Paralegal
The purpose of the Paralegal is to perform a wide range of professional, confidential, and legal related services and research to assist the Corporation Counsel and staff attorneys in the delivery of legal services to Sauk County.
*This is a full-time limited term position that shall last an average of 2 months. No benefits will be offered with this position.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Compile data, coordinate the processing of cases, and provide technical support to the Corporation Counsel and staff attorneys.
• Type and prepare legal briefs, petitions, summons, stipulations, subpoenas, affidavits, orders, motions, department correspondence and memos, agreements, certificates from clear copy, dictation, and draft for attorney review and approval.
• Schedules hearings, coordinate with other law firms, the court systems, hospitals, doctors and human services regarding settlement of cases. Provide notice of all court hearings, appearances, conferences, and meetings.
• Receive and screen telephone calls and visitors.
• Sort and maintain department files.
• Maintain and update List Directory as needed.
• Manage proper retention schedule, purging and saving files according to the rules of retention.
• Maintain a tracking record of all actions received by the office, monitor timelines for completion of actions, and maintain filing of documents required by the Corporation Counsel through CountyLaw software system. Prepare follow-up reports, updates, and case notations.
• Monitor and maintain WATTS files for preparation of the Annual Watts Reviews with Assistant Corporation Counsel.
• Assist the Assistant Corporation Counsel with TPR/CPS files.
• Perform case preparation tasks such as assembling files, drafting court orders, and scheduling pre-proceeding witness interviews.
• Plan and monitor legal document service to persons, corporations, partnerships, heirs, state and federal governmental entities, etc., regarding legal proceedings.
• Schedule Corporation Counsel appointments in Outlook Calendar.
• Monitor all pending cases through CountyLaw for prompt case preparation, filing deadline compliance, appearances, etc.
• Confer with clients to establish and facilitate processes and procedures to determine content and timeliness for handling legal matters.
• File, record, and disperse various legal documents to County departments, outside agencies, the media, and other government agencies.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities
• Act as Notary Public.
• Perform reception tasks and process mail.
• Retrieve files and any other needed documentation for court and attorneys.
• Purge old files per office policy and rules of retention schedule.
• Independently manage cases under supervision.
• Monitor and maintain tracking system and confidential records.
• And other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Ability to communicate explain, demonstrate, and clarify to others established policies, procedures, and standards.
• Verbally and in writing with lawyers, attorneys, victims, witnesses, accused persons, and the public.
• Descriptive data and information such as legal documents, financial statements, reports, audit summaries, spreadsheets, various manuals, County and Department procedures, guidelines and budgets, time sheets, vouchers and invoices, contracts, and routine and non-routine correspondence.
• Calculating percentages, fractions, and decimals, and interpreting basic descriptive statistical reports.
• Computer skills, such as word processing and spreadsheets.
• Compare, count, differentiate, measure, sort, classify, compute, tabulate, and/or categorize data and/or information.
• Assemble, copy, record, and transcribe data and/or information.
• Analyze data and information using established criteria to define consequences, consider, and select alternatives.
• Apply functional and situational reasoning by exercising judgement, decisiveness, and creativity in everyday routine and non-routine situations.
• Use fine and gross motor skills to perform tasks such as operating a keyboard, photocopier, telephone, calculator, and computer printer.
• Exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, involving lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.
Environment
• Safe and comfortable in respects to noise and disease, with the potential for exposure to violence.
Required Working Hours
Standard working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am until 4:30 pm. Please note these hours are subject to change and additional hours may be needed or required. Compensation for additional hours beyond normal working hours are subject to applicable state and federal regulations.
Education and Experience Requirements
Required: Associates degree in Business Administration or another related field
2 years of office or secretarial/paralegal experience
Preferred: Associates degree in Paralegal studies from accredited institution.
Legal background experience or 3 years paralegal/legal office experience
Any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered.
Deadline Note: