Legal Secretary

The Dunn County District Attorney’s Office is seeking a detail-driven, motivated Legal Secretary to join a fast-paced, mission-focused team. 

In this role, you’ll support prosecutors with case files while safeguarding confidentiality and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and Marsy’s Law. You'll open case files, draft criminal complaints, warrants, extraditions, and other essential legal documents, and help prepare files and exhibits for trial.

The anticipated starting wage is between $24.36/hr and $25.72/hr.

Primary Responsibilities

The following duties are primarily performed and are essential for this position.  Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully to be qualified for the position.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Transcribes or prepares letters, resolutions, ordinances, opinions, complaints, search warrants, bench warrants, writs, orders to transport, motions, orders, subpoenas, dismissals, proceedings, agreements, reports, summons, and other legal documents.
• Processes juvenile referrals; assigns attorney to case; prepares juvenile petitions, disposition orders, and other documents; sets up temporary physical custody hearings as required; contacts human services and social workers regarding hearings and other matters; maintains hearing and other files. Prepares Termination of Parental Rights petitions, orders, and publications.
• Prepares files for court hearings; reviews court calendar, ensuring that all required documentation for scheduled cases is available; ensures that criminal complaints are typed and filed with the Clerk of Courts Office.
• Maintains computer records; opens case files, assigning attorney and entering court dates, deadlines, jury trials, and other information; enters disposition information into case files; closes files as appropriate.
• Maintains files of intoxilyzer reports, technician certifications, and simulator solution reports from the State, State Patrol, County Sheriff's Department, and Menomonie Police Department for OWI cases
• Answers calls and greets visitors providing information and assistance, taking messages, and directing calls, as appropriate.
• Prepares all paperwork associated with the processing of vehicle forfeitures.
• Performs other duties of a comparable level/type, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Associate’s Degree in Legal Studies, Criminal Justice or related field. 
• Requires a minimum of two (2) years previous legal or courtroom experience.

• Prior to hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

• Fundamentals of court procedures and processes.
• Knowledge of office management practices and County administrative policies and procedure.
• Knowledge of legal terminology, legal forms, legal reference materials and legal documents.
• Knowledge of standard clerical/secretarial practices and procedures.
• General fundamentals of bookkeeping and financial recordkeeping routines and County administrative procedures pertaining to departmental financial operations (e.g. purchasing, revenue collection, invoicing, accounts payable, budget reporting, etc.).
• Knowledge of county, state and federal statutory requirements regarding legal documentation and recordkeeping.
• Operation of computers & business productivity software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, email, browsers, scheduling software, etc.) & any specialty software that may be used by department in the performance of the job.
• Preparing a variety of legal documents, forms, materials and correspondence.
• Performing transcription from dictation.
• Preparing administrative support functions in the office including preparation of confidential correspondence, preparation of billing vouchers, maintaining department records and files.
• Applying and using legal terminology.
• Assembling, tracking, recording and preparing financial forms and records used in tracking budgets, purchasing, billing for services, and recording of revenues requiring financial recordkeeping skills.
• Preparing documents, coordinating legal actions, scheduling hearings with attorneys, witnesses, and others and preparing all the required orders, legal documents and forms required to process cases.
• Ability to prioritize, organize and complete assignments with minimal direction.
• Reading, understanding and applying legal concepts, rules and guidelines in the processing and preparation of legal and documents.
• Customer service and office etiquette skills.
• Preparing and maintaining numerical and narrative reports.
• Using and operating computers and business productivity software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internet, presentational software, etc.).  
• Demonstrated word processing and keyboarding skills.
• Proofreading for correct grammar, vocabulary, and spelling.
• Establishing and maintaining working relationships with other departmental staff, attorneys, other county employees and the public.
• Ability to follow Dunn County policies and procedures including those pertaining to confidentiality.

• Ability to prioritize and organize job assignments.

• Ability to manage time effectively, manage multiple projects, and complete work within established deadlines.
• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position.

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with other staff members, supervisors, and community members in written and verbal form. 

• English skills (oral, written and comprehension) sufficient to effectively communicate with all internal and external customers.

• Ability to understand and effectively carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Must have ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.

• Ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
• Ability to compute rates, ratios and percentages.

Physical and Work Environment

The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law.  Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor or Human Resources.  
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Physical effort will typically require infrequent exertion of objects weighing up to 10 pounds.

• Continuous speaking, hearing and using hands dexterously; work frequently requires sitting; and work occasionally requires standing, walking and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• The physical and environmental hazards and risks associated with the job can be characterized as minimal.

• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, moderate traffic).