Job Description
Salary: $29.45 - $36.85 Hourly
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Career Service - Full Time
Job Number: 24-00870
Department: Assigned Counsel
Opening Date: 09/18/2024
Closing Date: 9/27/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Description This position is on-site and is a full-time (35 hours per week). Hybrid work opportunities may be considered after successful completion of probationary period.
Position Summary Why It's a Great Opportunity: This is a great opportunity to provide legal support work for Pierce County Attorneys, courts, and clientele. In this role you will provide task supervision over workers in unit, making work assignments, overseeing performance of assigned jobs, and provides technical assistance as needed.
You may be involved in complex projects that require additional time and detail. You will explain rules and interpret established guidelines to persons who may have no knowledge of legal procedures, as well as provide technical assistance and procedural information to the public, attorneys, and other justice system personnel and agencies. Clients are often in the most stressful situation of their lives and may have limited insight into their situation, therefore the role you play is crucial. As a Department of Assigned Counsel employee, you make a difference in people's lives and a positive contribution to Pierce County.
Why It's a Great Department: The mission of the Department of Assigned Counsel (DAC) is to provide and administer the public defense delivery system in Pierce County in a manner that assures eligible people receive professional and effective representation while efficiently utilizing public resources. The DAC provides professional high-quality representation to individuals in a variety of settings.
Please see the Department of Assigned Counsel's for our diverse list of services provided.
How to be Successful in the Role: To be successful in this role, you will need to have a thorough knowledge and background of the legal system, legal terminology, and court practices/procedures. Understanding and implementing attorney/client privilege is of utmost importance as you may be navigating sensitive situations. You must be able to provide accurate and timely legal support, communicate effectively, and work with other team members to ensure all procedures are followed. Being someone who constantly operates both professionally and with empathy and understanding will guide your success.
Your Future in this Role: In this position, you will develop professional networks with attorneys, courts, and agencies and strive to provide a high standard of legal support to each. Your work willdirectly impact your community, and it offers a great foundation for future positions within Pierce County. In addition, the county offers robust professional development options through the Leadership Certification program and access to hundreds of learning opportunities both instructor lead and through LinkedIn Learning.
Core Daily Responsibilities: - Provide technical assistance and procedural information to the public, attorneys, courts, and other justice system personnel and agencies.
- Scheduling of warrant quash dates, works with agencies to provide documentation for services to clients (i.e. evaluations, treatment) on complex adult felony matters.
- Participates in collecting & preparing complex reports requiring knowledge of specific topics. An incumbent may be required to participate in more complex projects that require additional time and detail, such as the Blake Resentencing Project & the Juvenile Resentencing Project.
- Prepare, process, and review complex legal documents which involves extensive knowledge of legal requirements, formatting, and content of documents.
- Prepare, process, and review pleadings, which involves knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements, proper content of documents and records from rough draft or transcription for the lower courts such as District and Municipal courts.
- Review division cases for conflicting interests of co-respondents and assign panel attorneys to determined conflict cases.
- Process requisitions, vouchers, and invoices for payment of panel attorney fees, witness fees, interpreters and any other professional services.
A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions and knowledge, skills, and abilities can be found
Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Other education or experience which clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position may substitute for the recruiting requirements
- Two or more years of progressive, responsible experience as a legal assistant, legal secretary or related legal staff support function
Preferred Requirements: - Training by an accredited vocational school, college or university in the field of legal support work or related area
- Proficient computer skills
As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.
Supplemental Information To be considered for this opportunity please:
- Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to:
- If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
- If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
- Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process, or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.
This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screen, and interviews.
At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a place people are proud to call home?
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our , and a County Book Club.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of and , , staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Our benefits: Vacation (Annual Leave) After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.
Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:
Vacation Accruals: During years 1-3, 12 Days
During years 4-7, 16 Days
During years 8-13, 20 Days
During years 14-18, 23 Days
During years 19, 24 Days
During years 20, 25 Days
During years 21, 26 Days
During years 22, 27 Days
During years 23, 28 Days
During years 24, 29 Days
During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days
A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.
Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.
Military Leave: Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.
Holidays: Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:
New Year's Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday - Third Monday in January
President's Day - Third Monday in February
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Juneteenth - June 19
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Veteran's Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after
Christmas Day - December 25
Personal Holidays: Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.
Furlough: Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.
Sick Leave: Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.
Insurance Benefits: Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the website.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation: Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security: All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Miscellaneous Benefits: Please visit website for more information.
Telework/Remote Options: Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy
**All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.
01
How many years of experience do you have working as a legal assistant, legal secretary or legal staff support function?
- None to less than 1 year
- 1 year to less than 2 years
- 2 years to less than 3 years
- 3 years to less than 4 years
- 4 years to less than 6 years
- 6 years to less than 10 years
- 10 years or more
02
Please select those that you are proficient using:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Excel
- Legal Information Network Exchange (LINX)
- Judicial Access Browser System (JABS)
- Workday
- None of the above
03
After closely reviewing this job announcement, why do you believe you would be an outstanding candidate for this opportunity?
Required Question
Job Tags
Hourly pay, Holiday work, Full time, Part time, Christmas work, New year, Local area, Remote job, Work from home, Work visa, Felony friendly, Flexible hours,