Legal Assistant - Child Protection - Provo

at  State of Utah

LEGAL ASSISTANT - CHILD PROTECTION - PROVO

The Utah Attorney General’s Office has a full-time position open for a Legal Assistant to work in the Child Protection Division in Provo. Incumbents in this position work under the general direction of attorneys. In accordance with the ABA Rules of Professional Conduct, Legal Assistants may perform minor legal tasks which would otherwise be performed by an attorney. Projects are complex in nature and often involve large quantities of documents, including electronically stored information and data. The Legal Assistant should have sufficient direct legal experience to be given moderate independence in planning and completing their assignments.
The Legal Assistant will conduct factual research; compile and organize information obtained throughout litigation; review and manage case files and be responsible for maintaining document control and management; search public and private records; draft routine legal documents; and assist attorneys in preparing and formatting electronic pleadings, motions and other documents for filing in state and federal courts and other forums. The Legal Assistant will also assist attorneys in investigations and case preparation to include, gathering evidence and preparing displays for trial and assisting attorneys in locating, obtaining, tracking and disseminating information and evidence. The Legal Assistant will be expected to produce quality work product, occasionally under tight deadlines, and work in a team environment.

Applications will be evaluated based on a proven ability to learn and use technology and demonstrated experience in the following areas:

• Organization skills (electronic and paper files),
• Research skills (legal and factual),
• Drafting legal documents,
• Summarizing documents,
• Microsoft Office,
• Westlaw/Westlaw Next, and
• Adobe Pro

Additional emphasis placed on demonstrated organization skills, research skills, and proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Pro.

This position may be filled at any of the following levels:

• Legal Assistant I (0-2 years experience)
• Legal Assistant II (3-4 years experience)
• Legal Assistant III (5+ years experience)

QUALIFICATIONS

(includes knowledge, skills, and abilities required upon entry into position and trainable after entry into position)

• find, gather and collect information or data
• Uniform System of Citation
• court/hearing, rules, records, procedures and protocol
• deal with people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact, and professionalism
• rules of evidence
• establish, organize and/or maintain files
• interviewing techniques
• laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, the democratic political process, and legislative history
• formats for a variety of legal documents
• legal processes and procedures
• legal terminology
• monitor or track information or data
• speak clearly, concisely and effectively; listen to, and understand, information and ideas as presented verbally
• organize information in a clear and concise manner
• plan, organize and prioritize time and workload in order to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines
• laws governing access to public and private records (Government Records Access and Management Act)
• research methods, techniques, and/or sources of information
• perform legal research using case law and appropriate techniques
• use automated software applications
• communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, in writing; read and understand information presented in writing
• conduct a methodical examination
• review and/or edit documents for accuracy and completeness
• evaluate information against a set of standards
• enter, transcribe, record, store, or maintain information in either written or electronic form.
• principles, theories, and practices of meeting management
• make a decision or solve a problem by using logic to identify key facts, explore alternatives, and propose quality solutions
• use logic to analyze or identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts associated with information or data to draw conclusions

• Writes or drafts correspondence, reports, documents and/or other written materials.
• Analyzes, summarizes and/or reviews data; reports findings, interprets results and/or makes recommendations.
• Searches, retrieves and/or researches public and private records in accordance with applicable state and federal laws governing access to these records.
• Determine needs in discovery, and/or completes discovery; participates in decision making and strategy sessions in preparing cases for court and determining evidence to be used.
• Conducts interviews to gather or clarify information.
• Maintains document control, tracking and tracing; reviews case files and/or digests trial folders, etc.
• Prepare trial or hearing materials including designing questionnaires, organizing evidence, preparing trial displays and exhibits, locating, obtaining, tracking and disseminating information/evidence, etc.
• Manages trial exhibits and evidence; ensures procedures are followed/completed; takes notes and makes observations during proceeding; participates in planning and strategy sessions, etc.
• Plans and conducts meetings.
• Electronic filings of pleadings in state courts.