LEGAL ASSISTANT II

The salary for this position is: $4,446.00 - $5,914.00 monthly.

Thurston County Public Defense (TCPD) is currently recruiting for one (1) regular full-time Legal Assistant II in the District Court Unit. A Legal Assistant II provides assistance in explaining detailed regulations, procedures, and complex requirements within the legal or judicial system. This position supports Defense Attorneys and researches and answers questions or inquiries from the public, law enforcement, or other agencies.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform all District court case processing, warrant returns, and case reassignment identifications.
• Schedules all out of custody Western State Hospital evaluations.
• Back-up for District Court Paralegal.
• Back-up for the initial intake, conflict checking and case assignment Legal Assistant II.
• Required to proficiently perform essential job functions of the Legal Assistant I classification.
• Prepares, files, and/or serves correspondence, legal briefs, pleadings, charging information, complaints, orders, affidavits, notices of appearance, motions, notices of infraction, summonses, warrants, subpoenas, jury instructions, and other legal documents from verbal or standing information.
• Reviews court files for complete information and consistency of court dates and performs basic legal research to verify citations of statutes and cases or other related information.
• Receives and reviews incoming mail; composes responses to routine inquiries from attorneys, agencies and the public; composes answers to procedural correspondence for approval; routes other correspondence to attorneys, calling attention to items needing immediate consideration. 

To view the full job classification, click here: Legal Assistant II

WORKING CONDITIONS:

At Thurston County, we view public defense as both a calling and a career that should be sustainable. TCPD has championed the adoption of the Washington State Bar Association's Revised Standards for Indigent Defense Services, setting maximum caseloads well below those used by many public defense offices nationwide through a phased implementation. These changes support more manageable workloads, improved work-life balance, and the ability for attorneys and support staff to devote meaningful time and attention to each client, while preventing burnout, supporting long-term retention, and fostering a workplace where public defense professionals can grow and thrive.

• Work Environment: Office setting in Olympia, Washington. Primarily sitting at a desk and occasional walking to other offices or courthouse.
• Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, work schedules may vary depending on unit. Flexible schedules and partial telework may be available after a probationary period.
• Travel Requirements: Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings and attend jail visits.
• Customer Interactions: Daily interactions via phone, in-person, and remotely with staff, clients, and public.

WHO WE ARE:

Thurston County Public Defense carries out the United States and Washington State Constitutional guarantee that all people accused of crimes who are unable to afford a lawyer will receive effective legal representation. Thurston County Public Defense also represents low-income youth accused of a crime, parents in dependency proceedings, and adults facing civil commitment. Our office has a dedicated team of lawyers and professional staff committed to providing our community the very best public defense.

• Our Mission: "To Defend and Protect Our Clients' Constitutional Rights, One Person at a Time."
• Our Vision: "Thurston County Public Defense will provide high quality representation for our clients, and pursue justice on their behalf, through ethical, professional, Client-Centered practices."
• Our Values: Professionalism, Dedication, Advocacy, Compassion, Service

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values. Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Webpage.

WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Associate degree in legal assistant or paralegal studies, or legal-related studies, and/or Paralegal certificate from an accredited program.  
• Or, four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in a legal-related field, which include two years in a Legal Assistant I level position; or any combination of education and relevant experience which demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.
• Must be able to type 60 words per minute.
• Current Washington State Driver's license, or have requested and obtained an appropriate accommodation, may be required. 

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:
Questions about this recruitment? Please contact: Katelyn Vena at Public_Defense@co.thurston.wa.us.
 

This position is:

• Not represented by a Union
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Eligible for benefits
   

Items required for consideration:

• Application
• Letter of Interest
• Resume
• Applicant Disclosure Form (Pursuant to RCW Section 43.43.830) (Supplemental Questions)
   

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498.  Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.