LEGAL ASSISTANT II

Job Description The salary for this position is: $4,446.00 - $5,914.00 monthly.

Thurston County Public Defense (TCPD) is currently recruiting for one (1) regular full-time Legal Assistant II position. A Legal Assistant II provides assistance in explaining detailed regulations, procedures, and complex requirements within the legal or judicial system. This position supports Defense Attorneys and researches and answers questions or inquiries from the public, law enforcement, or other agencies.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• May serve as or be backup to department reception.
• Explains detailed regulations, procedures, and complex requirements of the legal or judicial process.
• Determines the nature and urgency of requests, screens, and refers telephone calls and inquiries, and reads and routes incoming mail to the appropriate office or person.
• Distributes incoming faxes, voice messages and maintains the conference room calendar. May serve as back-up to other unit legal assistants preparing files for court calendars.
• Updates client information in the department’s case management system.
• May serve as the department’s surplus coordinator and emergency site coordinator.
• Provides direct legal support to Defense Attorneys.
• Court calendar preparation.
• Processes requests of information, faxes, and other case related documentation.
• Receives, monitors, and processes case files and legal documents and maintains records.
• Reviews incoming documents and processes according to procedures. Files and records legal documents, obtains required signature sand authorizations, maintains case files, and records dates on which subsequent actions must occur. Verifies appropriate information is included on paperwork or in file to ensure accurate processing. Verifies the accuracy/completeness of legal documents identifying inconsistency with statutes and provides technical information for compliance.
• Enters and retrieves case information using the appropriate computer-based data system. Sets up and monitors casefiles to assure timely action or review. Reviews and inputs pertinent case information into database. Identifies appropriate RCWs, court rules and procedures before entering judgments. Tracks, updates, logs and monitors activities of cases. May prepare reports requiring the extraction of database information and provides information to affiliated agencies for program compliance. Provides and requests information to and from agencies and other jurisdictions requesting specific defendant information and case disposition. Tracks and monitors files as prescribed and closes, purges and archives files according to policies and procedures.
• Obtains and prepares case files for court sessions ensuring appropriate documentation is in the files and may be requested to attend and assist attorneys in court.
• Using a word processor, generates basic legal documents for court proceedings according to established formats, policies, and procedures. Prepares responses to legal correspondence either from dictation, oral instruction or independently.

To view the full job classification, click here: Legal Assistant II Working Conditions At Thurston County, we view public defense as both a calling and a career that should be sustainable. TCPD has championed the adoption of the Washington State Bar Association’s Revised Standards for Indigent Defense Services , setting maximum caseloads well below those used by many public defense offices nationwide through a phased implementation. These changes support more manageable workloads, improved work-life balance, and the ability for attorneys and support staff to devote meaningful time and attention to each client, while preventing burnout, supporting long-term retention, and fostering a workplace where public defense professionals can grow and thrive.

• Work Environment: Office setting in Olympia, Washington. Primarily sitting at a desk and occasional walking to other offices or courthouse.
• Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, work schedules may vary depending on unit. Flexible schedules and partial telework may be available after a probationary period.
• Travel Requirements: Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings.
• Customer Interactions: Daily interactions via phone, in-person, and remotely with staff, clients, and public.

Who We Are Thurston County Public De…