LEGAL ASSISTANT PROJECT SPECIALIST - 542477

Job Location: Office of the General Counsel, 701 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034

About the role

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR) is seeking an experienced legal assistant to fill the Legal Assistant Project Specialist position. This role performs specialized administrative and legal support work in managing the end-to-end life cycle of subpoenas, court orders, and public records requests served on the department. The Legal Assistant Project Specialist applies the same skills and processes to complex Public Records Requests (PRR) per regulatory guidelines, ensuring that statutory exceptions are properly applied. This highly collaborative role requires tracking and reporting requests, independently composing professional correspondence, and consulting/conferring closely with internal managers, attorneys, personnel, and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Processes all incoming subpoenas and court orders for the Custodian of Records
• Coordinates records retrieval, reviews records for responsiveness to the court order, and ensures compliance with federal, state, and departmental rules, regulations, and policies
• Executes advanced text, audio, and video redactions, and securely produces compliant responsive records according to strict court deadlines
• Manages complex Public Records Requests per regulatory guidelines
• Reviews requests, clarifies scope with requesters, and researches internal files to gather responsive records
• Applies statutory exemptions using advanced digital text, audio, and video redaction tools, composes correspondence, and assists with improving PRR policies
• Consults with the Office of General Counsel and the Arizona Attorney General's Office and provides legal support in related litigation
• Drives on State business and travels throughout the state with possible overnight stays
• Performs other duties appropriate to the assignment

Requirements

• Knowledge of Arizona statutes and guidelines that govern public records
• Knowledge of administrative proceedings and litigation processes
• Knowledge of data entry application systems
• Knowledge of State and Federal Laws, rules, and regulations governing ADCRR's operations
• Knowledge of professional records management practices, including retention schedules, classification, and secure storage of sensitive data
• Skill in interpreting and fulfilling complex legal requests, such as subpoenas, court orders, and discovery requests for both personnel and medical records
• Skill in using specialized records management systems, databases, and standard office software to track and manage large volumes of data
• Skill in researching complex records, conducting audits, and synthesizing data into concise inventory or quality control reports
• Ability to utilize critical and analytical thinking
• Ability to perform high-level work of considerable difficulty under pressure, ensuring strict compliance with legal deadlines and organizational goals
• Ability to communicate clearly and tactfully with diverse stakeholders, including law enforcement, court officials, legal counsel, and the general public
• Ability to exercise discretion and professional judgment when handling sensitive inmate, medical, and personnel information
• Ability to analyze office workflows, identify inefficiencies, and implement streamlined quality control measures

Qualifications

Selective Preference: Experience performing complex administrative work in a criminal justice or law office environment.

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a background investigation.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, the following requirements apply: Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance.

In an effort to maintain a safe environment, all employees are required to take a Tuberculosis (TB) test during their New Employee Orientation and every year thereafter. All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification (E-Verify) process.

Pay

$57,600.00