District Attorney’s Office – Legal Secretary

About the role

Works under the specific direction of the District Attorney. Prepares paperwork for criminal, traffic, and delinquency cases, maintains files, prepares operating budget as appropriate. Works with confidential information on a daily basis.

Responsibilities

• Assist the District Attorney in the orientation of new office staff regarding office procedures.
• Participate in the interviewing and selection of new office personnel.
• Make decisions on administrative matters when the District Attorney is otherwise occupied in Court, at conferences, meetings, etc.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel, as well as PROTECT, and CCAP.
• Open and distribute incoming mail to the appropriate person.
• Log in new cases and enter into the PROTECT case management system.
• Receptionist for office – answer telephone, take messages, screen calls, handle general public coming into the office.
• Respond to a variety of contacts from various law enforcement agencies, county board supervisors, general public, victims, complainants, and other county departments and determines the purpose of their visits.
• Prepare all legal documents for criminal cases such as letters, memorandum, motions, criminal complaints, plea agreements, warrants, summons, Informations, briefs, jury instructions, discovery, and other documents.
• Prepare subpoenas for upcoming court hearings, contact officers, and work with the Victim/Witness Office in making arrangements for victims/witnesses to come in and meet with the District Attorney.
• Prepare and process legal documents for juvenile delinquency cases such as delinquency petitions, dispositional orders, consent decrees, orders for examination, affidavits of mailing, and notice of hearings, as well as legal notification to the parties involved.
• Work closely with police officers, police departments, Sheriff’s Departments, and Division of Community Corrections regarding defendants and necessary paperwork in cases.
• Prepare, process and work with law enforcement regarding writs.
• Prepare and process search warrants and affidavits for law enforcement.
• Prepare and process subpoenas for documents requested by various law enforcement agencies.
• Cook up and maintain case files and court sheets.
• Prepare vouchers and keep track of office expenses.
• Aid in preparing annual budget and monitor the same throughout the budget year.
• Schedule/reschedule court appearances.
• Send reports and complaints to Division of Community Corrections for presentence investigations and when defendants are placed of probation.
• Obtain traffic tickets from Clerk of Courts Office after traffic court and prepare files and get police reports from various police departments.
• Implement office record retention procedures.
• Maintain records and inventory pertaining to items purchased by the office and order office supplies and equipment as needed.
• Prepare Special Prosecutor forms and contact replacements for when the District Attorney is out of the office.
• Cook up and coordinate handling of files with the Victim/Witness Coordinator.

  Qualifications

  • Associate Degree in Criminal Justice or paralegal or a related field with three to five years criminal justice experience or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.
  • Valid driver’s license.
  • Ability to operate a variety of office equipment including computers, printers, typewriter, photocopier, calculator, transcribing equipment, and fax machine.
  • Comprehensive knowledge of office procedures including telephone answering, filing and other related office procedures.
  • Ability to understand and accurately type and transcribe at a high rate of speed.
  • Ability to understand and follow oral instructions.
  • Ability to get along well with the public and other office personnel.
  • Ability to recognize sensitive matters and handle such matters in confidence.
  • Ability to make administrative decisions in accordance with regulations and departmental policy and procedures.
  • Ability to make arithmetical calculations.
  • Ability to comprehend and interpret a variety of documents including police reports, telephone messages, letters and other correspondence, criminal complaints, subpoenas, state, local and criminal codes, policies and procedures, etc.
  • Ability to prepare a variety of documents including budgets, letters and other correspondence, criminal complaints and related documents, briefs, delinquency petitions and related documents, writs, and extradition paperwork.
  • Ability to use and interpret legal and basic accounting terminology.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with court personnel, police agencies, Division of Community Corrections, crime victim services, attorneys and judges, sales representatives, and others.

    Skills

    None specified in the job description.

    Benefits

    None specified in the job description.

    Pay

    $20.60 – 23.54 per hour, based on experience; plus, longevity, if applicable.

    Schedule

    Regular Full-Time/40 hours per week; Monday-Friday.