Location: Georgetown,TX, USA
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.
EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED
* 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
Civil Assignment
* 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 Probable Cause 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
Juvenile Assignment
* Reconciles Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) and submits paper records to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for criminal history reporting
* Processes juvenile referrals, including data entry, legal document preparation, requesting court and/or jury dates, and notifying counsel and schools
* Reviews sex offender registration status, completes CJIS reporting information for each referral and calculates child support and restitution
* Sets up each case received in database, ensuring that all pertinent identifying information of case and juvenile is entered, including correct DPS offense codes and entry of TRN (DPS tracking number for the offense arrest/detainment)
* Performs daily reporting on DPS Electronic Disposition Reporting (EDR) website regarding any action taken by prosecutor on each case (petition filed, sent to juvenile services for deferred, sent to juvenile services for discretionary disposition, declined case, etc.)
* Coordinates detention hearings
* Prepares transfer paperwork for a juvenile to be certified as an adult to the District Attorney's Office
* Prepares appointment/court setting notices to schools and attorneys
* Processes general juvenile related telephone calls and emails from probation staff, court staff, law enforcement agencies, parents, attorneys, and school officials
* Contacts law enforcement agencies to obtain missing information as needed
* Prepares and sends collection letters
* Drafts judicial confessions, writs of attachment, and applications for grand jury subpoenas
* Routes paperwork for various assessments, releases from detention, furloughs, adjudication documents, transfer documents, disposition documents, deferred dispositions, and trial documents
* Files enforcement actions
* Provides written updates to Juvenile Services of actions taken on all cases and disposition outcomes
* Calculates child support as needed
* Contacts Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) for case information and status
Family Justice Assignment
* Works closely with outside agencies including TDFPS, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and The Office of the Attorney General
* Arranges mediations; prepares and sends out notice of mediation
* Drafts and coordinates with respondents and/or attorneys for the execution of Affidavits for Relinquishment of Parental Rights
* Requests birth certificate verifications and reviews pleadings to ensure accuracy of information
* Requests TDPFS visitation plans and ensures attachment to the appropriate order
* Monitors, responds to, and notifies attorneys of legal intervention requests
* Coordinates with court staff and clerk's office for new case filings
* Conducts conflict check to ensure appropriate appointment of attorneys
* Reads TDFPS affidavits and determines appropriate pleadings and orders needed based upon included information and in consultation with attorneys; drafts documents for attorney review
* Prepares letters requesting Issuance of Citation and Precept and E-files
* Requests and reviews criminal history information and compiles certified copies of documents from each jurisdiction; notifies attorneys of possible aggravated circumstances that warrant further pleadings as appropriate based on the criminal history
Protective Order Assignment
* Creates case shells for all protective order inquiries
* Conducts conflict checks across divisions and records
* Runs criminal histories and locates information in CJIS databases
* Assists law enforcement with evidence being properly obtained and distributed to the protective order file
* Works closely with the victim assistance coordinator and investigator assigned to protective orders
* Obtains non-law enforcement records such as medical records, phone records, and certified records from County and District Clerk's Offices nationwide.
* Creates and organizes service packets and assists in coordination with process serving agencies
* Assists in the data entry of necessary information into CJIS databases
* Drafts and files all necessary paperwork, to include but not limited to, applications for protective order, temporary ex parte protective orders, affidavits, temporary ex parte protective order extensions, and final protective orders
* Compiles, organizes, and prepare all exhibits for presentation to the Court
ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS
* Reports directly to - A Division Chief
* Direct Reports - No
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
* Position involves prolonged sitting at a workstation, visual examination of documents, reaching, walking, twisting, bending, standing and occasional lifting/carrying
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
* Work is primarily indoors in an air-conditioned environment
* High stress, pressure of deadlines, and case management under limited time constraints
IRREGULAR HOURS
* Work outside of the normal office hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) may be required
* May be deemed essential personnel in the event of an emergency
* Regular attendance is required
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position. This job description is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the job change.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
* Associate degree in a related field and one (1) year of legal experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
* Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required within thirty (30) days of employment
* Valid driver's license
Required within six (6) months of employment
* Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) certification
* Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC) certification
* Texas Notary Public Commission
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
* Paralegal certification
* Working knowledge of Odyssey, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Sign, Laserfiche, Kronos, Alice, and Jabber
* Bilingual: Spanish
EMPLOYMENT TESTING
Employment is contingent on passing any post-offer pre-employment screening as listed below:
* Criminal background check: Yes
* Motor Vehicle Record check: Yes
* Drug screening: No
* Physical exam: No
* Psychological exam: No
* Additional: N/A
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
A Williamson County online application (resumes alone are not sufficient) must be received before the position is closed. Positions are open until filled, subject to close at any time after five (5) business days. The Human Resources Department is located at 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, TX 78626. Phone (512) ###-#### or visit our website atwww.wilcotx.gov/469/Human-Resources.
Williamson County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please request assistance from the Human Resources Department.
TOBACCO FREE WORKPLACE POLICY
Williamson County is a tobacco free workplace. The use of tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, chew, etc.) and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) (e.g., vapor, e-cigarettes, etc.) is prohibited on all Williamson County premises. Employees who violate this policy are subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.