Human Resources

Job Location

County of Chelan Prosecuting Attorney 401 Washington Street Wenatchee, WA 98801

Description

Salary: PW07 Steps 2-4 $4,296.00- $4,692.74 Longevity Steps 5-8 $ 4,906.12- $5,612.41

Benefit Package: Includes paid vacation and sick leave accrued monthly, 11 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays per year, medical and dental insurance coverage, other supplemental insurances and deferred compensation packages available at employee expense, monthly County VEBA contributions (health savings account for employees), Washington PERS retirement system.

SUMMARY

The Paralegal assists prosecutors with a variety of legal technical activities and performs paralegal functions on behalf of the Chelan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.  This position prepares and files a wide range of complex as well as routine legal documents and correspondence without close supervision and within statutory time limits; conducts legal research; provides litigation support to prosecutors for trials and hearings; schedules and coordinates calendars and criminal dockets; provides information and assistance to the public, the courts and other agencies; and performs other related administrative duties relative to the area of assignment.  This position is full-time, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm daily, Monday – Friday, excluding holidays.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following examples of duties and responsibilities illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position, but are not intended to serve as a comprehensive list or to define the limits of required duties.  Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position.

• Prepares and maintains accurate departmental files and records, both electronically and manually.  Responsible for extensive entry of defendant and witness data, and entry of case-specific information including charging, docketing, and disposition data into the office case management system.  Reviews case files to assure timely action or review by prosecutors.
• Prepares new case referrals for review by assigned prosecutor.  This may include examining documents and related affidavits for completeness, legal accuracy and compliance with legal deadlines, securing appropriate authorizing signatures, and distributing to affected parties.
• Responsible for identifying, requesting, and compiling all discovery from law enforcement pertaining to all criminal cases and civil infraction cases, including investigative reports, dash cam videos, 911 phone calls, crime scene photos and videos, and defendant criminal history.  Responsible for disseminating all case discovery to defense counsel and unrepresented criminal defendants.
• Responsible for scheduling, creating, maintaining, and producing daily and weekly criminal dockets for the Chelan County Superior Court.  Disseminates all criminal dockets and documentation relative to said proceedings to prosecutors, court personnel, county clerks, county jail staff, defense attorneys, law enforcement personnel, and other necessary personnel or agencies.
• Conducts legal research of case law and Revised Code of Washington (RCW) statutes and applies appropriate findings of said research during preparation of legal documents for attorney review.
• Prepares updates, and maintains court forms as set forth by the Washington Pattern Forms Committee and the Administrative Office of the Courts.
• Responsible for daily contact with the county jail when prosecutors file or decline to file formal charges to ensure charged prisoners are not released, and uncharged prisoners are not unlawfully incarcerated when charges are either declined or dismissed.
• Handles complex, sensitive, and confidential information such as defendant criminal history, mental health evaluations, pre-sentencing investigation reports, crime scene photos and video (which may be of a graphic nature), 911 phone calls, autopsy reports, and incarceration information.
• Drafts, prepares, files, and distributes various types of legal documents including charging documents, notices, summons, warrants, affidavits, petitions, motions, and orders as required for various courts of law within Chelan County and the State of Washington.
• Uses a variety of computer software applications, including:
  • Microsoft Word and Outlook
  • Prosecutor by Karpel (prosecutor case management system)
  • Spillman (law enforcement records)
  • Judicial Information System (JIS)
  • Judicial Access Browsing System (JABS)
  • Washington State Appellate Courts Portal
  • OnBase (courts electronic document management system)
  • Liquid Files (secure file transfer protocol system)
  • Other applications and websites as needed

• Accurately completes and disseminates disposition report forms to the clerk’s office for submission of case dispositions to the Washington State Patrol Criminal Records Division for true and complete criminal histories of defendants.
• Provides assistance to the public in person, via telephone, or email.  Responds to inquiries and provides information regarding court processes, specific charges, and court dates.
• Accesses information from multiple local, state, and federal confidential criminal justice databases.
• Maintains frequent contact with victims, witnesses, law enforcement agencies, and defense attorneys to obtain or provide information, schedule appointments, or assist them in completing necessary reports.
• Coordinates with county jail and other agencies for transportation of witnesses and defendants incarcerated in other jurisdictions.
• Obtains certified copies of criminal judgments from courts in other in-state and out-of-state jurisdictions as required.
• Attends and participates in Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (WAPA) trainings and seminars to elevate skills and stay up-to-date with applicable changes in law and procedures.
• Maintains, archives, and destroys office files consistent with Washington State retention schedules.
• Assists in the training of new employees or temporary staff.
• Performs a wide range of other general office clerical or secretarial tasks including: answering phones, screening and routing calls, taking messages, greeting visitors, copying, faxing, scanning, e-filing, and opening/routing mail to appropriate staff.
• Must be reliable and punctual in reporting for scheduled work; daily attendance is an essential function of the job.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS / EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

Minimum Requirements

• Associates of Arts and Sciences degree or a high school diploma and two (2) years of experience with legal office procedures.  Related education beyond high school or other work experience and training may be substituted for experience requirements.
• Must successfully pass a background check investigation.
• Must be a United States citizen.
• Must have a valid Washington State driver’s license.
• Must pass Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) access training.
• Computer keyboard proficiency.
• English language proficiency, both oral and written.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / ABILITIES

• Must be able to follow instructions, prioritize work, and accurately complete multiple tasks in a busy office environment with frequent deadline pressures.
• Must be able to work unsupervised, stay on task, and complete assigned caseload work in timely manner.
• Must use logic, common sense, and pay attention to detail. 
• Essential to exercise discretion over sensitive and confidential information and materials handled and processed relating to cases and department’s business.
• Ability to cope with reading and hearing about violent, disturbing, and emotionally unsettling criminal acts.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal competence in protocols of contacts with judges, attorneys, law enforcement, crime victims and witnesses, and the general public. 
• A proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and other county staff.  Must be courteous, polite, a team player, and strive to set a positive example.
• Excellent grammar, spelling, and keyboarding skills.
• Effectively use and operate standard office equipment, computers, software programs, and databases, and prosecutor’s case management system.
• Ability to learn and use new software programs as necessary.
• Ability to read and comprehend legal documents, terms, instruments, correspondence, and memos. 
• Communicate effectively and clearly both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations to the public and other employees of the organization.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to proficiently read and write English.  Ability to read and comprehend legal documents and instruments, correspondence, and memos.  Ability to use good customer service and telephone skills in stressful situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work involves tasks that may require routine ergonomic practices, including computer keyboarding skills and writing.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Talk, hear, and see.
• Tolerate prolonged computer-related exposure.
• Ability to sit/stand at a workstation for long periods of time.
• Walk, stoop, kneel, and crouch.
• Have a sense of touch, finger dexterity, and ability to grip with hands and fingers.
• Reach upward and/or outward using arms and hands.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in a fast-paced office setting with frequent interruptions and the need to deal with a widely diverse population.
• Noise level is usually moderate.
• May view and/or read sensitive, explicit, and graphic material.
• Often exposed to individuals exhibiting antisocial behavior, mentally unstable individuals, those grieving the loss of a loved one, or those experiencing trauma from domestic violence or other abuse.
• Able to work in the midst of an antagonistic work environment due to the subject matter and urgency of demands.
• May require travel for training purposes.
• Need to observe and abide by all county and departmental policies, goals, and objectives.