Paralegal - Justice Bureau

Overall Job Objective

Description

Example of Duties

Work in this classification requires an individual to be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary classification functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this classification may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in this classification description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this description.
TYPICAL CLASSIFICATION ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Provide legal assistance and case management functions for attorneys in the department, prioritize assignments, and perform duties within scope of authority and training, and in compliance with County policies.
• Apply independent judgment based on knowledge of policies and procedures, gained through technical training and work experience, complete assigned special projects, and identify and resolve problems.
• Provide case management functions for prosecution and litigation, prepare, track, and follow-up on sensitive and complex legal documents, and maintain and update legal information and technical records.
• Evaluate case files and research missing and incomplete information and document and manage collection and analysis of evidence.
• Create and manage criminal and civil case files, research files and computer databases, update files, computer records, and tracking systems, check local and state databases, and collect and distribute related information.
• Review case status with attorneys, compose and create memoranda and legal documents, prepare and edit confidential and sensitive legal documents, and maintain confidentiality.
• Prepare and process criminal reports and civil complaints, file legal papers with courts, and process court papers according to court procedures and attorney instructions.
• Schedule interviews, trials, hearings, meetings and attorney's calendar and notify clients and witnesses as needed.
• Receive and send information to and from other agencies and jurisdictions.
• Provide information and assistance within the scope of designated authority.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, customer records and restricted County information.

Position Specific Duties:

• Maintain the integrity, professionalism, values, and goals of the County Attorneys Office by assuring that all rules and regulations are followed and that accountability and public trust are preserved.
• This paralegal position will be in the Justice Bureau working on misdemeanor cases for 6 different Justice Court jurisdictions.
• Other job duties will include: Brady checks for all cases.

Minimum Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies or completion of a Paralegal Educational program approved by the American Bar Association.
• Two (2) years of attorney support experience.
• Must pass a thorough background investigation.
• Or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience may substitute for the minimum requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:
Valid Arizona State Driver's License Supplemental Information

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of PCAO policies, procedures, organization, and operations.
• Knowledge of applicable State of Arizona statutes, Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) policies and procedures, Federal rules and requirements, and specialized court software applications.
• Knowledge of operations, functions, procedures, rules, and policies of Pinal County Courts and Arizona Superior Court.
• Knowledge of principles and protocols for the management of official documents and court records
• Knowledge of legal system and law enforcement agency procedures and terminology.
• Knowledge of principles of record keeping, case files, and records management.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing the release of information from court records.
• Skill in coordinating and performing a variety of skilled paralegal technical support functions.
• Skill in reading legal documents and extracting relevant information.
• Skill in drafting, preparing, filing, and distributing various types of legal documents.
• Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize multiple tasks, projects, and demands.
• Ability to create accurate reports, technical documents, and legal correspondence independently or from brief instructions.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and generate reports.
• Ability to deal tactfully and courteously with people seeking information about PCAO functions and activities.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers and local agencies.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The work is sedentary and requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. The work also requires the ability to finger, reach, perform repetitive motion, lift, kneel, pull, push, hear, speak, stand, stoop, and demonstrate mental and visual acuity.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the ability to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs.