Civil Legal Assistant

Employer: 

Williamson County Attorney’s Office

Location: 

Georgetown, Texas

POSITION:     Civil Legal Assistant

SALARY:        $42,348.00

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting directly to a Division Chief, responsible for providing advanced legal assistance to assigned legal staff, and acts as a liaison between attorneys, courts, witnesses, law enforcement agencies, other agencies, and the public. Assists legal staff by drafting all necessary legal documents.

General Duties:

  • Prepares petitions, motions, orders, and other legal documents
  • Requests hearing dates, mediation dates, and other settings
  • Prepares and sends notice of court hearing
  • Research case information
  • Files, makes copies, and mails notices
  • Arranges and coordinates witnesses
  • Notarizes legal documents
  • Attends court to assist attorneys, as needed
  • Assists with the preparation of discovery, subpoenas, briefs, bench warrants, and other time sensitive legal documents
  • Assists with records management and filing, including e-filing and use of the County’s electronic case management system
  • Maintains calendar, case files, and dockets
  • Assimilates legal discovery
  • Processes and distributes Public Information Requests
  • Serves as back up to other Legal Assistants as needed
  • Maintains division’s central email inbox, responds to inquiries, monitors E-file notifications, and takes action as required
  • Communicates with the County Attorney’s Office staff/prosecutors, private attorneys, local mental health authority counselors, jail staff, courthouse personnel, citizens, and outside agencies
  • Reviews and evaluates legal documents and information received by the division, determines the appropriate action or response necessary, and after confirmation with the civil prosecutor, responds, takes action, and/or drafts any legal documents or creates materials necessary for review by an attorney
  • Provides regular subject matter support for technology and business process development and applicable software
  • Facilitates interagency transfer of documents that the County Attorney’s office is in custody or control of
  • Prepares trial notebooks for prosecutors and assists with court room technology for displaying evidence
  • Attends all meetings and trainings, as required
  • Performs special duties as assigned
  • Schedules depositions
  • Assists in the process of settlement of damage claims
  • Works closely with the Local Mental Health Authority, social/case workers, local/state hospitals, and the Health and Human Services Commission
  • Obtains updated medical records from mental health hospitals, as needed, prior to probable cause or commitment proceedings
  • Coordinates with out of county hospitals and Crisis Intervention Team on transfers from Williamson County, and obtain necessary paperwork from them
  • Serves as the first point of contact for intake of applications involving persons in need of involuntary commitments or other mental health related matters; attends commitment hearings as necessary
  • Obtains updated medical records from mental health hospitals, as needed, prior to probable cause or commitment proceedings
  • Receives and uploads waivers from court-appointed attorneys for PC hearings
  • Communicates regularly with mental health hospitals regarding potential filings, discharges, and patient status
  • Processes, analyzes, and organizes all responsive information received from various county departments and agencies for Public Information Act requests
  • Organizes, drafts, and compiles all exhibits for briefs submission to the Attorney General’s Office
  • Maintains calendar of all deadlines and mails all 10-day letters and 15-day briefs to the Attorney General’s Office for Public Information Act requests
  • Assists with cost estimates for Public Information Requests, as needed and distributes to requestors
  • Organizes and creates secure online links to distribute responsive information to requestors
  • Oversees auto-redactions of responsive information and sends to attorney for review

REQUIREMENTS:

Associate’s degree or equivalent and combination of education and experience equivalent to one year of paralegal or related field.  Strong organizational skills and proven ability to maintain accurate and detailed records.  Able to work under pressure in a high volume office, produce accurate work and meet established deadlines.  Dependable, resourceful, and able to work independently and to maintain strict confidentiality.  Proven knowledge and experience with system software such as Oracle, Microsoft Excel, 10 key calculators by touch, fax and copy machines.  Ability to type and enter data with appropriate speed and efficiency.  Ability to work effectively with co-workers, employees and management in a pleasant, professional manner.  Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Mainly indoor activity.  Significant contact with the public, crime victims, witnesses, persons accused/convicted of crimes, police officers, and other law enforcement /courthouse personnel.

About This Office

Williamson County is a medium size office serving approximately 28 law enforcement agencies including the City of Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park and Georgetown. Health and retirement benefits provided through Williamson County.

APPLICATIONS

To be considered, interested candidates must submit an Employment Application online only thru Williamson County Human Resources at

https://agency.governmentjobs.com/williamsonco/default.cfm

Not every applicant will be interviewed.  No phone calls.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  Employment is ALWAYS AT WILL of the County Attorney.