Paralegal I

The salary for this position is: $4,902 - $6,521 monthly.

The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual who will take on the role of a Paralegal I in the Criminal Division. In the Criminal Division, this position plays a key role in supporting prosecutors by providing advanced legal and administrative assistance. Assigned work may include assisting with office procedures, providing guidance to legal support staff, and managing daily workflow priorities. The Paralegal I may also conduct legal research, prepare summaries and draft legal documents for attorney review, and handle a variety of specialized, complex projects. The role requires a high level of independence, sound judgment, and the ability to manage responsibilities with discretion.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Proficiently performs all duties of a Legal Assistant II.
• Types correspondence, reports, legal pleadings and other material with high standards of accuracy, style of presentation, completeness and correctness of content. Composes responses to routine inquiries from attorneys, agencies and the public. In support of litigation, may perform research on specific subject matter and summarizes findings for attorney review. Drafts legal documents for attorney review and signature. Reviews case documents for grammar and appropriate content.
• Assures proper documents are completed and filed in preparation of or as a result of legal motions such as written evidentiary motions, legal memoranda, summary judgments, supporting documents, findings of fact and conclusions of law, etc. Provides assistance and information to the public and witnesses regarding court dates and appearances on criminal cases.
• Performs independent investigations to collect and organize factual information related to criminal or civil litigation, potential litigation, or services to clients of the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Such investigation may include interviewing potential witnesses and/or obtaining related documents. Analyzes facts to make preliminary determinations of legal action to be taken.
• Provides courtroom support to Deputy Prosecuting Attorney by organizing and preparing trial notebooks, exhibits, or other documents, organizing and scheduling witnesses, taking notes, and/or related tasks during trial or other hearings.
• Communicates verbally or in writing with opposing attorneys or parties regarding discovery issues, settlement negotiations, or other matters related to the litigation. May negotiate settlements in uncontested financial matters and secure agreements subject to the approval of a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
• Extracts information from case management and related systems to generate specialized reports. Researches, compiles, and completes special project assignments as assigned. Maintains statistics and prepares statistical reports.
• Prepares presentation materials and delivers educational and/or informational seminars to various community groups.
• Performs lead work duties including coordinating and monitoring staff workload, assisting in the planning of work and setting daily priorities, and developing training plans and training staff. Conveys supervisor's direction and instructions to subordinate personnel, furnishing explanation when necessary. Advises staff on supervisor's preference and requirements. Assists in managing office activities including responding to complaints and recommending solutions, being the first point of contact in resolving staff problems, and the frequent reporting on, and maintenance of, a positive working environment with respect to personnel problems, disciplinary matters, changes in assignment, etc. May make recommendations regarding hiring decisions, disciplinary issues, assessing work performance of staff, and providing input for evaluations to the supervisor. Devises and evaluates office procedures and implements changes subject to approval of supervisor. During leaves of absences, may assume limited duties of Legal Support Supervisor.
• Provides office administration support in satellite office by overseeing, ordering and maintaining inventory of office supplies, ensuring office equipment is operational, and calling in service repairs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned. Has a working knowledge of the different positions within other sections and may provide coverage when needed.

To view the full job classification, click here: Paralegal I

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Environment – Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Minimal physical exertion is required.
• Schedule - Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Workload demands may occasionally require work outside the assigned work hours.
• Travel Requirements - Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings.
• Customer Interactions - Substantial contact with the public, departmental staff, and other County departments. May come into contact with individuals who are irate, argumentative and in highly emotional situations.

WHO WE ARE:

The Prosecuting Attorney's Office performs its constitutional and statutory duties by serving as a highly skilled and innovative legal team advocating for public safety, seeking justice in criminal cases for victims and those accused, representing the interests of children, and providing effective legal services to Thurston County government.

We are committed to being proactive in our mission by partnering with local government and community organizations to prevent crime, increase public safety, and support for victims. We recognize that today's investments in education, mentoring, and other support services for children and families will yield significant returns in the form of less crime, reduced costs for criminal justice and social services, and an overall improvement in the quality of life for all Thurston County residents.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage

WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Associate degree in legal assistant or paralegal studies, or legal-related studies, and/or Paralegal certificate from an accredited program; and three (3) years' experience in a position equivalent to a Legal Assistant II level position.
• Or, six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in a legal-related field, which include three years in a Legal Assistant II level position; or any combination of education and relevant experience which demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.
• Must be able to type at least 60 words per minute.

DESIRED SKILLS: 

• Strong technical skill set; able to work effectively with various case management systems, Microsoft Office applications, i.e. Outlook, PowerPoint, and media players.
• Superior communication skills (written, oral, and listening) with the ability to work with a variety of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, public officials, and the general public.
• Ability to prioritize and organize a heavy workload, work independently and be self-motivated while handling multiple competing priorities, sensitive situations and crisis situations. Function well under time pressure.
• Maintain the highest level of trust and confidence working with sensitive materials.
• Must possess exceptional interpersonal skills to interact with difficult individuals. 
• Familiar with correct and effective use of legal terminology and legal case management techniques.
• Thorough knowledge of supervisory/lead work principles and techniques.

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact: Wendy Ireland, Legal Support Manager: (360) 786-5540 x6271 

This position is:

• Represented by a union
• Eligible for benefits
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Items requested for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Letter of Interest
• Supplemental Questionnaire

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498. Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.