LEGAL ASSISTANT I - Family Support Division

Snohomish County, WA

About the Office

Snohomish County is in northwest Washington State between the Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains. Just 15 miles north of Seattle, the county is rich in scenery with abundant opportunities for outdoor activities and has a thriving economy. It is a great place to live, work, raise a family, and play. https://snohomishcountywa.gov/

The Family Support Division of the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney's office represents the State of Washington in the Judicial establishment of paternity and child support, enforcement of child support orders, modification of existing child support orders, and representation of state interest in private dissolution, parentage and nonparental custody actions when tax dollars have been expended to support a child.

Snohomish County offers a generous total compensation package. For example, total compensation for a full time first year legal assistant I is $88,069.00. This includes a gross annual salary of $58,569.00 and annual benefits with a current approximate value of $29,500.00. These benefits consist of medical, dental, vision, FICA, Medicare, Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave, PERS (pension), disability insurance, and a limited employer-matching contribution for deferred compensation plan. This position may qualify for school or federal student loan forgiveness programs.

In addition to these benefits, first-year employees receive 96 hours of annual paid sick leave, 96 hours of annual paid vacation leave, 16 additional hours of annual floating holiday leave, and 11 paid holidays.

Selection Process

Applications received
Review for minimum qualifications
SME Review of Supplemental Questions
Interviews of most qualified applicants
Second Interviews may be given at management's discretion
Offer

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Applicants are required to answer all of the supplemental questions. Please answer the supplemental questions in detail. They are scored based on the depth and range of experience you have for each activity/function.

COVER LETTER AND RESUME

PLEASE DO NOT ATTACH A COVER LETTER OR RESUME TO YOUR APPLICATION.

SALARY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE

The salary for this position is non-negotiable. The successful applicant will earn the minimum salary, with yearly pay increases until the maximum salary in the pay range is reached.

Mandatory Requirements

Applicants must be able to type at least

60 wpm.

JOB OFFERS

Job offers are contingent on successful completion of employment verification and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States. For any questions, reach out to ***email_hidden***.

BASIC FUNCTION

To perform a variety of legal secretarial duties.

Job Duties

STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Prepares and types legal documents and correspondence; processes documents to meet legal requirements and deadlines; files documents with the various state, federal, and appellate courts, commissions and boards; forwards documents to other agencies/parties as necessary.
Sets up and maintains legal files and filing systems; files and retrieves information and materials as necessary.
Collects, opens, sorts and distributes mail; stuffs envelopes and addresses outgoing mail.
Enters data in case management system; proofs and corrects work entered; retrieves information from case management system or hard files.
Locates, reviews and retrieves information from various software systems.
Receives and directs incoming calls and/or visitors; determines their needs, answers questions, direct them to the proper area and furnishes documents as appropriate; places calls for attorneys to secure information as requested.
Schedules appointments, meetings, conference rooms and makes travel arrangements as necessary. Schedules court hearings, depositions and trials; and ensures all associated files for those events are available and complete.
Closes, scans and archives files; purges files of obsolete or incorrect information and performs special projects as directed.
Assists with the collection, documentation and tracking of discovery documents and digital media.

STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES

Collects and compiles data; prepares various reports and time sheets as necessary.
May perform all the duties of subordinate level employees.
Performs related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

One (1) year of legal secretarial experience; OR, the completion of an accredited legal secretarial or related program; OR, any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. Must pass job related tests.

Special Requirements

A valid Washington State Driver's License may be required for employment.
Typing of sixty (60) wpm is required.

Additional Information

Knowledge And Abilities

Knowledge of:

legal terminology and legal document formats
rules of civil and/or criminal procedure
standard office practices and procedures and commonly used equipment;
proper English, spelling, grammar, punctuation and word usage

Ability To

accurately and timely manage a high volume of work
accurately prepare and process all types of legal documents
type accurately
maintain all ethical and professional standards of the office and county
observe strict confidentiality regarding all information obtained in course of employment
produce work product that meets professional standards of quality, neatness accuracy, and promptness
deal tactfully and courteously with attorneys, judges and the general public
maintain necessary records and prepare required documents/reports
operate standard office equipment
communicate effectively and courteously
work calmly under pressure, meet deadlines and cope with interruptions
interact with distraught or difficult individuals
set up and maintain office files

SUPERVISION

Employees receive general supervision from a supervisor and/or an administrative superior as assigned. Assignments are made by indicating generally what is to be done, the quantity of work expected and any deadlines, which are to be met. Employees carry out recurring assignments on their own initiative and receive additional, specific instructions for new or unusual assignments. Work may be checked to ensure timely completion and accuracy. Work is evaluated through conferences, periodic reviews and written evaluations.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work is performed in an office environment. Criminal Division only – may work on cases containing violent or sexual subject matter.

Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request.

EEO policy and ADA notice

Snohomish County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees that receive a regular appointment who work at least 20 hours a week.

County Benefits

Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/Benefits to learn more about the following benefits.

Medical Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Retirement
Basic Group Term Life Insurance/ Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
Long Term Disability (LTD)
Commuting Benefits
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Partners for Health Employee Wellness Program
Leave & Holidays

Voluntary Benefits

Deferred Compensation 457(b)
Supplemental Group Term Life Insurance
Additional Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Supplemental Individual Insurance Policies

Healthcare Premiums

Regular full-time employees: If you work 35 or more hours per week, you will pay these monthly premiums for medical insurance. The County pays the monthly premiums for vision, dental, and basic life insurance.
Regular part-time employees: If you work between 20 and 34 hours per week, you will pay pro-rated monthly premiums for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. The County's contribution toward the premium for an employee in a regular part-time appointment will be pro-rated in an amount equal to the F.T.E. percentage the employee is assigned.

Note: Temporary employees, seasonal employees and paid interns may be eligible for medical insurance benefits. R eview the County's ACA Employer Shared Responsibility Guide to learn more.

Following are a series of supplemental questions designed to assess your job-related experience and qualifications. Please note that as a part of the screening process your responses will be reviewed in conjunction with your general online application. The employment history and education detailed in your general application must validate/support your responses to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next steps of the review/selection process. A resume should not be submitted, as it is not a substitute for the general online application or supplemental questions; responses such as "see resume" or "see application" will not be considered. Do you agree to answer each question truthfully and that your responses can be supported by your general application/work history and by your references?

If a typing test was required, would you be able to type sixty (60) WPM?

Do you have at least one (1) year experience as a legal assistant/secretary, or an equivalent combination of training and experience (such as a paralegal certificate or legal office degree) that provides the skills for a family law practice?

Describe your experience with office software and legal databases. Please specifically mention your proficiency with Microsoft applications (Word/Excel), court systems like Odyssey, and any experience with data entry in state or government databases.

Do you have experience preparing, processing, and filing legal documents in accordance with court rules and deadlines? If yes, please briefly describe the types of court documents you have processed and how you ensure accuracy under strict deadlines.

Please describe your experience in setting up, maintaining, and retrieving information from legal filing systems.

Please describe your experience providing flexible administrative support in a fast-paced environment. Specifically highlight your experience with: Assisting the public via phone or front counter reception. Handling high-volume data entry, document copying or filing under tight deadlines. Routinely shifting priorities to assist coworkers or cover critical tasks when the office is short-staffed.

Please describe your experience supporting court calendar operations. Specifically highlight your experience with: Performing accurate data entry for upcoming court dockets (such as imputing party names, cause numbers, and hearing types based on attorney instructions). Coordinating and securing court interpreters for assigned court calendars. Ensuring all entered calendar data is accurate and complete prior to the court date.

Required Question