Legal Assistant - Public Defender (Prescott)

Role

The Public Defender’s Office has a rewarding opportunity for a legal assistant supporting our attorneys in case preparation at the Prescott office. The ideal candidate will be experienced in a legal environment charged with attorney-delegated legal assistant duties.

Here in Yavapai County Government, we live each day by our core values of Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration, and Innovation. We do what we do because we care for our community and because people matter. The County Public Defender’s Office has also developed their own department mission and values. We at the PDO strive to ensure access to justice for all people.

OUR WHY

We ensure access to justice for all people.

OUR POV

We live our why by being diligent, fearless, and principled in our pursuit of justice.

OUR NON-NEGOTIABLE VALUES

Dedication

We show up well-prepared and are committed to our why.

Courageousness

We are bold, creative, and accessible every day.

Honorable

We are honest, authentic, and trustworthy in our actions.
We are a collegial, paperless office where all employees have the option to work remotely from their homes in a hybrid arrangement or in the office full-time. We stress work-life balance and manage our caseloads to ensure it. We would love to talk to you about our office and your interests.

Major Duties, Responsibilities

• Reviews relevant facts of case, researches case law, and confers with attorneys.
• Types and proofreads legal documents, composes and creates letters, memoranda, and legal documents from specific direction, standard formats, copy, rough draft, and dictation, prepares and edits confidential and sensitive legal documents, and maintains confidentiality.
• Files legal papers with courts and processes court papers according to court procedures and attorney instructions.
• Prepares/organizes files for up-coming court dates and creates/updates calendars.
• Confers with clients, coordinates interviews, monitors cases, and prepares trial notebooks.
• Confers with other attorneys, experts, and lay witnesses.
• Prepares and assists attorneys at court hearings and trials.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience:
A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in a legal environment charged with attorney-delegated legal assistant duties.

Additional Requirements:
Must possess a valid Arizona driver’s license.

Other Skills

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Legal principles and laws pertinent to the assigned department.
• Legal terminology and legal forms and documents.
• Business English, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and composition.
• Clerical office practices and procedures.
• Research techniques and report writing.
• Microsoft Office 365 software.
• Filing and recordkeeping.
  
  

Skill in:

• Analyzing and organizing factual information and making persuasive legal arguments.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing and communicating orally in a face-to-face setting and by telephone with public and employees.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.
• Organization and adherence to detail.
  
  

Ability to:

• Apply legal principles to determinations on individual cases and problems.
• Produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts.
• Perform self-directed research and analysis as required.
• Provide timely, accurate, professional, and confidential legal support.
• Multitask and prioritize autonomously.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, employees of other departments, representatives of other organizations, County officials, and the public.
• Keep management informed of key operating issues affecting the department.
• Remain current in knowledge required to perform assigned duties.
• Handle confidential matters and maintain discretion.
• Act with courtesy, tact, and diplomacy.
  
  

Work Environment:
The work environment is associated with an office. The work area is adequately lighted, heated or cooled and ventilated.

Physical Requirements:
Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time. Sufficient vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech ability to communicate
effectively in-person and telephonically. Capable of frequent repetitive movement of arms, fingers, and wrists. Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.

Additional Job Information:
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Grade: 9
Classification: Classified
Safety Sensitive: No

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Yavapai County Government offers a comprehensive employee benefits package to
Full-Time employees working 30 or more hours per week that includes but is not limited to:

• 10 Paid Holidays Per Year
• Annual Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health Care Insurance - Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term & Short-Term Disability
• Retirement Plans
• Sick Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement Program

ELECTIVE COVERAGE

• 457 Deferred Compensation Program
• Dependent Health Care Insurance - Medical, Dental, Vision
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Short-Term Disability
• Supplemental Life (for employees & dependents)

PLEASE NOTE

• Part-Time , Temporary and Seasonal employees accrue Sick Leave based on hours worked.
• Part-Time employees have limited benefits available.
• Temporary and Seasonal employees are not eligible to accrue Annual Leave.

Click here to view our benefits summary.

Closing Date/Time: 12/1/2025 5:00 PM Arizona

• 

• Yavapai County

• 928-771-3252

Show more