Legal Office Assistant

Legal Office Assistant

The Legal Office Assistant provides discovery reports to appropriate parties according to office policy and Wisconsin Statutes. Accepts new referrals and reports from law enforcement with utmost accuracy. Provides defense attorneys invoices and instructions for how to obtain discovery. Expedites and enters new custody referrals on a daily basis. Provides criminal complaints to appropriate parties for warrant return hearings. Runs driving records for appropriate custody hearings. Tracks and accepts weekly OWI referrals and maintains calendar for weekly OWI intake court. Answers phones for the office. Provides information services to visitors, defendants, defense attorneys, probation agents and police agencies. Provides report information for Probation agents for Presentence Investigations. Drafts and prepares letters, receipts fee payments, disperses interoffice mail and court documents, maintains open files and records organization. Processes evidence release forms to law enforcement and maintains selected office equipment. Orders forms as necessary. Interprets and processes no issue letters and ordinance violations and determines if a letter needs to be generated and sent to the Clerk of Courts office to release bail money.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

The following duties are primarily performed and are essential for this position. Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully with or without reasonable accommodations to be qualified for the position. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• 25% Discovery: Accepts discovery payments and provides reports and electronic media to appropriate parties according to office policy and Wisconsin Statues.
• 30% New Referrals: Receives, reviews and processes requests for charges.
• 40% Reception: Engages with and professionally encounters all manner of contacts in an extremely high volume position. Provides information to general public, Attorney's, Law enforcement agencies, Probation agents. Frequently encounters people displaying the very worst of human behaviors.
• 2% Payments: Processes payment for discovery materials, Deferred Prosecution Agreement, Diversion and Restitution payments.
• 2% Decline to Prosecute Letters: Interprets and processes a letter of no issue of criminal charges, sends letter to Clerk of Courts office for return of bail money.
• 2% Office Support: Maintains copier, orders certain forms and office supplies, letters, memos, maintains open files, processes evidence release forms.
• 2% Schedule Pretrial conferences: Checks availability of District Attorney's and schedules on appropriate date and time.

Minimum Education Qualifications

Education and/or Experience Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of experience preferred in a legal office setting or further education in the legal field.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Qualifications

In order to perform the functions and responsibilities of the position (listed above) the following knowledge, skills, and abilities are essential.

• Knowledge of court procedures, practices, and legal terminology.
• Practical computer experience.
• Experience working with databases and document processing will be weighted favorably, including any relevant work with file sharing systems.
• Knowledge of modern office equipment; knowledge of spelling, punctuation, and grammar; skill in word processing, data entry, and editing documents; oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to perform difficult and varied tasks.
• Be very detail oriented.
• Familiarity with the criminal justice system would be helpful.

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer. May experience frequent periods of standing, walking, pushing, and/or pulling. Ability to lift 25 pounds.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office environment. May have to deal with irritated, agitated, hostile, or violent individuals. Any clerical error could lead to a delay in case proceedings, a case being dismissed, or a violation of victim rights. We are responsible for multitasking and covering other support staff in their absence.

EOE / ADA Statement

Ozaukee County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ozaukee County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.