Crime Victims Specialist/Legal Assistant

Yamhill County has one regular, full-time position for a Crime Victim Advocate/ Legal Assistant.  This is a hybrid full-time position, working as a Legal Assistant and Crime Victim Specialist. The employee Independently performs a variety of specialized legal support duties of a complex clerical nature, with unique specialized training and skills. The position is distinguished from other clerical positions by the degree of specialization and technical considerations in two separate fields. Provides, information, emotional support, and ongoing services to victims of crimes and their families. Requires use of independent discretion and judgment.

• Performs intake functions on all incoming cases referred to the office.
• Enters new cases, accurately and completely, into our Case Management system.
• Ensures proper paperwork is included with the intake packet and follow up with agencies if documentation is not received.
• Completes Criminal History checks.
• Issues subpoenas for court hearings, confirms service, and schedules trial prep meetings for DDAs.  
• Compose, and proofread a variety of legal documents from transcription, rough draft, or verbal instruction. Examines legal documents for accuracy.
• Back-up to other positions as needed.  
• Special projects as assigned to meet the needs of the office. 
• May providespecialized crisis and trauma intervention to victims of crime.
• Provides complete, ongoing advocacy; including but not limited to explaining criminal justice system processes and procedures to victims, upholding victims’ rights, providing case information, court accompaniment, safety planning, problem-solving, liaison, and advocacy with the prosecutor or other agencies.
• Provides assistance with protective orders, impact statements, restitution, and compensation claims.
• Coordinates meetings with prosecutors and law enforcement, providing emotional support and advocacy during those interactions.
• Establishes and maintains contact with victims in person, by telephone, and in writing.
• Performs assessment of victims’ needs.
• Exercises independent judgment to identify services, providing referrals to appropriate community resources.
• Maintains case information, creating and updating data entries.
• Works as Receptionist.
• Performs clerical support to felony caseload.
• Completes data entry on case events into the case management system.
• Prepares legal documents including accusatory instruments, affidavits, subpoenas, and complex motions/orders from rough data.
• Complete the discovery process as required.
• Complete closure of cases within the case management system per office policy.
• Conducts legal research and drafts legal documents for review by attorney, as instructed.
• Completes special projects, as assigned, by the Office Administrator or District Attorney.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the District Attorney, Director of Victim Services or Designee.
• Complete the discovery process as required with minimal supervision.

The Benefits

Yamhill County offers generous employee benefits:

• 15 paid holidays per year.
• 19.5 days of Flexible Earned Time (FET) accrual in the first year (based on an 8-hr day).
• PERS (Public Employee Retirement System) - 100% employer funded contributions.
• Full health benefit offerings with employee premiums starting as low as $58.82/month for 2024 to2025 plan year. *

*Subject to the AFCSME Collective Bargaining Agreement (7/1/2023 – 6/30/2026). 

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of this classification with or without accommodation.  

Our Community

Yamhill County has approximately 109,000 residents and is a very desirable place to live in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine country.  Yamhill County is home to Linfield University and Chemeketa Community College in McMinnville and George Fox University and Portland Community College in Newberg.   Yamhill County is centrally located in the Willamette Valley, within proximity to the Oregon Coast, the Portland and Salem metropolitan areas, and the Oregon Cascade Mountains.  Wide varieties of indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities are available.  We have the benefits, appeal and superior quality of life found in a small-town community, while enjoying active social and cultural lifestyles found in larger metropolitan areas.

Required Information

Under the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, any person hired or rehired is required to provide evidence of identity and eligibility for employment. Yamhill County does not offer VISA sponsorships. The County verifies the valid work authorization of each employee using Form I-9 and the E-Verify Program.

Yamhill County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and values diversity.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. Applicants are considered for employment based on their qualifications without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or disability, or any other factor prohibited by law or regulation. Veterans are encouraged to apply. Do not include information or photos that would identify those personal traits. Documents included with this identifying information will be removed from the application packet.

Some positions require a criminal history check and a review of driving record. All County positions require regular, prompt, and consistent attendance.

Accommodation Under the Americans With Disabilities Act

Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in the selection process for this recruitment. To obtain confidential assistance, please contact Human Resources at 503-474-4901 or via email at Human_Resources@yamhillcounty.gov.

Veterans’ Preference

Under Oregon law ORS 408.225-408.238, veterans who meet the minimum qualifications for a position may be eligible for hiring preference. If you think you may qualify, a Veteran’s Hiring Preference Form MUST be completed and submitted with the application along with other supporting documentation. For the form and information for this process please click here. (Download PDF reader)

If you need assistance with completing an application for employment or with obtaining a Veteran’s Hiring Preference Form, please contact Human Resources at 503-474-4901 or via email at Human_Resources@yamhillcounty.gov.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Legal principles, practices, and terminology relative to both positions.
• Secretarial and general office procedures including English composition, spelling and grammar.  
• Confidentiality rules, especially those specific to program area.
• Appropriate Agency partners and community resources.
• Current and past Case Management software.
• LEDS, CJIS, AXON, ODYSSEY, E-FILE, LOIS, etc.
• Victims’ rights and police, prosecution, and court procedures.
• Criminal justice system methods, legal principles, practices, and terminology relative to specific functions of the position.
• Empathetic listening techniques.
• Confidentiality rules, especially those specific to the program area.
• Operation of office equipment, computer software and case management systems, English composition, and basic mathematics as required by the position.

• Organizing materials and documents.
• Developing and maintaining appropriate, relevant professional relationships.  
• Effectively communicating orally and in writing.
• Effectively explaining criminal justice system processes and procedures to victims and members of the public.
• Maintaining composure and professionalism with people who are in distress and/or exhibiting irrational or hostile behaviors.
• Providing training, instruction, and developing a training plan.

• Analyze situation and respond swiftly, calmly, and professionally.
• Interact with the public and coworkers in a pleasant, tactful, understanding, and courteous manner, including times under stressful conditions.
• Write concisely and perform administrative tasks, including documenting via electronic systems.
• Operate in the Microsoft Windows environment inclusive of using Excel, database management and record keeping programs.
• Work independently to complete required intake assignments in a timely and organized manner.
• Complete all assigned tasks accurately and precisely.
• Maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Attend work as scheduled and/or required.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
Associates / or Paralegal degree and two years’ experience directly related to the duties of this position; any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which ensures the ability to perform the work may substitute for above. Graduate of the Oregon Basic Victim Advocacy Institute strongly preferred.  Bilingual/bicultural strongly preferred.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to secure and maintain a driver’s license valid in the state of Oregon, or an acceptable alternative means of transportation. May be required to drive a county vehicle. Employees authorized to operate a private vehicle on County business are required to carry a valid driver’s license and liability insurance minimums as outlined in ORS 806.070.

Will be subject to successful completion of a background check.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS SUMMARY:
The incumbent typically works in an office environment and uses a computer, telephone and other office equipment as needed to perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typical of that of an office. The employee will encounter frequent interruptions throughout the workday. The employee is regularly required to, walk, sit or stand up to 70% of the time, talk, or hear 100% of the time, frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle, or feel, and to reach and bend up to 15% of the time. Required to lift up to 20 pounds regularly and 30 pounds occasionally.

Contact with the public in office environments may risk exposure to irrational/hostile behavior, contagious diseases, or contact with domestic animals.

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by an employee occupying this position.  Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned, to ensure workload coverage.  Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description does NOT constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the organizational needs and requirements of the job change.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by an employee occupying this position.  Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned, to ensure workload coverage.  Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description does NOT constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the organizational needs and requirements of the job change.