Legal Assistant - Discovery

Overall Job Objective

What Success Looks Like In This Job

To perform complex technical legal duties within the District Attorneys Office and to work in support of the DA Office mission to protect the community and make the criminal justice system better.

Examples of Duties for Success

• Serves as Legal Assistant in the District Attorney Offices Discovery Unit and provides legal case files and documents to defense attorneys and other parties in compliance with legal standards and at the direction of Deputy District Attorneys and/or supervisors
• Performs quality check of cases and documents prior to turning over for discovery to defense attorneys, defendants, and others per statute.
• Assures all procedures are followed and relevant legal documents are prepared.
• Maintains confidential records and processes requests for information according to DA Office policies. Prepares reports and drafts correspondence as needed.
• Answers phone calls mainly from defense attorneys pertaining to discovery requests.
• Schedules appointments for discovery pickup.
• Answers questions via phone or in person regarding accessing discovery.
• Provides public with general and/or explanatory information as well as answers questions and resolves problems without giving legal advice.
• Copies case files onto various forms of media for discovery purposes when appropriate.
• Sorts and scans all incoming mail for the office daily, including copying and distributing said mail as needed.
• Pays mileage reimbursement to witnesses and daily reconciliation of cash box.
• Interacts with the public regularly to hand out payment of mileage and/or to attend to discovery appointments.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Prepares, composes, reviews and assembles a variety of documents including filings, motions, pleadings, memoranda, and correspondence.

Qualifications for Success

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Under general supervision, the employee receives assignments and is expected to carry them through to completion with substantial independence. Work is reviewed for adherence to instructions, accuracy, completeness, and conformance to standard practice.

To be successful, our ideal candidate should have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of legal terminology and legal documentation format sufficient to be able to read, interpret, and prepare legal documents.
• Thorough knowledge of legal processes in an attorneys office. Skill in reading and having a basic understanding of legal documents.
• Excellent organizational skills and strong work ethic.
• Strong commitment to working with a team and demonstrated ability to work effectively with other employees, supervisors, and the public.
• Ability to work with attorneys and provide a high-quality work product to assist them in successfully performing their responsibilities and prosecuting cases.
• Knowledge of office practices and procedures sufficient to be able to organize and maintain files, records, and schedules and to obtain and/or relay information and process documents in a timely manner.
• Skill in examining documents for correctness, completeness, and accuracy.
• Skill in prioritizing, coordinating, and scheduling work to allow for efficient and effective completion of work assignments.
• Strong communication skills.
• Must have ability to work in a standard office environment and basic knowledge of Microsoft Office suite programs: MS Word, MS Excel, Outlook as well as the ability to master internal District Attorney legal software, such as ACTION.

More Qualifications for Success

Qualifications for Success:

• Three to five (3-5) years of legal assistant experience in a legal office.
• Additional related education may count towards required experience.
• Primarily sedentary physical work requiring ability to lift a maximum of 40 pounds; occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing; frequent hand/eye coordination to operate computer keyboard and office equipment; vision for reading, recording and interpreting information; speech communication and hearing to maintain communication with employees and members of the public.

Please attach a resume and cover letter with your application.