Salary: $24.87 - $31.20 Hourly
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Career Service - Full Time
Job Number: 24-00677
Department: Assigned Counsel
Division: Department of Assigned Counsel
Opening Date: 06/26/2024
Closing Date: 7/3/2024 5:00 PM Pacific
Description
This Position is On-Site and Not Remote
Position Summary

Why It's a Great Opportunity:
This Office Assistant 2 position is unique to the County in many ways and is one that offers an inroad to an Indigent Defense Department committed to zealous and effective representation. You will support the Lead Investigator in various duties and cases assigned to DAC. Specifically managing the Tablet Discovery Program, that allows clients to review discovery prior to their trials. You will need to be extremely comfortable in a fast-paced, exceptionally collaborative environment.

As an experienced administrative support and customer service professional, you will assist in-custody clients by providing clothing and maintaining client clothing bank, assisting clients with case related information including police reports and digital data. You will utilize Microsoft Office Suite products in much of your work as you track and process discovery requests, review and redact confidential case related materials, assist with tasks related to Department automobile fleet, complete introductory investigation tasks including subpoena service, and assist in training investigative interns and legal assistants.
Why It's a Great Department:
The DAC provides professional high-quality legal representation to individuals in a variety of settings. The DAC is responsible for the delivery of mandated legal services to indigent persons accused of crimes in the Pierce County Superior Court; Pierce County District Court; municipal courts in Tacoma, Fircrest and Ruston; and Pierce County Juvenile Court delinquency proceedings. DAC also provides constitutionally mandated legal services to indigent parents involved in juvenile court dependency and termination proceedings and to persons detained for involuntary civil commitment proceedings at Western State Hospital and other evaluation and treatment facilities.

Please see the DAC'sfor our diverse list of services provided.
How to be Successful in the Role:
We are looking for a detail-oriented professional who is committed to social justice. As someone who will regularly be visiting jail and attending court, sometimes the environment can be tense. You will need to be adaptive, empathetic, open minded, and come with a growth mindset. Understanding and implementing attorney/client privilege is of utmost importance as you may be navigating sensitive situations.
You should come to this role with foundational knowledge of the legal system and court proceedings. Because you will be a key support to our Tablet Discovery Program, you will need to have experience in troubleshooting software, and assisting in supporting investigators with IT issues or challenges. The ability to review and analyze video, audio, and other data for use in legal research, will contribute to your success. In this role, you must have the ability to provide accurate and timely legal support, communicate effectively, and work with other team members to ensure all procedures are followed and work is completed professionally, with empathy, and to the standard.

Your Future in this Role:
In this position you will develop professional networks with attorneys, courts, and agencies and strive to provide a high standard of legal support to each. Your work will directly impact your community and it offers a great foundation for future positions within Assigned Counsel and Pierce County.
Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Collect information regarding inquiries and refer to appropriate person for follow-up.
• Meet with incarcerated individuals several times a week to offer filing support, deliver discovery, assist in completion of paperwork and other related duties.
• Facilitate Tablet Discovery Program by uploading discovery to tablets and assisting clients in reviewing discovery.
• Utilize Microsoft excel to maintain and track discovery processes.
• Operate standard office machinery, to include tablets for our Tablet Discovery Program, that does not require prior training and operation can be learned in short period.
• Convert and or edit files using programs such as Audacity, Adobe Suite products and Microsoft programs.
• Assist in compiling or compile information under direct supervision and guidance; may update directories and other materials from data collected and maintained by the work unit.
• Process requests for clothing, arrange for the delivery and cleaning of court appropriate clothing for indigent clients.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential function can be found
Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• One year of general clerical work experience (legal support or legal clerical work preferred).
• Letter of interest uploaded, outlining what makes you a great candidate for this position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Foundational knowledge of the legal system.
• Ability to become notary.
• Valid driver's license and safe driving record.
• Ability to lift 40 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
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 and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration. Possession of or the ability to obtain a driver's license.
Supplemental Information

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.org/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov 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 (253) 798-7480, 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 screen, and interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means 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 local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County place people are proud to call home?
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.
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

This recruitment requires a letter of interest highlighting why you're interested in this position. Did you include a letter of interest with your application?

• Yes
• No

02

After closely reviewing this job announcement, why do you believe you would be an outstanding candidate for this opportunity?
Required Question