Legal Assistant -III; Paralegal Forfeiture Unit​/Criminal Division

Introduction

Delaware's Attorney General, the State's chief law enforcement officer, has a broad responsibility to combat crime, uphold civil rights, safeguard families, fight fraud, and protect consumers in the First State. In meeting this mission, Attorney General Kathy Jennings is supported by teams of talented lawyers and staff in the Criminal, Civil, Family, Fraud and Consumer Protection, and Civil Rights and Public Trust Divisions.

Each of the more than 500 staff who work in the Office of the Attorney General are dedicated to serving all Delawareans with integrity and passion. Deputy Attorneys General, with critical support from criminal special investigators, victim service specialists, paraprofessionals, and administrative staff, prosecute criminal cases, enforce consumer laws, provide counsel to state agencies, ensure the public's access to open government, protect the abused, and much more.

The Delaware Department of Justice is seeking an exceptional and highly motivated individual to join the Forfeiture Unit within the Criminal Division as a Legal Assistant (Paralegal). While the Forfeiture Unit of the Criminal Division has state-wide responsibility, this position could be located out of New Castle County or Kent County. This is a limited-term position with an anticipated duration of two (2) years.

This Legal Assistant will provide support to Deputy Attorneys General in the Forfeiture Unit by reviewing all Title 16 seizures and is responsible for tracking the forfeiture cases and related criminal cases from intake through the final disposition. This Legal Assistant will prepare case files, discovery, motions, pleadings, stipulations, subpoenas, applications, notification of forfeiture letters and mailings, and orders. This Legal Assistant will assist the attorneys when preparing for and attending court hearings and will prepare and maintain court scheduling lists and court dockets and other related duties as may be assigned.

In addition, this Legal Assistant shall track all pending forfeiture cases and all related criminal cases and record statistics as required by HB280. This position requires the recording and maintaining of statistics on forfeiture cases. This Legal Assistant shall review various reports as well as other information such as police reports, medical reports, retail, surveillance, computer files/electronic documents, body worn camera and video/audio;

summarize pertinent details of the case for Deputy Attorney Generals; follow up as necessary for additional documents; draft answers to litigation complaints and responses to form 30 interrogatories; issue subpoenas to obtain medical, insurance, and employment records; prepare and serve discovery; make required red actions for discovery and case preparation. Additional responsibilities of this role include assisting Deputy Attorneys General with Title 11 seizures and assisting in the SLEAF process.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Acts in liaison capacity between superior and various interested parties and judicial and/or court staff, clients, defendants, plaintiffs, victims, witnesses, law enforcement agents, elected and/or appointed officials and the public to gather, clarify and provide information regarding case facts and status.
• Establishes and maintains case files ensuring that the files contain complete and accurate information essential to each step of the proceedings from pre-hearing and/or pre-trial through trial and sentencing.
• Interviews involved parties such as clients, defendants, plaintiffs, victims, witnesses, arresting officers, or medical personnel to gather discovery material, evidence for case preparation and to complete various legal and/or court documents.
• Reviews various reports as well as other information such as police reports, medical reports, retail,…