Legal Assistant
LEGAL ASSISTANT
CLASS TITLE: LEGAL ASSISTANT
DEPARTMENT: Prosecuting Attorney
SUPERVISOR: Office Manager
FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Non-exempt
RATE OF PAY: $19.99/hr
DATE: 05/31/2023
JOB SUMMARY
Under the supervision of the Office Manager, serves as an assistant to Assistant Prosecutors in the court to which assigned by providing clerical, legal and administrative support tasks, which require independent judgment, understanding of departmental operations and the policies and procedures of the assigned court, proficiency in data entry/word processing skills, and ability to handle a variety of tasks.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Essential Duties:
- Prepares and files various documents and applications, including felony, misdemeanor and juvenile warrants, witness lists, subpoena’s, writ of habeas corpus, Informations, waiver of extradition, bench warrants, habitual offender notice, nolle pros, reports, and other time sensitive materials of a routine or confidential sensitive nature.
- Process discovery requests for defense attorneys.
- Organizes and maintains an extensive legal record system. Opens, closes and updates all felony, misdemeanor and juvenile files for District, Circuit, Probate Court, including Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court and occasionally Federal Courts.
- Responds to and/or directs a variety of inquiries from various police agencies, court personnel, media, governmental agencies, judges, lawyers and the public exercising discretion and using knowledge of departmental rules, practices and procedures.
- Receives, screens and routes a high volume of telephone calls, exercising judgement and discretion in the release of information and method of priority.
- Screens and routes correspondence, reports and information for attorneys, exercising judgment as to importance and priority.
- Process Live Scan fingerprint emails and entry into the Adult Case Tracking (ACT) or Juvenile Case Tracking (JCT) program.
- Generate and prepare all Circuit, District, and Probate court dockets/files for attorneys; including Personal Protection Order dockets.
- In the Victim Adovocate’s absence assist in processing Victim Rights requested forms, create file and update victim information into database; generate all Initial Victim Right’s letters and send to crime victims as mandated by the Michigan Crime Victim Right’s Act; inform victims and witness or their requirement to be present when subpoenaed as needed to assist the Victims’ Rights Advocate.
- Utilizes a variety of office equipment.
- Trains entry level clerical workers in department procedures and basic clerical duties.
- Utilizes office systems such as Adult Case Tracking, Juvenile Case Tracking, AS400, Roxio, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Word Perfect.
- Attain cross training in all other clerical staff positions and stay abreast of any changes in procedure for those positions.
- Performs legal tasks and duties assigned.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.
EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS:
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Ability to multi-task while maintaining accuracy in a fast paced setting. Must be able to effectively handle and cope with vicarious stress from many sources. An attention to detail and excellent communications skills are necessary for this position. Must be computer literate.
LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
Possession of a valid Michigan Driver’s License to travel between courts and to attend training.
Requires a personal background investigation including a criminal history check.
Must be able to apply and qualify to be a licensed notary.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Duties require sufficient mobility to work in a normal office setting and use standard office equipment including a computer, vision to read printed materials and a computer screen and hearing and speech sufficient to communicate in person or over the telephone.
These requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.
EDUCATION
Possession of a high school diploma, or the equivalent.
EXPERIENCE
A minimum of one (1) year of clerical experience in a legal setting involving keystrokes and extensive use of computer applications, keeping of court-related and other legal records, generating and processing legal orders and filing court documents. Must have knowledge of and familiarity with the Michigan Court system
This class description intends to identify the major duties and requirements of the job and should not be interpreted as all inclusive. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related duties other than those outlined above and may be required to specific job-related knowledge for successful job performance.