What a District Attorney Legal Assistant Is
A district attorney legal assistant is also known as a criminal legal assistant. She is hired by a law firm or district attorney’s office to work as her superior’s right-hand person. Any type of information pertaining to criminal cases that is required by the district attorney, other attorneys, or judges from inside or outside of the firm or court, is located and prepared by the District Attorney Legal Assistant.
When a client uses a firm for district attorney legal services, the client’s case becomes a priority for that firm. The assistant prepares all the documentation necessary for the district attorney, or any other party, to begin the investigation into or prosecution of the criminal case. She drafts prosecution documents that provide clear representations of the facts and arguments being used in the case.
The district attorney doesn’t spend time preparing for cases. She spends time in the courtroom prosecuting them. The prosecutor has an assistant who does the grunt work for her. She is responsible for preparing the evidence needed to make a compelling case against a criminal defendant, and writing the point of view that will be presented at trial.
How does a criminal legal assistant write the prosecution’s argument? The district attorney gives her instructions. If the DA has a conflict in the case, the client has another case pending with her or the crime occurred somewhere she has to recuse herself from, the legal assistant works with another district attorney in the office . Otherwise, she drafts the prosecutor’s argument according to the instructions given by her boss. She will ask for multiple revisions if her superior isn’t satisfied with how the argument is presented in the document. She might research the law, find evidence, and prepare interviews to help build the DA’s version of the case, depending on how much assistance she needs. The assistant does whatever is necessary to help her employer win the case.
Depending on the time available before the case goes to trial, a district attorney legal assistant might meet with law enforcement, witnesses, investigators, and special experts. She might interview people to identify any additional evidence needed. She might cross-check witness statements with notes made by law enforcement officials. The faster she analyzes and recalls relevant information about the case, the better she is able to assist her boss in choosing which angle to use to build a winning argument and how to present it by hand, or in the courtroom.
An excellent district attorney legal assistant knows how to write, organize, manage a person’s calendar, and talk to the public. There are two types of districts attorneys. They are elected or hired. Elected district attorneys work in the prosecutor’s office for the municipality. Appointed district attorneys are hired by the elected prosecutor, who is elected by the municipality. The appointed prosecutors are usually experienced members of the local or statewide bar.
Key Skills Required
To be effective in the often chaotic and fast-paced environment of the district attorney’s office, legal assistants must possess a strong set of core skills that allow them to balance a wide range of different tasks simultaneously. In addition to the necessary professional background, they must demonstrate superior communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to make quick decisions and exercise sound judgment.
First and foremost, strong organizational skills are crucial for a district attorney legal assistant. They regularly handle a large volume of evidence, records and correspondences being processed by the office, and must be able to categorize and sort them in such a way as to make them easy to locate when needed. This organization also protects the interest of the office by ensuring sensitive information, such as evidence in criminal proceedings, is adequately shielded and accessible only to those who are authorized to review it.
Legal assistants working for the district attorney’s office must have a keen eye for detail, and maintain a precise, thorough and methodical approach to their work. This means being able to accurately analyze information, create and maintain records, and draft correspondences while staying vigilant enough to catch any inconsistencies or errors as they appear.
The ideal candidate will have strong experience and skill with the latest legal software. Work for a district attorney involves a lot of computer programming, tracking and organization. Being able to quickly pick up new tools such as case management software or databases is essential.
Legal assistants in the district attorney’s office work directly with both prosecuting attorneys and members of the public, which gives them ample opportunities to demonstrate their excellent communication skills. Legal assistants must be able to easily and clearly communicate bits of legal information to clients, witnesses, and even defendants, while actively listening to their needs and concerns. In addition, they are given responsibilities such as scheduling appointments, interviews and hearings and conducting research that not only require strong writing skills, but also the ability to communicate effectively over the phone.
Finally, the majority of legal assistants work in out-of-court positions, which can lead to a high level of stress for these professionals. They must be able to manage their workload in a proactive manner in order to meet strict deadlines and maintain a high degree of productivity while in the support role to prosecutors. Any lack of attention to detail or failure to properly manage their time can put the outcome of the cases at risk, and in turn affect the broader goals of the judicial system.
Daily Activities and Responsibilities
The district attorney legal assistant plays a vital role in the day-to-day administration of a DA’s office. Legal assistants organize and manage case files, provide essential litigation support, and maintain communication with clients. Because legal assistants work primarily for criminal prosecutors, they must be knowledgeable in the laws and procedures applicable to criminal cases. Therefore, today’s legal assistants also serve an important function in ensuring successful and timely investigations and prosecutions. Prosecutors rely on their legal assistants to promptly conduct legal and factual investigations and answer questions about the law and the intricate details of pending prosecutions.
The legal assistants’ workload is usually divided into two main categories: pre-trial assistance and trial assistance. Pre-trial work involves performing a variety of legal tasks that often include investigating the facts, researching the law, interviewing witnesses, drafting pleadings and other court documents, and preparing case files for trial. For example, while preparing for an arson trial, a district attorney legal assistant should confirm the witness list, research legal issues, prepare or assist in preparation of subpoenas, prepare exhibits and make copies, and interview the chief investigating officer. Obviously, her work directly affects the efficiency with which the trial will run.
Trial assistance for DA legal assistants help ensures that all aspects of court appearances, such as pre-trial conferences, jury selection and jury verdicts, go smoothly. For example, while assisting the prosecutor at a preliminary hearing, a legal assistant may request preliminary hearing packets, jury instruction packets, certified copies of statutes and ordinance standards, violation of rights law books, and digests of fingerprint and firearm cases. In addition, the legal assistant may escort the prosecutor to the courtroom, prepare and distribute copies of preliminary hearing worksheets, and photograph exhibits.
