Legal Assistant Jobs

King County’s Department of Public Defense is hiring Legal Assistants who will perform legal office support tasks. The ideal candidates will be able to exercise good independent judgment, and apply office guidelines, legal procedures, work methods, court rules, and applicable laws.
WHY JOIN DPD?
The Department of Public Defense (DPD) provides high quality legal representation to indigent clients in felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile defense, family defense (dependency cases), involuntary commitment (mental illness), sex offender commitment, and inquests.
We also advocate to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal legal system and civil legal systems that restrict our clients’ liberty and to address systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive, premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD, visit our website.

SCOPE OF JOB DUTIES – To be considered for this opportunity, you must demonstrate knowledge, skill, and ability at a minimum to:

• Maintain Master Court Calendar with supervisor and attorney supervisor.
• Request case credit and assignments from the Director's Office.
• Provide telephone coverage.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Verify monthly reports, close client case files and process closed files daily.
• Process regular debits and credits daily into case management system.
• Open and distribute cases to assigned lawyers.
• Obtain criminal history information from jails or prisons via telephone, email, or regular mail.
• Review case assignments with the attorney supervisor.
• Accurately docket and enter case assignment information, following case management system docketing work procedures.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES WHO:

• Are comfortable providing excellent customer service, including communicating with people of diverse backgrounds, who may be experiencing stress and trauma.
• Knowledge of Superior Court Management Information System (SCOMIS), Judicial Information System (JIS), and Electronic Case Records (ECR) is a plus.
• Have experience as an office or administrative assistant. Prior work in a legal setting and criminal legal system is a plus.
• Fluent in a foreign language is a plus.
• Have lived experience involving the criminal legal system.
• Can use office productivity tools such as Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Word, and Outlook), document management, and Internet search engines.
• Can prioritize their workload, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with high attention to detail.

WHY KING COUNTY?
At King County, our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
King County offers great benefits, to include a pension plan, holidays, transit pass, plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development.
Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance

• Paid Orca Card allowing multiple transportation options to/from the office
• On-Site exercise facilities and bike storage
• Paid vacation time (in addition to paid holidays)
• Deferred compensation plan
• Twelve paid holidays and Two Additional personal holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Paid parental leave
• Employer Contributions to state pension plan
• Awesome Employee Giving Program
• 100% premium paid healthcare plans

• Comply with the DPD Ethical Walls Policies and Procedures.
• Have a valid Washington State Driver's License or ability to travel to required destinations around King County.
• Lift/move up to 20-pound boxes.

• Meeker Street Building, 420 West Harrison Street, Kent
• Dexter Horton Building, 710 Second Avenue, Seattle
• Jefferson Street Building, 1401 East Jefferson, Seattle