Paralegal I - Parentage Intake/Filing Unit (Internal Applicants Only)

Paralegal Position

Internal Applicants Only This position is open only to current employees of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Applicants must serve and pass their six-month probation period in their current position in order to be eligible to apply.

Supervisor: Jeff Oppliger Salary: Range 49 - $37.97 (step one) - $48.13 (step ten)

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday – our core business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Work Location: In-person/telecommute (hybrid); Three days in-office required; 724 West Smith Street, Suite 101, Kent, WA 98032. An alternative schedule is subject to supervisor approval.

Any change in the position or work group will be determined by the needs of the Family Support Division.

The position involves complex paralegal work, which requires in-depth knowledge of civil litigation and legal office operations, highly developed administrative skills and considerable knowledge of functions of various county agencies. The Individual assigned to this classification provide paraprofessional legal support to an assigned group of attorneys and other staff. There is considerable latitude in working independently and exercising judgment and because of that, the impact of errors may be significant.

Job Duties

• Process incoming review codes from the Division of Child Support regarding parentage cases. This includes assigning cases electronically to staff in Seattle and Kent, re-activating closed cases, processing paperwork from other jurisdictions requesting parentage establishment, and producing interview letters to custodians
• Obtain, interpret and document information needed for establishing parentage, utilizing the interview process. Because of the discrete information that is shared in the context of a parentage interview, the interviewer needs to be a respectful, compassionate and sensitive person
• Create complete case files including all necessary documentation and update information in SEMS. Notify the Division of Child Support to send out non-cooperation and cooperation notices to DSHS Offices when appropriate
• Review parentage referrals to ensure proper jurisdiction and venue, determine if cases are appropriate for service of pleadings and prepare parentage petitions and supporting documentation
• Perform general research, gather information, and compile data
• Draft and prepare letters, memos and other correspondence
• Provide technical or administrative support to the Deputy Prosecutor and to the Legal Administrative Specialists
• Provide case management and deadline control, monitoring progress of all assigned cases and matters
• Respond to a high volume of telephone calls and e-mails from petitioners, responding jurisdictions and other agencies
• Meet with parties in person to explain legal procedures and policies of the office pertaining to parentage establishment
• Perform locate work using available computer systems
• Arrange for genetic testing of parties involved in the parentage case. May provide back up for genetic testing
• Arrange for service on military personnel, inmates, out of county, and out of country parties as needed
• Provide court coverage for parentage litigation
• May be assigned the orientation and/or training of coworkers
• Must be able to work independently or as part of a team and interact appropriately with others
• Actively participate in PAO equity work, attending equity trainings and discussions
• Additional responsibilities and/or tasks may be incorporated, or existing ones modified as business needs evolve

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• Knowledge of legal office practices and procedures
• Knowledge of court rules and procedures
• Knowledge of complex filing systems
• Ability to access and utilize information from various computer systems
• Skill in remaining calm in high stress situations and meeting deadlines
• Skill in working on a number of tasks simultaneously and accurately
• Ability to maintain office confidentiality
• Skill in working independently and as a member of a team
• Skill in explaining procedures and legal terminology to lay people
• Ability to prepare a variety of clear and concise written materials using proper grammar, punctuation and spelling
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, clients and others
• Customer service skills in person and via telephone (discretion, patience, etiquette, professionalism.)
• Leadership skills
• Problem solving skills
• Demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance
• Follow written and verbal directions and complete assigned tasks on schedule
• Read, write, and communicate in English and understand basic math
• Learn from directions, observations, and mistakes, and apply procedures using good judgment
• Work with supervision, receiving instructions/feedback, coaching/counseling and/or action/discipline
• Commitment to Race, Equity and Social Justice work including ongoing cultural competence development
• This position occasionally requires moving or lifting heavy objects, such as boxes of books or papers that weigh 20-25 pounds.

Supplemental Information

Application Process:

PAO employees who are represented by Teamsters Local No. 117 will receive priority consideration. There exists a broken rung in many organizations that can make attaining formal positions challenging to historically excluded groups. We are not requesting a detailed expression of interest, as we prefer to keep barriers for applying low and will look forward to hearing about experience and aspirations for the role during the interview process.

Selection Process

Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, qualified bargaining unit members will be invited to participate in a panel interview process.

*Employees with less than 2 years of service will receive.25 per hour less than the hourly salary table due to a mandatory contribution toward the Teamsters Pension Trust that was voted by members of Teamsters Local No. 117.