Public Defense Paralegal (CSTLTSDA)

This recruitment will be used to establish an eligibility pool for Career Service (CS) and Term-Limited Temporary (TLT)/Special Duty Assignment (SDA) Public Defense Paralegal positions that may become available within the next six months. TLT/SDA assignments typically last between 6 and 24 months and may be extended or concluded earlier depending on business needs. Positions may be assigned to any division and located in either Seattle or Kent.

King Countys Department of Public Defense is looking to create an eligibility pool forPublic Defense Paralegal work in a fast-paced environment as part of a client-centered defense team advocating for the clients objectives. Paralegals work independently under general supervision and provide a variety of investigative and paraprofessional legal support functions under the legal and technical guidance of an attorney. The work involves considerable liaison with other agencies jurisdictions clients/victims/witnesses and the public. The Paralegal is responsible for investigating facts and underlying issues and performing complex legal research.

The successful candidate is dedicated to our collective mission to defend the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our community.We value diversity and aim for our team to reflect the communities that our clients call home.

WHY JOIN DPD
The King County 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.

As an organization we work with the community:

• To dismantle the systems that oppress our client.
• To make the traditional systems that remain as restorative as possible.
• To advocate for pathways that will allow our clients to succeed.
  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following:

Administrative Support

• Performs a wide range of advanced administrative duties both in the office and remotely and word processing of complex and/or confidential materials requiring independent judgment initiative and timeliness on assignments that are sensitive in nature in accordance with department procedures.
  • Perform legal research on statutes and cases; gather facts analyze data and review cases; conduct preliminary conflict of interest checks in cases assigned.
  • Draft correspondence pleadings and motions.
  • Preparehearingexhibits;preparecasefiles and assemble trial binders.
  • Process and serve legal documents/subpoenas.
  • Obtaindocumentsbysubpoenaandother investigation and discovery methods.
  • Develop and maintain caseload and case assignment tracking systems and databases.
  • Update case files in our computerized case-management system.
    • Support attorney time record-keeping and assist in the submission of hours.
    • Monitor progress of cases.

• Provide excellent customer service both in the office and remotely.
  • Demonstrates the ability to be onsite at the work locations at least three days a week in any of DPDs office locations (Seattle and Kent). Location assignments are changeable; work location may include more than one office location over the course of a week and may change over the course of employment.
  • Demonstrates and practices cultural sensitivity when engaging a diverse population.
  • Uses professional communication skills and demonstrates empathy with DPDs clients many of whom suffer from trauma and/or mental illness via the phone and in-person.
  • Reliably answers and returns calls providing the DPD community authentic support and demonstrating a willingness to assist them.
  • Serve as a liaison with clients prosecutors probation officers bailiffs judges and criminal legal agencies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A bachelors degree from an accredited university or a certification from an accredited paralegal training institution and three years of related experience or any combination of experience/education/training that provides the required knowledge skills and abilities to perform the work.
• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Have the ability to travel throughout the county in a timely manner.
• Must be able to lift/move up to 20-pounds.

• GuidelinesforCriminalDefense adopted by the Washington State Bar Association.
• Role of the attorney-client relationship and the requirement to adhere to the Washington State Bar Association Rules of Professional Conduct.
• Civil and criminal law and terminology court rules and procedures.
• Legal research methods and practices.
• Interviewing techniques.
• General office procedures equipment and administration.

• Provide excellent customer service including communicating with people of diverse backgrounds who may be experiencing stress trauma and/or suffering from mental illness.
• Learn new and/or increasing complex duties.
• Adapt to ever changing work needs and requirements.
• Use office productivity tools such as Microsoft Office 365 (Excel Word and Outlook) case management systems and internet search engines.
• Provide support in the building of a strong attorney/client relationship.
• Ensureworkperformedconformswithprevailingprofessionalstandardsand applicable statutes and county policy.
• Work in a fast-paced and multifaceted environment with high attention to detail and function well under pressure.
• Work both independently and as a team member.
• Handlemultiplecompetingprioritiessensitive andcrisissituations.
• Interpret complex legal documents instruments regulations and laws.
• Use advanced writing skills to draft pleadings motions and briefs.

• Have lived experience involving the criminal legal system.

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.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY
This opportunity to join DPD is open to all qualified applicants. Please apply at be considered for this role submit the following items:

• Completed King County application.
• A current resume.
• Cover letter detailing your background and what you can bring to the Department of Public Defense.

The Paralegal team works in a hybrid model with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location for this position may be Seattle or Kent.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection oftools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the departments hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

DPD maintains physical offices in the following locations:

• Dexter Horton Building710 Second Avenue Seattle
• Jefferson Street Building 1401 East Jefferson Seattle
• Meeker Street Building 420 West Harrison Street Kent