What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legal Secretary IV position at Benton County, Washington?
Performs office coordination, administrative and supervisory functions, and the most complex legal secretarial duties to support efficient office operations for a program or legal support function. Responsibilities include: implementing procedural changes; prioritizing and coordinating the work of a program or section; assuring efficient work flow; and assigning and supervising the work of assigned staff.
Independently oversees the daily secretarial and office activities of a specific program, assuring efficient and timely completion of work; develops office forms and secretarial/clerical procedures and performs administrative tasks involving personnel, daily operations, and recordkeeping; reviews completed work to assure compliance with department, office, and legal policies and procedures.Prepares statistical and narrative reports relating to operation of work unit; may prepare summaries of employee/volunteer time cards and earned leave records.
Oversees or performs the preparation, maintenance, update, and review of detailed records, logs, dockets, and various case files, assuring accurate and timely action and/or review and processing of cases. Enters case information on computer terminal and performs in-depth legal research to obtain and verify information as necessary. Provides advice and support to subordinates in the analysis and handling of non-routine, complex and/or difficult case issues.
Independently composes and drafts various legal documents, ordinances, pleadings, subpoenas, and other legal correspondence. Prepares, types and edits for final distribution.
Provides key liaison function between the department/program and defendants, clients, court, law enforcement agencies, community agencies, schools, and the general public, coordinating schedules, providing and obtaining information, and assisting them in completing necessary reports.
Initiates completion of regularly recurring reports and standard form letters. Maintains accumulative records, making periodic audits as necessary; maintains follow-up system on reports and other forms requiring action on a periodic basis.
Compiles data from varied sources and makes summary reports, may involve complex statistical calculations and tabulations in accordance with established formulas and equations.
Attends courts as necessary to assist deputy and/or provide support to victims/witnesses.
Remains current on legislation, legal requirements, and ordinances affecting unit operations and advises subordinates of any applicable changes in procedures to reflect revised legal requirements.
May perform any of the tasks normally assigned to subordinates working within the unit.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Associate's degree in paralegal, business, or related field, Bachelor's degree preferred, and four years of progressively responsibilities; or any combination of education and experience which would provide the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability required to perform the job.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES & OTHER REQUIREMENTS:Valid Driver's License.
Notary Public helpful.
Thorough knowledge of legal secretarial and office practices, procedures and equipment.
Thorough knowledge of legal terminology, forms, and documents.
Comprehensive knowledge of departmental and/or program functions and procedures and laws and regulations applicable to area of assignment.
Thorough knowledge of and ability to apply business and legal English, composition, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and letter format.
Thorough knowledge of court procedures, legal processes, and the criminal justice system.
Knowledge of basic math, including the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide accurately.
Skill in operating standard office equipment such as Microsoft Office, scanner, calculator and photocopier.
Excellent oral communications skills to explain detailed policies and procedures and to deal with other employees, law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and the general public using courtesy, tact and good judgment.
Ability to read, understand, apply and explain County/department policies and procedures and legal requirements applicable to area of assignment.
Ability to prioritize workloads and coordinate secretarial, clerical and office elements of unit operations, assuring timely and efficient completion of work assignments.
Ability to research, interpret, and analyze complex legal information to develop and implement sound proposals and solutions and/or report information to others.
Ability to establish and maintain complex manual and computerized filing and recordkeeping systems and to prepare narrative or statistical reports based thereon.
Ability to work quickly, accurately and thoroughly with close attention to detail to meet deadlines.
Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive personal and legal information.
Ability to type at level required for specific position.
Salary : $4,988 - $6,472