, accurate, professional, and confidential legal support.
• Multitask and prioritize autonomously.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, employees of other departments, representatives of other organizations, County officials, and the public.
• Keep management informed of key operating issues affecting the department.
• Remain current in knowledge required to perform assigned duties.  
• Handle confidential matters and maintain discretion.
• Act with courtesy, tact, and diplomacy.