Paralegal

CUSTER COUNTY
POSITION DESCRIPTION
November 2022
POSITION: Paralegal
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney?s Office
ACCOUNTABLE TO: County Attorney and Deputy County Attorney
SUMMARY OF WORK: Assists County Attorney in legal research, trial preparation, preparing
and composing legal documents, and opening court files.
JOB CHARACTERISTICS:
Nature of Work: This position performs moderately complex and varied duties
requiring knowledge of the principles and practices of the
legal profession, legal terminology, forms and procedures.
Position requires attention to detail, accuracy, and timeliness;
deals with sensitive information and adheres to standards of
confidentiality. Position requires ability to communicate
effectively, weigh evidence, and make difficult judgments
based on complex information. Position requires review of
documents and other information provided by requesting
agency, gather information and evidence relevant to the
criminal, civil or other matter through analysis or reports,
criminal justice information or public documents, and obtain
information through the writing and issuance of investigative
subpoenas and search warrants. Position may require work
outside of regular work hours.
Personal Contacts: Daily contact with the public by telephone and office visits
requesting information and direction regarding legal matters;
communicate with law enforcement officials, opposing
counsel, Public Defender?s Office; witnesses and victims
regarding cases; court reporters in setting up depositions;
expert witnesses; case social workers with the Department of
Public Health and Human Services, Child and Family
Services Division and Adult Protective Services Division;
juvenile probation officers and adult probation and parole
officers; personnel with the Eastern Montana Community
Mental Health Center and the Montana State Hospital;
personnel with Holy Rosary Healthcare and Billings Clinic;
Montana Drug Registry; personnel with Vision Net; Montana
Driver?s License Bureau; driver?s license bureaus for all
states; Eastern Montana Drug Task Force; Montana
Department of Criminal Investigation; county officials and
staff; the Attorney General?s Office; and the Montana State
Crime Laboratory.
Supervision Received: Supervision from County Attorney and Deputy County
Attorney in initiating and composing all legal documents.
Essential Functions: As Paralegal, position requires knowledge of manual and
computer tracking; legal terminology; word processing
software and functions; Montana Code Annotated;
?Bluebook? citation book; ability to communicate orally and
in writing; draft court documents including: charging
documents for felony and misdemeanor offenses, notices,
petitions for dependent/neglect cases, mental commitments
and delinquent juveniles, motions, briefs, pleadings,
affidavits, summonses, subpoenas, subpoenas duces tecum,
investigative subpoenas, plea agreements, deferred
prosecution agreements, warrants, search warrants, governor?s
warrants, forfeiture proceedings, exhibit lists, witness lists,
expert witness lists, jury instructions, judgments, and orders;
investigate cases; research driving histories and criminal
histories; coordinate discovery materials; review case files;
locate documents, information, victims and witnesses;
conduct case chronology; organize and correlate dates,
findings and results and ensure report is complete and
accurate; update and maintain office calendar; maintain
warrant list; maintain and track deferred prosecution
agreements; reproduce CDs and DVDs; monitor court
deadlines; prioritize workload; provide assistance to the
County Attorney and Deputy County Attorney; document
management; trial preparation including preparation of
exhibits to be used at trial; performs legal research; obtain and
analyze evidence, records and reports obtained from law
enforcement; read written material; understand complex laws;
attend court hearings; vie sensitive material including
autopsy and crime scene photographs; develop tracking
system; understand confidentiality limitations; efficient time
management skills; effective case planning knowledge;
conduct internet searches; attend meetings, conferences and
workshops as requested; and exhibit good judgement.
AREAS OF JOB ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE:
I. DISTRICT COURT
A. FELONIES:
Opens District Court criminal files; coordinates with investigating officers in the
preparation of investigative file including viewing photographs of autopsies, injuries
to crime victims and injuries to children; prepares charging documents, motions,
orders, warrants, summonses, petitions, pretrial diversion agreements, and sentencing
orders; schedules court appearances; reminds attorney of court appearances and
deadlines for submitting various actions or documents; notifies victims and witnesses
of appearances and/or changes in various cases.
Trial Preparation: Assists in trial preparation for District Court criminal and civil
trials including preparing witness and exhibit lists, preparing subpoenas, assembling
exhibit books and trial notebooks, marking exhibits, preparing jury instructions and
verdict forms, preparing power point presentations, and scheduling witnesses.
Serves as assistant to County Attorney and Deputy County Attorney; performs legal
research; drafts legal documents; checks citations and statutes; conducts basic
research of criminal statutes in Title 45 of the Montana Code Annotated; serves as
liaison with all County Departments; delivers notices; summons, warrants or other
legal documents to the Sheriff?s Office for service; arranges meetings, appointments
and reservations for attorneys; composes routine legal correspondence; establishes
and maintains files; directs calls and/or visitors to appropriate staff; performs other
related duties as required.
B. INVOLUNTARY MENTAL COMMITMENTS:
Opens Involuntary Mental Commitment files; prepares petitions, orders and other
necessary court documents in a moment?s notice; adheres to strict time constraints;
coordinates and schedules court hearings with District Court and all necessary parties
including: Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center, Deaconess
Psychiatric Unit, Montana State Hospital, Friend of the Respondent, Professional
Person, Respondent?s Counsel, witnesses, family members, Sheriffs Office, and law
enforcement officials, and follows through to disposition.
C. GUARDIANSHIPS:
Opens Guardianship files in behalf of the Department of Public Health and Human
Services – Adult Protective Services Division. Prepares petitions, orders and other
necessary court documents; schedules court hearings; notifies witnesses and follows
through to disposition.
D. YOUTH COURT:
Opens Youth Court delinquent juvenile files for felony and misdemeanor offenses;
prepares charging documents, motions, orders and dispositional orders;
communicates with juvenile probation officer, Yellowstone County Youth Services
Center, and Pine Hills Correctional Facility; schedules court appearances; notifies
victims and witnesses of appearances and/or changes in various cases; and assists in
trial preparation.
E. DEPENDENT/ABUSE/NEGLECT CASES:
Opens civil files in behalf of the Department of Public Health and Human Services,
Child and Family Services Division for Temporary Investigative Authority;
Temporary Legal Custody and Extension of Temporary Legal Custody; and
Termination of Parental Rights and Permanent Legal Custody.
Filing for Temporary Investigative Authority: Drafts petition to place abused,
dependent, and/or neglected child in protective custody and order setting hearing
within 48 hours, assures attempts for personal service on parents, issues subpoenas
for witnesses, and drafts order granting temporary investigative authority; notifies the
Department, Court Appointed Special Advocate, attorney(s), parent(s), foster parents,
and child?