Legal Assistant

Application Deadline: 2026-08-28

About the role

Provides administrative and customer service support to internal and external customers within a county legal department.

Responsibilities

• Provides customer service to internal and external customers; greets, receives, and screens visitors; addresses and resolves customer questions or refers complex inquiries to appropriate staff.
• Sorts, copies, and distributes correspondence, deliveries, and mail; opens, logs, and routes office mail; retrieves, delivers, and sends faxes.
• Composes routine correspondence; proofreads and edits documents; enters, scans, updates, and maintains information in spreadsheets, databases, and reports.
• Maintains electronic and paper filing and record systems for easy access and retention of records as required.
• Updates and maintains department files, databases, records, plans, lists, and related documents.
• Performs records management duties to ensure statutory timelines are met for all cases.
• Maintains scheduling calendars and reminder systems for appointments, meetings, court proceedings, and deadlines for department attorneys.
• Updates legal resources with supplements and replacement pages.
• Sorts, indexes, and files correspondence, legal documents, memoranda, reports, and minutes.
• Establishes case files, creates files for trial, contacts individuals for court appearances, and schedules hearings, trial dates, and times.
• Arranges transportation for individuals involved in mental commitments, chemical dependency, delinquencies, defendants, witnesses, or guardianship proceedings with appropriate parties or the Sheriff’s Department.
• Attends court hearings and trials to assist department attorneys with administrative functions.
• Assists at specific court hearings, such as traffic court and juvenile delinquencies, as assigned.
• Communicates and schedules court dates and times with the Courts.
• Organizes and manages case files; organizes pleadings, discovery, research, and correspondence; prepares lists, exhibits, schedules, and other information for court proceedings.
• Drafts legal documents for review.
• Obtains and securely files criminal histories and driving records.
• Provides administrative assistance to the Senior Legal Assistant and department attorneys as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge, skill, and ability to understand and use legal terminology, legal format, and processes.
• Knowledge of standard and legal office practices, procedures, and clerical techniques.
• Basic knowledge of Wisconsin Statutes with the ability to recognize statutory, procedural, and format changes.
• Skill in taking notes or dictation and accurately incorporating essential details in preparing legal documents.
• Ability to prepare court documents accurately and error-free within stringent time limits.
• Ability to perform detailed work accurately and independently with minimal direction and supervision.
• Ability to maintain accurate and legible notes.
• Ability to read and accurately interpret statutory language regarding administrative details of the legal process.
• Ability to establish and maintain accurate records of assigned activities and operations.
• Ability to understand and implement local court rules, policies, procedures, written or oral instructions, and general correspondence.
• Skill in organizational and time management to prioritize duties and accomplish a high volume of work while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Ability to think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
• Knowledge of current office practices and procedures, including the operation of standard office equipment and software.
• Knowledge of computer software including word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations required for the position.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, calmly, and effectively in English, both in written and verbal form.
• Skill in researching and understanding complex written materials.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
• Ability to apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems, and interpreting policies and regulations.
• Ability to communicate detailed and often sensitive information effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to handle sensitive interpersonal situations calmly and tactfully.
• Ability to maintain professionalism at all times.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding sensitive files, reports, materials, and conversations in compliance with applicable state and federal statutes and regulations.

Physical and Work Environment

• Work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force.
• Regularly requires sitting; frequently requires standing, speaking, hearing, using hands to finger, handle, or feel, and repetitive motions.
• Occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy office setting.
• May require dealing with persons who are hostile or aggressive, posing threatening conditions.