Legal Assistant

Application Deadline: 2026-08-18 • County position • Department: District Attorney • FTE: 1.0

About the role

This position provides advanced administrative and legal support services to assist the District Attorney in the prosecution of criminal, traffic, civil forfeitures, and juvenile court proceedings. Performs case management, legal document preparation, records coordination, and litigation support functions while maintaining strict confidentiality and professional standards.

Responsibilities

• Assigns and enters new referrals received from law enforcement agencies.
• Independently drafts legal documents—criminal complaints, summons, warrants, ordinance violations, juvenile petitions, motions, discovery, orders, briefs, and routine letters—for review by prosecutors.
• Creates, prepares, and maintains criminal, traffic, juvenile, and forfeiture prosecutor files and electronic case files in accordance with office procedures and records retention requirements.
• Answers, screens, and responds to incoming calls and visitors in a highly professional manner.
• Contacts local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to obtain digital media, documents, and reports needed for case preparation, management, and/or prosecution.
• Assists in the redaction of investigative reports, files, court records, photographs, audio and visual recordings, and other documents for disclosure to pro se defendants, defense attorneys, and other persons in compliance with Civil and Criminal Rules of Procedure and Marsy’s Law.
• Prepares and processes subpoenas, interstate subpoenas, Writs of Habeas Corpus, and Orders for Transport for upcoming court proceedings.
• Contacts and/or assists victims and witnesses in criminal and juvenile cases as needed; serves as primary contact for victims and witnesses in non-criminal cases.
• Schedules, coordinates, monitors, and resolves conflicts with the weekly office calendar in conjunction with the court calendar.
• Prepares for and participates in mandatory pretrial conferences for traffic/forfeiture cases.
• Assists law enforcement in drafting search warrants and document subpoenas.
• Performs basic legal research: reviews Wisconsin statutes, administrative code provisions, local ordinances, court records, and prior case dispositions to assist in charging decisions; researches interstate and jurisdictional matters involving warrants, extraditions, subpoenas, and records requests.
• Generates and interprets criminal history and driving records while maintaining confidentiality pursuant to Crime Information Bureau guidelines.
• Researches prior offenses and obtains additional documents/information to assist with charging decisions and case prosecution.
• Assists attorneys with trial preparation, including preparing trial notebooks, exhibits lists, witness lists, and other litigation materials; obtains certified copies of medical, state, and court records as needed for court exhibits.
• Tracks statutory deadlines, court dates, discovery compliance, and case status information within the case management system.
• Serves as a trial assistant in major and complex cases by providing direct litigation support to attorneys during court proceedings, documenting witness testimony, and facilitating logistical and operational activities for effective case presentation.
• Prepares and files appellate briefs pursuant to Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules.
• Provides general administrative support: processes court filings and correspondence, notarizes documents, assists with staff training, and performs other office support functions necessary for efficient department operations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Associate degree in paralegal, criminal justice, legal assistant, or closely related field.
• Minimum of two years of legal support or paralegal experience preferred, particularly in criminal law, civil litigation, law enforcement, or court operations.
• Five years of legal support or paralegal experience in an office with an emphasis in criminal law or civil litigation will be considered in lieu of the required associate degree.
• Must be TIME System certified (State of Wisconsin Transaction Information for the Management of Enforcement) within six months from date of hire.
• Notary public certification within one year from date of hire.
• Must successfully pass a criminal background check.

Pay

Starting pay is determined within the expected hiring range based on qualifications, directly related experience, and internal equity. Employees may advance through the full salary range in accordance with County policy.

• Expected Hiring Range: $24.10 – $27.27/hour
• Full Salary Range: $24.10 – $33.59/hour