Legal Processing Assistant 3 - District Court

Salary: $30.99 - $41.49 Hourly
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Regular - Other
Job Number: 26-00604
Department: District Court
Division: District Court
Opening Date: 05/15/2026
Closing Date: 5/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific


Description
Summary
Why It's a Great Opportunity:

Pursuant to the terms of GR 29, all District Court personnel are under the supervision of the Presiding Judge and under the direction of the Court Administrator, who reports directly to the Presiding Judge. In this role with District Court, you'll step into a fast-paced environment where no two days are alike. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on exposure to a wide range of court operations-from case processing to courtroom support and beyond. Are you ready to dive in?
You'll take the lead on a variety of clerical functions essential to case processing, along with some key administrative tasks that keep the court running smoothly. Working under the guidance of a more senior staff member, you'll develop a deep understanding of both the structure and flow of court operations.
On a regular basis, you'll find yourself working inside courtrooms and correctional facilities, making real-time docket entries, recording detailed case data in multiple third-party systems, creating court orders, and ensuring that follow-up tasks and future hearings are accurately processed.
If you're someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift quickly and precision matters, this could be your perfect next step.
Why It's a Great Department:

Pierce County District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction and hears a wide range of cases, including:

• Traffic and non-traffic infractions
• Criminal and criminal-traffic misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors
• Civil matters for damages for injury to individuals or personal property, and contract disputes no greater than $100,000
• Small claims for recovery of money not to exceed $10,000
• Name changes
• Antiharassment protection orders
• Stalking protection orders

We encourage you to learn more about our department by clicking How to be Successful in the Role:

• Must be detail-oriented
• Reliable and punctual
• Familiar with legal terminology
• Able to listen to a judge's direction and record the same on a court order
• Accuracy and thoroughness are imperative
• Able to work well independently and as part of a team
• Ability to keep up with continual changes in process and legal requirements
• Ability to multitask while working in a live courtroom
• Ability to work in multiple operating and case management systems
• Experience working with elected officials is a plus

Throughout the training process, you will meet with your supervisor regularly to set expectations and goals for yourself, introduce you to the specific Court unit training plan you will follow, and familiarize you with the current District Court policies, procedures, and technology.

Your Future in this Role:

District Court has a comprehensive onboarding process that exposes you to all court functions and processes and involves real-time training opportunities alongside more experienced teammates. Your work will have a direct impact on your community, and it provides a great foundation for future positions within the District Court and Pierce County.


Core Daily Responsibilities:

Courtroom Services Unit:

• Serve as back-up to Judicial Assistant by routinely attending court and making accurate minutes of court proceedings.
• Process orders of the Court.
• Oversee exhibits.
• Record case related data in various databases.

This announcement is not intended to reflect all duties to be performed by our next team member, but shall present a descriptive list of the range of duties that may be performed. To view the complete classification, click

Minimum Qualifications

• Additional education or experience may substitute for the recruiting requirements.
• A cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references are required for this position. Applications without cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references will not be considered.
• Four or more years of progressive, responsible experience as a legal processing assistant, legal secretary, or related legal staff support function.

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 basis 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:
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at View email address on click.appcast.io 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application 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 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date. Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes, which may include assessments, phone screens, and interviews.
At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion mean 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 a local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a place people are proud to call home?
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
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 , 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 and , , 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 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 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.
ORCA Passport Program
Pierce County employees may participate in the County's ORCA (One Regional Card for All) Passport program.
Your Pierce County issued ORCA card is loaded with an annual Passport pass. The pass automatically renews every year. The pass will provide you with free transportation on regularly scheduled service on several public transit systems.

Miscellaneous Benefits:
Please visit 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
**All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.
01


Have you attached a cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references? Failure to attach these will result in an incomplete application.

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have any legal or court experience? If so, please describe your experience.
Required Question