Legal Assistant - Prosecutor's Office
About the role
Recognized on the Forbes list of America's Best-In-State Employers for the past two years, the City of Phoenix strives to be an employer of choice. With more than 14,000 employees working across 41 departments, the City offers opportunities for career growth and advancement. This position is part of the Legal Assistant Unit (LAU) in the City Prosecutor's Office, which prosecutes misdemeanor crimes within the City of Phoenix, including DUI, domestic violence, shoplifting, indecent exposure, threats, criminal damage, and trespass.
The Legal Assistant collaborates with criminal staff attorneys to prepare cases by conducting legal research, obtaining facts or evidence, and researching the criminal history of defendants, enabling the Prosecutor to present this information at sentencing.
Responsibilities
- Perform case preparation duties, including reviewing case records, assembling necessary information, and updating case progress in case files and electronic databases.
- Locate and interview witnesses.
- Interact with other criminal justice agencies to gather evidence or information.
- Analyze, interpret, and report research findings in detailed written form.
- Draft letters and motions.
- Respond to written discovery requests.
- Investigate evidentiary problems.
- Complete criminal history checks of defendants, victims, and witnesses.
- Redact victim identifying information from documents, audio recordings, and video recordings.
- Provide back-up coverage to the Legal Assistants and the Discovery Clerk.
Requirements
- Associate of arts and sciences degree in a legal assistant program or related field, or a combination of experience and training equal to completion of a two-year legal assistant educational program.
- Courses and/or practical experience in criminal law, the criminal justice system, and legal research and writing.
- Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
- All finalists are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in a high-volume caseload environment.
- Experience in a legal office for a prosecutor, defense attorney, or a court.
- Experience with the discovery process and rules.
- Experience conducting prior conviction research for defendants, victims, and witnesses.
- Experience with investigative and interviewing techniques and procedures.
- Experience with legal terminology and the criminal justice process.
- Experience redacting video, audio, and documents.
- Experience ordering and obtaining evidence.
- Experience creating and/or preparing form and/or original documents.
- Knowledge and experience in municipal law.
- Spanish speaking (preferred but not required).
Skills
- Knowledge of Rules of Court, Evidence, Discovery, and Victims' Rights.
- Interpretation and decision-making abilities.
- Attention to detail.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in the English language.
- Ability to plan and organize workload to comply with established time constraints.
- Ability to work cooperatively with other employees, customers, clients, and the public.
- Experience working with minimal supervision is desired.
Pay
Pay Range: $29.44 to $39.45 per hour.
Hiring Range: $29.44 to $35.78 per hour.
The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
Benefits
- Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions.
- 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions.
- Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans.
- Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan.
- Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually.
- Dental, vision, and life insurance options.
- Employer-paid long-term disability.
- Free bus/light rail pass.
- Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year.
- Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick and personal leave days.
- Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period.
- Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi.
Pension Information
Unit 003 Benefits