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NEOGOV · 18 hours ago

(DEPARTMENTAL INTERNAL ONLY) PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE - LEGAL SECRETARY, SENIOR

TX 79901, TX

Full-time

Onsite

Mid, Senior Level

$50K/yr - $50K/yr

4+ years exp

NEOGOV is seeking a Senior Legal Secretary to provide clerical support to assigned attorneys within the Public Defender's Office. The role involves supervising department employees, managing work plans, and assisting with case preparation and administrative tasks.

GovTechHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologySoftware

No H1B

Responsibilities

As directed supervises department employees, including assigning and reviewing work, training, providing input on performance evaluations, and making recommendations on hiring, terminating, and disciplining personnel

Plans, directs, and coordinates, through subordinate-level staff, the department work plan

Assists with managing the career development and performance of staff assigned

Meets with management staff to identify and resolve problems

Assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; and reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures

Assumes responsibility for delegated administrative and clerical tasks, including correspondence, educational publications, records management, report preparation; and other materials from rough draft or from source documents for review and signature; reads and reviews outgoing correspondence; may perform data entry, process billings; receive payments; balances receipts with payments; and mail processing

Assists with developing internal policies and procedures

Assists attorneys in collecting information such as employment, medical, and other records

Provides broad administrative and office support to assigned department; screens visitors and telephone calls; responds to complaints and information requests on a wide array of topics; conducts preliminary interviews of prospective clients

Types and proofreads a wide variety of reports, letters, memos, tables and charts; composes correspondence for review and signature by management staff

Develops and maintains various filing systems, records and logs; maintains various automated data bases; conducts file close-out; collects and compiles data to draft and produce various reports and correspondence

Prepares various legal documents; secures authorized signatures and delivery to the appropriate party

Pulls dockets, scans new cases, prints out judgements, files orders, and redacts information

Drafts and edits legal pleadings as directed

Provides attorney staff with all aspects of case preparation; compiles petitions and reports; conducts research as needed

Calendars hearings and meetings for attorneys

Retrieve files for attorneys; responds to questions regarding case disposition

Reviews the completion of various applications or documents and processes

Redacts court orders; copies and files records; notifies attorneys of filings

Assists the public with inquiries and handles challenging members of the public and/or clients, and non-routine problems

Substitutes, if assigned, for coworkers during temporary absences by performing delegated duties sufficient to maintain continuity of normal operations

Attends and participates in meetings, training and information sessions

Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field

Commits self to providing excellent customer service and demonstrate commitment through cooperative team and individual efforts

Creates a high quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills

May serve as back up:

Archives files

Works with open records requests as directed; database maintenance, pretrial, trial, appellate, and civil level legal work, and other areas as directed

Depending on area assigned:

Prepares extradition packages, involves: formatting, preparing, and signing forms; reviews information set by codes and statutes

Conducts backgrounds on orders; checks for outstanding warrants

Locates and sends police/offense reports for cases assigned

Maintains non-arrest case activation

Prepares cases and indictments for special courts i.e. grand jury

Upgrades and modifies felony and misdemeanor cases from law enforcement agencies

Investigates cases as directed

Supports attorneys with other case preparation, as directed

Supports appellate attorneys, as directed

Verifies cases in Writs list; examines cases to set trials or release

Performs such other related duties as may be assigned

Maintains a safe and healthy work place environment

As members of the County of El Paso Emergency Response System, all El Paso County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to train on emergency response and/or perform certain emergency services at the direction of their supervisor

Qualification

Legal terminologyOffice administrationSupervisionTrainingCustomer serviceRecord managementBilingual preferredTyping 45 wpmTime managementInterpersonal communication

Required

Associates Certificate in Business or related field with four (4) years of law office/secretarial with six (6) months working customer service experience; with minimum of one (1) year in a lead or supervisory role

Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities

May be required to have or obtain by date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso

In order to access the County's network and systems, a personal mobile smart device is required by the hire start date

Knowledge of: Principles and practices of modern office administration; the court system; legal terminology; relevant laws, rules and codes; Constitutions, Texas penal code, Code of Criminal Procedures; Texas Laws; research; the principles and practices of effective customer service; English usage/bi-lingual preferred, grammar, punctuation and spelling; techniques for effective interpersonal communications; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment to include Windows and Microsoft based products; principles and practices of supervision and training

Skill/Ability to: maintain confidential records and reports; explain court action; keep composure in order to assist high conflict customers; be able to plan and execute work both independently and as a team member; time management; operate personal computer using standard office operating software and general office equipment; prepare and maintain records; maintain filing systems; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; be dependable; to deal with the public courteously and effectively; schedule, train, and supervise; demonstrate leadership and ability to deliver efficiency and quality at the highest of standards; provide, establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted during the course of work; type 45 wpm; Pass a background investigation

Demonstrate regular and reliable attendance

Work well with others and participate fully in a team oriented environment

Interface with other employees and customers in a courteous and respectful manner

Maintain strict confidentiality

Project positive support of their department and all county organizations at all times

Maintain and enhance the County's commitment to customer service excellence

Benefits

16 holidays per year as recognized.

Accruals are credited on a biweekly basis and available for use as it is accrued after 6 months of continuous service. Year to year carry-over accruals are limited to twice the employee's annual rate. Part-time employees accrue vacation at half the rate of full-time employees.

15 days of sick leave per year.

Military Leave – 15 days of paid leave per fiscal year for active military service

Bereavement Leave – 3 days of paid leave for the death of an immediate family members and 4 hours for other family members and friends.

Medical Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP)

Retirement benefits are provided by the Texas County and District Retirement Fund (TCDRS). Regular employees become a member of TCDRS upon hire. All regular employees are required to contribute 7% to the retirement fund and the County matches 250% upon eligible retirements.

Employees may defer earnings, on a pre-tax basis, into a 457 deferred compensation program. This is an optional program.

Full-time County employees are provided a basic life insurance benefit of $10,000 life insurance at no cost. Supplemental coverage is available for additional fees.

The Long-Term disability program provides 60% of the employees' income when the employee becomes disabled because of an illness, injury or accident for a period above 90 days.

The Short-Term disability program provides 60% of the employees' income when the employee becomes disabled because of an illness, injury or accident for a period shorter than 90 days.

Employees who retire from the County are eligible to continue Health Insurance at the rate set by the El Paso County Risk Pool Board.

Employees are enrolled in an Employee Assistance Program that provides a variety of counseling services.

The section 125 program is optional for employees and provides a method to pay medical and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.

Reimbursement of $15 per month for 6 months of continuous gym usage.

Reimbursement up to $2000 per calendar year for eligible education expenses.

The Employee Fitness and Wellness Center opened in October 2021 at the County Courthouse. The cost is $5 per employee per month.