Finney County

Legal Assistant - Finney County

Garden City, KS

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Summary
This position is under the direction both the Business Manager and Compliance Officer. The legal assistant performs complex secretarial work of a legal nature. This involves the analysis and application of procedures and precedents to the preparation of various documents. Model legal documents or templates are utilized in most work assignments, however, frequent interpretation and/or modification with the exercise of sound judgment is required.

Definition and Examples of Work
100%

  • Performs secretarial duties, assists with legal and administrative tasks, and performs support functions as needed.
  • Prepare complex documents, reports, and correspondence.
  • Check-in defendants for diversions either in person or by telephone.
  • Answer telephone, take payments for diversions fees.
  • Scan documents, collects information for preparing background checks and information for restitution orders.
  • Schedule hearings, update files and use electronic calendar.
  • Type and prepare a variety of documents, including pleadings, briefs, memoranda, and letters.
  • Notarize materials as required and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
  • Assist in the handling of criminal, traffic, juvenile and appellate proceedings.
  • Provide discovery to defense attorney and prepare case file for the attorney to handle for all hearings.
  • Inform defendants about diversions, schedule diversion conferences.
  • Handle care and treatments, extraditions, probable cause hearings.
  • Answer inquiries from the public.
  • Offer additional support as needed
Additional duties may be assigned as business needs require.

Latitude and Impact of Position

  • This position works independently and as part of a team to provide legal secretarial support to the attorney department of the Finney County Attorneys Office.
  • This position will complete tasks the supervisor assigns to the position with clear details, specific instructions, objectives, priorities, deadlines and reassures available.
  • The supervisor will provide additional instructions for new, difficult, or unusual situations.
  • The supervisor may also provide administrative direction in terms of broadly defined missions and functions.
  • This position is expected to refer issues or problems to their supervisor, keep their supervisor informed of progress and controversial matters, and to seek input as needed on matters not specifically covered in instructions/guidelines.
  • The position is also responsible for coordinating with others, determining methodology and planning work, interpreting policy, and carrying out reoccurring assignments and successive steps independently.
  • This position’s work is often considered technically authoritative, and methods used in arriving at end results may not be reviewed in detail. If work is reviewed, resulting work is reviewed for technical accuracy, compliance, and overall effectiveness in meeting requirements.
  • Decision making about what needed to be done depends on the analysis of the subject, phase, of issues of the assignment; situations may require analytical, interpretive, evaluative, and/or constructive thinking.
  • The employee will often follow simple rules and have established and specific guidelines or procedures for work.
  • This position will use judgement to interpret, choose from, and adapt available guidelines or procedures.
  • Successful completion of tasks supports and affects the work unit, may impact internal or external organizational activities, may affect projects of broader scope, and affects the accuracy, reliability, or acceptability of further processes or services.
Nature of Work
  • Performs repetitive tasks that have simple routines, specific instructions, and follow well-defined or interrelated methods and procedures.
  • This position will select from established guidelines to achieve desired end results.
  • This position may make recommendations that change, interpret, or develop policies. The position works with their immediate supervisor, peers/co-workers inside or outside of their work unit, and groups or individuals from outside the organization in moderately unstructured settings to obtain or clarify information and coordinate work efforts.
  • Work duties may involve related steps processes or methods, different or unrelated processes and methods, several phases, or situations that require substantial depth of analysis.
  • This position records transactions, handles/processes cash, and completes purchase orders and may sign for receipt of deliverables.
QUALIFICATIONS
  • Excellent verbal and written English language skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
  • Proficient in basic computer systems and software (e.g. email, timekeeping software, work order inputs, video/audio conference calling)
  • Proficiency in clerical procedures, systems, and tools such as recordkeeping, filing, copier, scanner.
  • Proficiency in secretarial procedures and practices.
  • Ability to learn new software including but not limited to Karpel, Lotus, KPS, E-flex, TLOX, Sherlock, and CJIS.
  • Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with intra-office personnel, the public and other State, County and Judicial officials and personnel.
  • Ability to learn and remember a wide variety of legal requirements and departmental policies.
  • Ability to maintain the flow of office work.
  • Ability to make decisions and to use good judgment in dispensing information to the County, assisting agencies, and the public.
  • Ability to work independently and without instruction.
  • Knowledge of business letter writing and forms.
  • Knowledge of State criminal codes, State Code of Criminal Procedure, Code of Civil Procedure, State Administrative Regulations, and County Resolutions.
  • Knowledge of court proceedings and legal document preparation.
Required Education and Experience
  • Associate’s degree or equivalent from two year-college or technical school; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university; or 1-3 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • High school education or GED of technical/community college and 1-3 years of prior related experience and/or training.
Certification, License, Registration
  • Notary- May obtain upon employment
  • CJIS certification- Obtain upon employment
Other Requirements
  • Occasional travel, required.