What Education Is Necessary
A common misconception among those exploring the possibility of pursuing a career in this arena is that formal education is not required. While it is true that many district attorney legal assistants are trained on-the-job, a degree or formal training can be very helpful when reaching out to agencies for job opportunities. The most effective educational path to this type of position is through either a post-secondary legal assistant program or certification by the National Association of Legal Assistants, coupled with on-the-job training.
This type of office typically does not require an Associate’s Degree for employment, but can help advance the District Attorney legal assistant’s career. Some District Attorney’s offices do require an Associate’s Degree or even a Bachelor’s Degree for this type of employment. A two-year legal assistant program or two-year Paralegal program, which creates a quotable benchmark for education level, is recommended. Many agencies prefer a minimum of four years of experience in the field to compensate for any lack of degree.
In addition to informal job training from the district attorney’s office, there are plentiful opportunities available for certification and formal training in this field. Two major organizations offer certification for paralegals to demonstrate proficiency, skill, competency, and expertise. The NALS certification and the National Association of Legal Assistants offer an excellent comprehensive education program that covers many aspects of the paralegal profession, including legal terminology, legal research, legal writing, and more. This certification will add significant merit to any resume, and can be obtained by any paralegal regardless of formal training and education.
Job Outlook and Opportunities for Advancement
A district attorney legal assistant notices upon beginning employment that there are many ways their previous experience and knowledge can be implemented at the current employment, and how a diverse set of skills and abilities can contribute to the success of a professional in this position. These skills and abilities combined with other attesting factors such as opportunities, knowledge and accomplishments allow for career advancement. Those who are especially organized and detail-oriented following all office procedures closely can expect to be viewed as valuable resources and may be promoted quickly. District attorneys are able to determine which legal assistants show promise and who will grow into other areas and expertise with continued employment.
Opportunities can vary based on the size of the law firm or legal department. Those individuals with advanced skills or specialties may advance further in a larger firm, but smaller firms often reward those legal assistants with promotions or transitions into other roles as well when they demonstrate their dedication to the organization. Many private firms have short hierarchical structures where they promote legal assistants into the ranks of litigation assistants , paralegals and litigation support staff, which can lead from working on pre-trial preparations to post-trial matters. Salary wisdom is generally rewarded in firms while longer public careers often result in a gradual salary increase based on years in service or seniority, and not merit.
Educational and internship opportunities available to district attorney legal assistants include the American Association of Legal Assistants and Paralegals paralegal certification or the National Association of Legal Assistants Certified Paralegal certification. Both credentials recognize the fact that a legal assistant can handle multiple duties at once, from client communication to case management and the ability to draft court documents. As discussed earlier, legal assistants can become specialized in a certain area of law, and many legal assistants go on to become paralegals, case managers, legal secretaries, claims adjusters, title examiners and other roles if they continue their professional development in the field through education and certification.
Job Challenges and Requirements
Like other administrative support roles, this role is never without its challenges. However, it is fair to say that those who work as legal assistants in district attorneys’ offices face unique challenges, including:
Pressure of a Heavy Workload & Time Constraints Although cases may be similar to one another, most require a great deal of input from cross-agency departments or individuals. While the formality of an inter-agency exchange may help ensure a consistent level of communication, it can become unnecessarily cumbersome in times of high caseloads for the DA’s office. What’s more, the DA’s office usually has several unresolved cases at one time. To that end, a legal assistant may find themselves managing a series of pending cases that have time constraints. Thus, a legal assistant may be under significant pressure to deliver the case promptly, and within a particular timeframe.
Need for Organisational Skills The amount of paperwork that needs to be filed for each case can sometimes feel overwhelming. To this end, those in the role of district attorney legal assistant may need to show considerable organisational skills when managing their lists of files, or when creating new files during the course of their work.
Possible Workplace Opposition As is the case with any job that requires a great deal of interaction with others, those in the role of a district attorney legal assistant may be met with some amount of workplace opposition. When dealing with opposing counsel, for example, the legal assistant may find themselves persona non grata if a lawyer feels they are entering their yardsticks. Similarly, there may be opposition within their own department. For example, while managing the files related to an insurance fraud case, a newly hired legal assistant may be met with some negativity. The assistant has entered an established department and has encountered employees with a specific way of doing things. In a case such as this, conflict resolution and a willingness to cooperate with the current group of employees is essential.
Uncertainty of the Position End Date Those seeking to work as legal assistants in the Office of the District Attorney should be prepared for the possibility that their position may be temporary. Government agencies often hire legal assistants on a contract basis. In this situation, the legal assistant is able to perform the tasks that are discussed during hiring but still be freed when the agency is no longer under pressure to keep them on staff. Although their job duties may be carried out on a contractual basis, the district attorney legal assistant is still required to operate within their parameters.
The Influence of Modern Technology
The proliferation of legal software and case management tools proves that their impact on the legal field is greater than ever. The District Attorney Legal Assistant is no exception to this advance. Not only should they have a thorough understanding of Microsoft Office, but familiarity with document management software will only prove helpful in this occupation. They may also be required to utilize spreadsheets, and calendar management tools "for tracking billing, or timesheets." Some DA legal assistants also work with case management software that issues reminders , deadlines and filing schedules to ensure that the D.A. can keep track of his or her workload. Familiarity with accounting software is also a plus as the DA legal assistant may need to handle the office’s finances. The DA legal assistant may also be in communication with the DA over email so experience and comfort with email programs will be essential. Creating presentations and/or conducting legal research will also require knowledge of presentation software and legal research tools, like LexisNexis or Westlaw.
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