Paralegal

CUSTER COUNTY POSITION DESCRIPTION November 2022 POSITION: Paralegal DEPARTMENT: County Attorney?s Office ACCOUNTABLE TO: County Attorney and Deputy County Attorney SUMMARY OF WORK: Assists County Attorney in legal research, trial preparation, preparing and composing legal documents, and opening court files.
JOB CHARACTERISTICS: Nature of Work: This position performs moderately complex and varied duties requiring knowledge of the principles and practices of the legal profession, legal terminology, forms and procedures.
Position requires attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness; deals with sensitive information and adheres to standards of confidentiality.
Position requires ability to communicate effectively, weigh evidence, and make difficult judgments based on complex information.
Position requires review of documents and other information provided by requesting agency, gather information and evidence relevant to the criminal, civil or other matter through analysis or reports, criminal justice information or public documents, and obtain information through the writing and issuance of investigative subpoenas and search warrants.
Position may require work outside of regular work hours.
Personal Contacts: Daily contact with the public by telephone and office visits requesting information and direction regarding legal matters; communicate with law enforcement officials, opposing counsel, Public Defender?s Office; witnesses and victims regarding cases; court reporters in setting up depositions; expert witnesses; case social workers with the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services Division and Adult Protective Services Division; juvenile probation officers and adult probation and parole officers; personnel with the Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center and the Montana State Hospital; personnel with Holy Rosary Healthcare and Billings Clinic; Montana Drug Registry; personnel with Vision Net; Montana Driver?s License Bureau; driver?s license bureaus for all states; Eastern Montana Drug Task Force; Montana Department of Criminal Investigation; county officials and staff; the Attorney General?s Office; and the Montana State Crime Laboratory.
Supervision Received: Supervision from County Attorney and Deputy County Attorney in initiating and composing all legal documents.
Essential Functions: As Paralegal, position requires knowledge of manual and computer tracking; legal terminology; word processing software and functions; Montana Code Annotated; ?Bluebook?
citation book; ability to communicate orally and in writing; draft court documents including: charging documents for felony and misdemeanor offenses, notices, petitions for dependent/neglect cases, mental commitments and delinquent juveniles, motions, briefs, pleadings, affidavits, summonses, subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum, investigative subpoenas, plea agreements, deferred prosecution agreements, warrants, search warrants, governor?s warrants, forfeiture proceedings, exhibit lists, witness lists, expert witness lists, jury instructions, judgments, and orders; investigate cases; research driving histories and criminal histories; coordinate discovery materials; review case files; locate documents, information, victims and witnesses; conduct case chronology; organize and correlate dates, findings and results and ensure report is complete and accurate; update and maintain office calendar; maintain warrant list; maintain and track deferred prosecution agreements; reproduce CDs and DVDs; monitor court deadlines; prioritize workload; provide assistance to the County Attorney and Deputy County Attorney; document management; trial preparation including preparation of exhibits to be used at trial; performs legal research; obtain and analyze evidence, records and reports obtained from law enforcement; read written material; understand complex laws; attend court hearings; vie sensitive material including autopsy and crime scene photographs; develop tracking system; understand confidentiality limitations; efficient time management skills; effective case planning knowledge; conduct internet searches; attend meetings, conferences and workshops as requested; and exhibit good judgement.
AREAS OF JOB ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE: I.
DISTRICT COURT A.
FELONIES: Opens District Court criminal files; coordinates with investigating officers in the preparation of investigative file including viewing photographs of autopsies, injuries to crime victims and injuries to children; prepares charging documents, motions, orders, warrants, summonses, petitions, pretrial diversion agreements, and sentencing orders; schedules court appearances; reminds attorney of court appearances and deadlines for submitting various actions or documents; notifies victims and witnesses of appearances and/or changes in various cases.
Trial Preparation: Assists in trial preparation for District Court criminal and civil trials including preparing witness and exhibit lists, preparing subpoenas, assembling exhibit books and trial notebooks, marking exhibits, preparing jury instructions and verdict forms, preparing power point presentations, and scheduling witnesses.
Serves as assistant to County Attorney and Deputy County Attorney; performs legal research; drafts legal documents; checks citations and statutes; conducts basic research of criminal statutes in Title 45 of the Montana Code Annotated; serves as liaison with all County Departments; delivers notices; summons, warrants or other legal documents to the Sheriff?s Office for service; arranges meetings, appointments and reservations for attorneys; composes routine legal correspondence; establishes and maintains files; directs calls and/or visitors to appropriate staff; performs other related duties as required.
B.
INVOLUNTARY MENTAL COMMITMENTS: Opens Involuntary Mental Commitment files; prepares petitions, orders and other necessary court documents in a moment?s notice; adheres to strict time constraints; coordinates and schedules court hearings with District Court and all necessary parties including: Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center, Deaconess Psychiatric Unit, Montana State Hospital, Friend of the Respondent, Professional Person, Respondent?s Counsel, witnesses, family members, Sheriff's Office, and law enforcement officials, and follows through to disposition.
C. GUARDIANSHIPS: Opens Guardianship files in behalf of the Department of Public Health and Human Services - Adult Protective Services Division.
Prepares petitions, orders and other necessary court documents; schedules court hearings; notifies witnesses and follows through to disposition.
D. YOUTH COURT: Opens Youth Court delinquent juvenile files for felony and misdemeanor offenses; prepares charging documents, motions, orders and dispositional orders; communicates with juvenile probation officer, Yellowstone County Youth Services Center, and Pine Hills Correctional Facility; schedules court appearances; notifies victims and witnesses of appearances and/or changes in various cases; and assists in trial preparation.
E. DEPENDENT/ABUSE/NEGLECT CASES: Opens civil files in behalf of the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services Division for Temporary Investigative Authority; Temporary Legal Custody and Extension of Temporary Legal Custody; and Termination of Parental Rights and Permanent Legal Custody.
Filing for Temporary Investigative Authority: Drafts petition to place abused, dependent, and/or neglected child in protective custody and order setting hearing within 48 hours, assures attempts for personal service on parents, issues subpoenas for witnesses, and drafts order granting temporary investigative authority; notifies the Department, Court Appointed Special Advocate, attorney(s), parent(s), foster parents, and child?