Paralegal

Incumbent serves as Paralegal for the LaGrange County Public Defender Office, responsible for preparing and filing legal documents and correspondence, maintaining electronic case files, maintaining attorney calendars, reviewing discovery materials with clients, preparing and issuing subpoenas, securing witness statements, and assisting Public Defenders with hearing and trial preparation.

DUTIES:

• Drafts, types, and files pleadings, motions, memoranda, briefs, and other legal documents. Types general office correspondence and assists Public Defenders as otherwise needed.
• Electronically files various documents with the Court, checking documents for accuracy, obtaining proper signatures, working with file stamped copies, retrieving corresponding files from Courthouse and mailing to opposing parties.
• Assembles criminal files, forwards appropriate information to Public Defenders, and files documents accordingly.
• Drafts and processes a variety of Court documents, including, but not limited to, adult criminal filings, juvenile delinquency filings, CHINS filings, Child Support filings, proposed orders and jury instructions, and appellate filings.
• Researches legal issues via computer searches and library research.
• Performs various clerical duties, including, but not limited to, maintaining electronic files, preparing correspondence, maintaining case statistics/spreadsheets, delivering documents to the Courthouse, collecting, sorting and distributing mail, notarizing documents, and making bank deposits.
• Answers telephone and greets office visitors, determining nature of call, providing information and assistance, taking messages, and/or directing caller to appropriate department or personnel.
• Serves as liaison between the Public Defender Office and various other government entities, such as the Prosecutor’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, the Courts, and the County Clerk.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

I. JOB REQUIREMENTS AND DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

• Baccalaureate or associate’s degree in paralegal studies, criminal justice or related field (or equivalent knowledge and skills from work experience) is required.
• Possession of or ability to obtain Paralegal certification.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Ability to meet all Department hiring requirements, including passage of a drug test and criminal background check.
• Knowledge of standard policies and practices of the LaGrange County Public Defender Office and related Court operations, with ability to apply appropriate procedures accordingly.
• Knowledge of legal terminology and standard legal procedures/practices, and ability to make practical application of federal, state and local laws governing criminal proceedings and assist attorneys with preparation of legal documents as directed.
• Knowledge of standard filing systems and ability to create and maintain Department files.
• Working knowledge of standard office procedures and computer software programs used by the Public Defender Office, with ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated processes, tasks, and operations.
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to prepare correspondence, court/legal documents and written reports as required.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, such as computer, calculator, telephone, copier, and fax machine.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, Courts, Probation, law enforcement agencies, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.
• Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to state requirements.
• Ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
• Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with hostile/argumentative persons.
• Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences between data, people or things.
• Ability to compile, classify, and evaluate data, make determinations, and present findings in oral or written form.
• Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment, often amidst frequent distractions and interruptions, and under pressure from formal schedules, deadlines, and high volume operations.
• Ability to thoroughly research legal questions and identify/analyze pertinent facts related to cases.
• Ability to apply knowledge of people and locations and count/make simple arithmetic additions/subtractions.
• Ability to occasionally work extended hours, evenings and/or weekends, and occasionally travel out of town for meetings/conferences, sometimes overnight.
• Possession of a valid Indiana driver’s license and demonstrated safe driving record.

II. RESPONSIBILITY:

• Incumbent performs duties according to a flexible, customary routine and standard Department policies and practices. Assignments are guided by definite objectives using a variety of methods or procedures, with incumbent referring to supervisor for unusual matters, such as policy interpretations. On rare occasions, decisions are made in the absence of specific policies and procedures, and/or guidance from supervisor. Work errors are primarily detected or prevented through procedural safeguards. Undetected errors could result in loss of time to correct error and/or significant inconvenience to other agencies or the public.

III. PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

• Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County departments, Courts, law enforcement agencies, Probation, and the public for purposes of exchanging information and rendering services.
• Incumbent reports directly to the Chief Public Defender.

IV. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Incumbent performs duties in a standard office environment, involving sitting for long periods, sitting/walking at will, keyboarding, lifting/carrying objects weighing 25 to 50 pounds, bending, crouching/kneeling, reaching, close vision, hearing sounds/communication, speaking clearly, and handling/grasping/fingering objects. Incumbent maintains considerable contact with the public and may be exposed to hostile/argumentative persons.
• Incumbent occasionally works extended hours, evenings and/or weekends and may travel out of town for meetings/conferences, sometimes overnight.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to $27.14 per hour

Expected hours: 35 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance
• Wellness program

Schedule:

• Day shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $27