Legal Assistant

The purpose of the Legal Assistant is to perform skilled legal secretarial and administrative support work for State Prosecutors within Sauk County for the District Attorney’s Office.
 
Job Duties and Responsibilities
 

• Evaluates and interprets police reports from all law enforcement investigations.  Draft criminal complaints and juvenile petitions based on those reports and charging decisions by attorneys. Process all intake forms notifying the arresting law enforcement agency of the charging decision.

• Monitor daily bail list to ensure all police reports are entered and cases are filed in compliance with statutory requirements for appearance in court.

• Monitor and enter all incoming referrals for criminal, civil traffic/forfeiture and juvenile offenses from law enforcement agencies via email and internal E-referrals from Protect database.

• Run and summarize confidential Criminal History, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Transportation records from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Transaction Information for the Management of Enforcement (TIME) System.

• Monitor all incoming digital evidence systems including DEST/Cerberus, iCrimefighter, Box and DEMS /Genetec Clearance.  Download all digital evidence and create links in Protect database case notes for each case.

• Prepare case discovery by combining, redacting and bates numbering all reports and copying all digital evidence to defense attorneys.  Adhere to Marsy’s Law by the redaction of all confidential identifying information in the reports. Prepare invoices or deduct charges from discovery accounts accordingly.

• Monitor daily calendars and case notes for attorneys. 

• Monitor the E-filing queue and Documents from CCAP (Circuit Court Access Program) for attorneys.  Attach, respond and forward any necessary documents.

• Prepare and electronically file legal documents including witness lists, notices, subpoenas, motions, orders, correspondence and any other documents as necessary through internal case monitoring, oral or written instruction from an attorney

• Prepare and electronically file all court ordered warrants and orders to produce. Conduct follow up notification to the local sheriff.

• Reserve all crime lab and hygiene lab analysts for trial purposes. 

• Prepare attorney for intake court by printing all Case Settlement Reports and Deferred Prosecution Agreements.

• Run confidential criminal histories on all jury lists and witnesses on trials.

• Monitor cases in Deferred Prosecution status for compliance with requirements including, but not limited to, attaining and retaining driver’s license, Alcohol/Drug assessments, counseling, community service, restitution payments and law abidance.  Prepare motion to revoke Deferred Prosecution Agreements or motion to amend/dismiss based on compliance.

• Serve as initial contact for the office.  Answer, screen and refer phone calls from the general public, defense attorneys, court personnel and others.

• Obtain additional documentation needed for cases including certified documents and open

• Maintains communication with law enforcement personnel, Victim Witness, Clerks of Court, Probation and Parole personnel, public defenders and other defense attorneys regarding pending cases and proceedings. 

• Back up the Victim Witness Unit in their absence by making phone calls to victims to ensure compliance with Marsy’s Law

• Purge and convert old paper and digital files as time permits per office policy.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to speak effectively with law enforcement personnel and members of the public.
• Skilled in prioritizing workload and meeting deadlines
• Ability to maintain composure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to multitask. 
• Ability to work in situations where individuals may be hostile or aggressive.

• Safe and comfortable in respects to noise, and disease, with some potential exposure to violence.