Legal Assistant 2 - Civil Division

Description

This position is Part-time 20 hour per week.

The CBA is under negotiations, 2023 wages.

Position Summary

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

This is a great career opportunity as a Legal Assistant 2 within the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Civil Division. Your primary focus will be to provide legal assistant support to the Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys responsible for the Abatement process. As a Prosecuting Attorney's Office employee, you make a difference in people's lives and a positive contribution to Pierce County.

Learn more about the Prosecuting Attorney's Office here.

Why It's a Great Department:

The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is committed to the recruitment, hiring, retention and promotion of a diverse staff. Our commitment to diversity creates a strong and collegial office that promotes respect for the community we serve.

The Civil Division takes great pride in the work they do, are supportive of one another, highly competent and thrive on the collective teamwork of those who work within the unit.

How to be Successful in the Role:

We are looking for someone with exceptional attention to detail. Someone with a high level of organizational skills, a strong work ethic, and someone who is adaptable, and works well as part of a team. Having the ability to interact in a positive, engaging manner with internal and external customers, treating every contact as a valued individual is of high importance as well as the ability to work independently.

Your Future in this Role:

While the primary focus is working in the Civil Division, you will develop professional networks and have exposure to attorneys, courts, and agencies as well as the public. You will learn applicable legal guidelines or regulations, court processes/procedures and office operational procedures. Your work will directly impact your community.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Advise attorneys and other interested parties regarding status of cases and legal procedures while maintaining security and confidentiality.

• Maintain and organize legal files.

• Review and format legal documents and perform word processing with responsibility for accuracy, proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, and legal terminology.

• Calendar and track due dates with an attention to detail.

• Accurately process mail and correspondence from courts and parties.

• Working knowledge of the civil commitment process.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of one-year progressive, responsible experience in the legal field as a legal assistant, legal secretary or related legal staff support function.

• Other education or experience which clearly indicates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position may substitute for the recruiting requirements.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Training by an accredited vocational school, college or university in the field of legal support work or related area

• Prior experience working in a legal environment where your position included working independently

• Experience working with an appellate unit.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration

Supplemental Information

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.org/jobs.

• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.

• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.

• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application form will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed. Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status normally occurs 4 to 6 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include written, oral and performance examinations, and final interviews.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, Pierce County welcomes a diverse workforce. Pierce County does not discriminate based on race, creed, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a disabled person.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a great place to live, work, and raise a family?

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our Leadership Training Program, and a County Book Club.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Our benefits:

Vacation (Annual Leave)

After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.

Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:

Vacation Accruals:

During years 1-3, 12 Days

During years 4-7, 16 Days

During years 8-13, 20 Days

During years 14-18, 23 Days

During years 19, 24 Days

During years 20, 25 Days

During years 21, 26 Days

During years 22, 27 Days

During years 23, 28 Days

During years 24, 29 Days

During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days

A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.

Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.

Military Leave:

Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.

Holidays:

Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:

New Year's Day

• January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday

• Third Monday in January

President's Day

• Third Monday in February

Memorial Day

• Last Monday in May

Juneteenth

• June 19

Independence Day

• July 4

Labor Day

• First Monday in September

Veteran's Day

• November 11

Thanksgiving Day

• Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after

Christmas Day

• December 25

Personal Holidays:

Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.

Furlough:

Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.

Sick Leave:

Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.

Insurance Benefits:

Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the Pierce County Health Benefits website.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation:

Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washington's Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security:

All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Miscellaneous Benefits:

Please visit Pierce County's Benefits website for more information.

Telework/Remote Options:

Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy here.

All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.

01

Do you have a Paralegal Degree or Certification?

• No

• Yes, a Paralegal Certificate

• Yes, a Paralegal Degree

02

Briefly describe your experience using computer software such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel. Also describe any experience using various types of accounting software.

03

Please describe your highest level of education.

• Less than a High School Diploma or GED

• High School Diploma or GED

• Two full years of college with no degree

• Two full year of post high school technical training with no degree.

• Associates Degree in Engineering or Science or an Environmental related field of study.

• Associates Degree in a unrelated field

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering or Science or an Environmental related field of study.

• Bachelors Degree in a unrelated field

• Masters Degree in Engineering or Science or an Environmental related field of study

• Masters Degree in a unrelated field

04

How many years of experience do you have working as a legal assistant, legal secretary or related legal staff support function?

• None

• Some to less than 1 year

• 1 year to less than 2 years

• 2 years to less than 5 years

• 5 years or more

05

Do you have training by an accredited vocational school, college or university in the field of legal support work or related area?

• Yes

• No

Required Question

Agency Pierce County

Address Pierce County Human Resources

2401 S 35th St, Rm 121

Tacoma, Washington, 98409

Phone (253) 798-7480

For Sheriff's Department positions: 253-798-6250

Website http://www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs